How Telegram’s Founder Plans to Share His $17.1B Among His 100+ Children

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram and one of the most fiercely independent figures in tech, has made headlines again but this time, it’s not about his encrypted messaging app or another face-off with government authorities. 

The 40-year-old billionaire has revealed that he’s leaving his entire $17.1 billion fortune to his children, more than 100 of them. Yes, you read that right.

How is he a  Man with over 100 Children?

Although Durov has six biological children from three partners, he explained that over the last 15 years, he has anonymously donated sperm to fertility clinics around the world. 

According to him, the clinics have confirmed that more than 100 children have been conceived using his sperm in at least 12 countries. Now, he’s written a will and all of these children are included in it.

Equal shares, but with a long wait

Rather than leaving a complicated inheritance that could spark conflicts, Durov says each child will receive an equal share of his wealth. But there’s a catch, they won’t get a dime of it for the next 30 years.

“I want them to live normal lives,” Durov explained in an interview. “I want them to build themselves up without depending on a bank account. They should learn to trust their instincts, to create things, and to fail and try again.”

For Durov, who has battled powerful governments and refused to give up user data even when it meant leaving Russia, this philosophy of independence is personal. He wants his children to earn their place in the world, not live off an inheritance.

What you should know about Pavel Durov

Durov’s story isn’t just about wealth. It’s about principles. He left Russia after refusing government demands to share user data from VKontakte, a social media platform he built before Telegram. Later, he moved to France, and now lives in the United Arab Emirates.

His current company, Telegram, has over a billion monthly users and is known for strong encryption and privacy protections. But those same values have led to legal troubles in places like France, where he’s been accused of not doing enough to stop illegal activities on the app.

Still, Durov stands firm: “Just because criminals use our service doesn’t mean we’re criminals. Cars are used in crimes too, but no one blames