The billionaire’s more than 100 children will not have access to his fortune until at least 2055, the Telegram founder has said
Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov has announced plans to leave his fortune to the more than 100 children he has fathered. However, they won’t have access to their inheritance until 30 years from now, the Russian-born entrepreneur told French newspaper Le Point on Wednesday.
Durov, who holds Russian, French, UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis passports, said he is the official father of six children with three different partners – though he added that he has fathered over 100 children in 12 countries through sperm donation.
“I recently wrote my will… I decided that my children will not have access to my fortune until thirty years have passed, starting today,” the 40-year-old told the outlet. He said he wants his children “to live like normal people, to build themselves up on their own, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create – not to be dependent on a bank account.”
His fortune currently stands at $17.1 billion, according to Forbes, which puts him at number 133 among the world’s richest people. Last year, Telegram – which has over a billion active users – posted a record $540 million in profit, marking a sharp turnaround from a $173 million loss the previous year.
Durov added that he makes no distinction between his children, saying those who were conceived naturally and those who came from his sperm donations “will all have the same rights.”
He noted that his work involves risks, and that “defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states.” He added that he wants to protect his children and the company he created.
“I want Telegram to always remain true to the values I stand for,” Durov said.
He stated that a nonprofit foundation would take over Telegram’s management in the event of his “disappearance,” adding that the main goal is to ensure the platform remains independent while respecting privacy and freedom of speech.
Durov stressed that he remains Telegram’s sole shareholder, owning 100% of the company, “the only way to guarantee Telegram’s complete independence.”
Last year, Durov was arrested in France and placed under judicial supervision over alleged complicity in crimes linked to Telegram users. The entrepreneur, whose company is based in Dubai, was released on €5 million ($5.46 million) bail and was temporarily allowed to leave France in mid-March with judicial approval.
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