Telegram founder Pavel Durov says all his 100+ children will receive share of his estate

Pavel Durov, the visionary behind the popular messaging app Telegram, has announced his intentions to bequeath his wealth to an astonishing number of more than 100 children. This unique decision includes not only his six biological children from various relationships but also numerous others conceived through sperm donations. In a recent interview with French political magazine Le Point, the 40-year-old entrepreneur expressed his belief that all of his children should be treated equally, stating, "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 revealed that he has recently finalized his will to ensure his estate is distributed fairly. Durov, who had previously disclosed the extent of his fatherhood on social media, shared that a doctor had encouraged him to fulfill his "civic duty" by donating his genetic material over a span of 15 years. Despite his fortunes being estimated at $13.9 billion by Bloomberg, Durov regards such figures as speculative, clarifying, "Since I’m not selling Telegram, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have this money in a bank account. My liquid assets are much lower – and they don’t come from Telegram: they come from my investment in bitcoin in 2013." Importantly, he intends for his children to wait 30 years before accessing their inheritance, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance. "I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves," Durov explained. He reiterated that he sees no distinction between his children, regardless of how they were conceived. Durov, who resides in Dubai, also cited the risks associated with his work, stating, "Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states." He aims to protect not only his children but also his company, Telegram, which he wants to maintain its core values. Telegram boasts over a billion monthly users and is recognized for its strong encryption and minimal oversight of user content. Durov has faced legal challenges in the past, including allegations of his platform being misused for illegal activities. However, he firmly denies these accusations, asserting that operating a messaging service does not equate to criminality.