Telegram CEO Pavel Durov Plans to Share $13.9B Fortune With Over 100 Children

By Evolution Staff • June 23, 2025

Telegram founder Pavel Durov—long known for his privacy-first messaging platform and libertarian ideals—is making headlines for a very different reason: his children. The billionaire tech mogul has confirmed that he intends to divide his wealth among more than 100 children he has fathered or donated sperm to.

The Announcement
Speaking to Le Monde, Durov revealed that he is the biological father of at least six children through three partners, and also the sperm donor for more than 100 babies worldwide. “I want to specify that I make no difference between my children—those born through donation and those I raised,” Durov told the publication. “They will all have access to my fortune.”

A Legacy Beyond Convention
Durov’s plan pushes the boundaries of traditional family and inheritance models, raising questions about:

• Legal Recognition: Will all children be legally acknowledged for inheritance?
  
• Guardianship & Trusts: Who will manage the assets until the children are of age?
  
• Geopolitical Complexity: His children are reportedly scattered across multiple countries.
  

Tech Billionaires and Succession
As tech titans confront mortality and legacy, many are turning to philanthropy or structured generational wealth. Jeff Bezos has committed billions to space and science, while Elon Musk has fathered 11+ children with different partners. Durov’s approach is more radical—combining a belief in distributed legacy with a global, almost ideological concept of fatherhood.

Public & Ethical Debate
Reactions have been mixed. Some praise his open acknowledgment of non-traditional family dynamics, while others question the emotional and ethical implications of such an expansive network of biological heirs.

Who Is Pavel Durov?
Often referred to as the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia,” Durov founded VKontakte (Russia’s Facebook) before launching Telegram in 2013. He has since become a global figure in the privacy tech movement and remains notoriously secretive, residing between Dubai and undisclosed locations.

Conclusion
In a world where tech leaders often shape social paradigms, Durov’s legacy plan invites deeper conversations about identity, inheritance, and the evolving definitions of family. Whether society—and the law—is ready for it is another question entirely.

Additional References:

• Bloomberg Business (@bloombergbusiness)
  
• Wired Magazine (@wired)
  
• Tech Insider (@techinsider)
  
• Fortune Magazine (@fortune)
  
• Le Monde France (@lemondefr)