Telegram CEO Pavel Durov: “All My 100+ Children Will Inherit My $13.9 Billion Fortune”

Pavel Durov, the enigmatic founder and CEO of Telegram, has stunned the international community with revelations about his personal life and his plans for distributing his nearly $14 billion fortune. In an exclusive interview with French outlet Le Point, Durov confirmed he is the father of over 100 children around the world—and all of them will have a share in his wealth.

Father to Over 100 Children

Durov revealed that he is the “official father” of six children with three partners. Additionally, thanks to his sperm donations, he has more than 100 children across 12 different countries. “I make no distinction between my children. Some were conceived naturally and others through sperm donation, but all of them are my children and will have the same rights,” Durov emphasized.

He further explained that he doesn’t want his children to fight over his fortune after his death. “I wrote my will very recently. I decided that my children would not have access to my wealth until 30 years have passed from today. I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up, to learn to trust themselves, to be creative, and not to be dependent on a bank account.”

A Billionaire with Unusual Secrets

Now 40 years old, Pavel Durov is often dubbed the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia” after founding the social network VK and later Telegram—a secure messaging platform with nearly 1 billion users worldwide. However, his life has been far from peaceful. Durov was arrested in France last year on accusations of facilitating criminal activity on Telegram, though he has denied all charges. He remains unable to travel freely due to ongoing legal risks.

In a conversation with Tucker Carlson, Durov admitted he faces constant danger because of his work and has powerful enemies. That’s also why he wrote his will at such a young age.

Different from Elon Musk

Asked about comparisons to Elon Musk, Durov insisted: “Elon runs several companies at once, while I focus on just one. Elon can be very emotional, while I try to think deeply before acting—but perhaps that’s also the source of his strength.”

A Life of Discipline

Durov, like Musk, is known for his unconventional lifestyle. He attributes his youthful appearance to a strict fitness regimen—300 push-ups and 300 squats in a row. He avoids alcohol, coffee, tea, smoking, and sugar, and enjoys swimming in Finland or Lake Geneva in the middle of winter.

Durov’s story, blending immense wealth, a secretive personal life, and a philosophy of independence, continues to fascinate and provoke debate worldwide.