Pavel Durov, the reclusive creator and chief executive of the popular messaging app Telegram, has revealed that his multi-billion-dollar inheritance will go to over 100 children whom he considers as his own.
In an open interview with French political magazine Le Point, the 40-year-old technology entrepreneur disclosed that although he is the lawfully acknowledged father of six children from three different women, more than a hundred others were conceived through sperm donations he made over the last 15 years.
The Russian billionaire, who currently lives in Dubai, underscored that he draws no line between his born children and donation ones. "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," said Durov, according to CNN.
He described having started donating sperm 15 years ago as a favor to a friend at a fertility clinic. Since then, he has been informed that his donations have given birth to more than 100 children in a dozen nations.
This is not the first time Durov has raised the topic. In a Telegram message last year, he said that a physician had once advised him giving his "high quality donor material" was a "civic duty."
No Instant Inheritance
Even though they have equal inheritance rights, Durov has made sure that none of his children will inherit his wealth for at least 30 years. Why? He wants them to develop normally.
Durov stated that he wants his successors to "live like ordinary people, build themselves up for themselves, learn to trust themselves, be able to create, and not be reliant on a bank account."
Why Write a Will at 40?
The tech billionaire, who has French and UAE citizenship, explained he recently made his will due to the risks associated with his profession. Being an advocate of digital freedom and privacy, Durov feels that role naturally attracts powerful enemies.
Protecting freedoms gets you many enemies," he clarified, and it's also a matter of making sure Telegram remains independent and continues to stay true to the values he's long fought for.
Legal Trouble in France
In the interview, Durov also touched on his legal troubles in France. He was arrested last year on a variety of charges, including allegations that Telegram became a platform for drug traffickers and child pornography distributors — accusations he outright denies as unfounded.
Durov has called the charges "absurd," citing his faith in values that Telegram holds firm.
FAQs
1. What is Pavel Durov's net worth?
According to Bloomberg estimates, Durov's fortune is around $13.9 billion.
2. Pavel Durov, where does he live today?
He lives today in Dubai, where Telegram is based. He holds citizenship in France as well as the United Arab Emirates.
3. When was Telegram founded?
Telegram was founded in 2013 and is still among the most popular messaging apps, particularly in Russia.
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