Telegram founder Pavel Durov has revealed that he will bequeath his estimated $13.9 billion fortune to over 100 children fathered through sperm donation. In an interview with French magazine Le Point, Durov stated that all children will receive equal inheritance rights, aiming to prevent post-mortem disputes.
“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,” Durov told the publication.
While acknowledging six children from three relationships, Durov disclosed that a fertility clinic, where he began donating sperm 15 years ago, confirmed over 100 resulting births across 12 countries.
Durov also reiterated his denial of serious criminal charges pending in France.
He specified that his children will not access their inheritance for 30 years, aiming to foster self-reliance. “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,” he explained.
The BBC has contacted Mr. Durov for further comment.
The 40-year-old cited professional risks as the impetus for drafting his will, stating that “defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states.”
Telegram, known for its encrypted messaging and privacy focus, boasts over a billion monthly active users.
Addressing the French charges stemming from alleged insufficient content moderation to curb criminality, Durov termed them “totally absurd,” denying any failure to cooperate with law enforcement regarding drug trafficking, child sexual abuse material, or fraud. Telegram maintains its moderation practices are adequate.
“Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he added.
Currently residing in Dubai, where Telegram is headquartered, Durov holds dual citizenship in France and the UAE.
The VKontakte founder, as reported in 2014, was dismissed from the Russian social network after refusing Kremlin censorship demands.
Telegram, founded in 2013, retains significant popularity in Russia. Its large group capabilities (up to 200,000 members) have drawn criticism for facilitating the spread of misinformation and potentially harmful content.
Durov previously defended Telegram’s efforts against child sexual abuse, citing various measures including content bans, dedicated teams, and transparency reports. In an X post, he refuted claims of inaction.
“Falsely implying Telegram did nothing to remove child porn is a manipulation tactic,” he stated.
A Telegram spokesperson told BBC News that the app’s design inherently limits the spread of harmful content, unlike platforms utilizing algorithms that promote sensational material. Concerns remain, however, regarding its moderation of extremist and illegal content compared to other social media companies and messaging apps, particularly following scrutiny over its role in last summer’s UK unrest.
Telegram asserts it meets or exceeds industry standards, removing thousands of groups and millions of pieces of violating content daily. This is detailed further on its website.
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