Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said he will divide his multibillion-dollar fortune among more than 100 of his biological children-but none will have access to it until 2055. The tech entrepreneur, who founded the encrypted messaging platform used by nearly one billion people globally, disclosed the decision in an interview with French outlet Le Point.
Durov, 40, said he is the father of six children from three partners and has fathered more than 100 additional children in 12 countries through sperm donation. "I make no difference between my children. There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations," Durov stated. "They are all my children and will all have the same rights. I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death."
According to Bloomberg's Billionaires Index, Durov is worth approximately $13.9 billion. He told Le Point he wrote his will recently, setting a 30-year delay on inheritance. "I decided that my children would not have access to my fortune until a period of 30 years has elapsed, starting from today," he said. "I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account."
Durov cited potential risks in his work and geopolitical enemies as factors in his estate planning. "Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states," he said. "My work involves risks."
The Russian-born entrepreneur created VK, the largest social network in Russia, before launching Telegram in 2013. The app has since become a global communications tool, prized for its encryption-but also scrutinized for its role in facilitating illicit activity. French authorities charged Durov in 2024 with alleged complicity in criminal conduct on Telegram, including drug trafficking, child exploitation, and fraud.
Durov denies wrongdoing. "Nothing has ever been proven showing that I am, even for a second, guilty of anything," he told Le Point. Telegram has said it deploys content moderation systems to detect and remove illegal activity.
In a separate interview with Tucker Carlson, Durov said he remains unable to travel freely due to the pending case. He described himself as deeply different from Elon Musk, another high-profile tech figure. "Elon runs several companies at once, while I only run one," Durov said. "Elon can be very emotional, while I try to think deeply before acting-but that can also be the source of his strength."
Durov, a self-described fitness enthusiast, said his daily routine includes 300 push-ups and 300 squats. He avoids alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and even tea. "I don't drink alcohol, coffee, or tea, I don't smoke and I stay away from sugar," he said, adding that he swims in icy waters in Finland and Lake Geneva.
