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Pavel Durov Surprises By Announcing The Future Of His Fortune After His Death: Billion-Dollar Inheritance For Over 100 Children, Telegram Creator Sparks Global Controversy

Written by Sara Aquino
Published on 12/07/2025 at 19:00
Fundador do Telegram, Pavel Durov diz ter mais de 100 filhos e promete dividir sua herança bilionária entre todos.
Foto Divulgação VEJA.
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Telegram Founder, Pavel Durov Says He Has Over 100 Children and Promises to Divide His Billionaire Inheritance Among Them.

What to do with a fortune estimated at over US$ 13.9 billion? For Pavel Durov, creator of the messaging app Telegram, the answer is clear: divide the wealth equally among his more than 100 children.

The surprising revelation was made in an interview with the French magazine Le Point, where the technology magnate, now a citizen of France and the United Arab Emirates, explained the reasons and details behind this unusual decision.

At 39, Durov declared that he is officially the father of six children with three different partners but has donated sperm for over 15 years to a clinic in 12 countries.

According to him, this gesture has resulted in over a hundred children — and all will benefit from the same billionaire inheritance.

Telegram, Inheritance, and Children: How Everything Connects

Telegram founder, Durov, has accumulated a gigantic fortune after leaving the Russian social network VKontakte.

His decision to distribute the inheritance equally among more than 100 children has sparked debates worldwide about paternal responsibility, biotechnology, and inheritance succession.

Furthermore, the businessman emphasized that the beneficiaries will only have access to the donation after 30 years.
This, according to him, is intended to ensure that the children grow up away from the burden of money, allowing them to build their own paths.

Pavel Durov: From Russian Exile to Digital Empire

Born in Russia, Durov became known for his resistance to Kremlin censorship. After refusing to remove content deemed “anti-government” from his former social network, he was forced to leave the company in 2014 and went into self-exile.

It was then that he founded Telegram — now based in Dubai, where he resides. With a robust privacy proposal and a focus on encryption, the app has grown exponentially, even amid numerous controversies.

The Billionaire Donation Dilemma: Inheritance or Responsibility?

The act of donating the inheritance to dozens of children has generated mixed reactions. On one hand, many highlight the gesture as generous and responsible.

On the other hand, some question the psychological and social impacts of this decision for children who may never know their biological father.

The revelation that some of the children were born through sperm donation also opens discussions about genetic parenthood and international succession rights.

After all, how can it be ensured that all these children are located? How to legally manage a fortune among heirs in 12 different countries?

Pavel Durov and the Future of His Digital Heirs

By announcing this unprecedented donation, Pavel Durov marks a new chapter in his already eccentric trajectory as a technology billionaire.

While his app remains influential and controversial, he is outlining succession plans that break with the traditional model of family and inheritance.

His vision, which blends technology, genetics, and philanthropy, may set a precedent for other entrepreneurs in the sector.

However, as he himself states, his greatest wish is for his children not to see each other as strangers or rivals in the future: “Everyone will have the same rights.”

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Sara Aquino

Pharmacist and Writer. I write about Jobs, Geopolitics, Economy, Science, Technology, and Energy.

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