Telegram co-founder and CEO Pavel Durov has announced plans to divide his $17.1 billion fortune equally among his 106 children, which include six biological children and over 100 others conceived through anonymous sperm donations across 12 countries.
In a recent interview with French media outlet Le Point, the 40-year-old tech billionaire revealed that he recently wrote his will, ensuring all his children, both biological and donor-conceived, will have the same inheritance rights. However, Durov has stipulated that none of his children will have access to the fortune for the next 30 years. He explained this decision is designed to encourage them to live independently, build their own lives, and develop self-reliance rather than depend on inherited wealth.
“There are those who were conceived naturally and those who come from my sperm donations. They are all my children and will all have the same rights,” Durov 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 also highlighted that his decision to formalize his will was influenced by the risks involved in his work defending digital freedoms and maintaining Telegram’s independence from state control. He noted that if he were to disappear, a non-profit foundation would take over the company to ensure its continued independence and commitment to privacy and freedom of expression.
Telegram has recently surpassed $1 billion in revenue, with 12 million premium subscribers and significant cash reserves. The platform also secured a $300 million investment from Elon Musk’s AI company xAI, marking a major collaboration in AI messaging.
