Telegram’s mysterious billionaire founder, Pavel Durov, has once again stunned the world—not with tech innovation this time, but with a personal revelation that’s gone viral. The 40-year-old Russian-born entrepreneur has disclosed that he plans to leave his estimated $17 billion fortune to 106 children—yes, you read that right—106 heirs.
Let’s break down this extraordinary story.
Known for founding Telegram and previously VKontakte (VK), Pavel Durov has kept a low profile for years. He’s privacy-obsessed and famously elusive. But in a rare interview with French publication Le Point, Durov opened up about a deeply personal subject—his legacy.
He shared that he has six officially recognized children born from different relationships. But it doesn't stop there. Over the past decade, Durov has fathered more than 100 children through anonymous sperm donations across 12 countries.
Durov’s fortune, estimated at $17 billion, will be split equally among all 106 children.
Quick math?
17 billion divided by 106 equals approximately $160 million per child.
Each heir stands to receive a life-changing sum. But here’s the twist: they won’t get a penny until 30 years after Durov’s death. That clause in his will has shocked many.
According to Pavel Durov, the delay is intentional. He doesn’t want his children—especially those conceived through sperm donation—to grow up entitled.
He said, “If they deserve it, they’ll earn their own way in life before ever touching that money. That’s the true test.”
By delaying access to the inheritance, he’s removing financial privilege from their upbringing.
Only a few of Pavel Durov’s children are known publicly. The rest, born through anonymous donations, may not even know who their biological father is. That raises major questions:
How will the children be identified legally?
Will they be contacted by Durov’s estate after his death?
Could DNA records be used to validate their claim?
The will reportedly includes mechanisms for this. Legal teams and trustees are likely preparing for what could be one of the most complicated inheritance distributions in history.
This isn’t just about wealth. This story taps into modern questions about parenthood, legacy, and identity. People are asking:
Can you be a “father” to 100+ kids you never meet?
Is this generous or detached?
Will it set a precedent for ultra-wealthy tech figures?
It also adds to Pavel Durov’s larger-than-life reputation as the Telegram founder who built a global messaging empire while living a private, almost mythical life.
Unlike Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos, Pavel Durov avoids the spotlight. He wears only black, avoids interviews, and has no known permanent address.
He doesn’t sell user data and refuses to monetize Telegram with intrusive ads. He once said, “I don’t want to be known. I want my work to be known.”
Now, by revealing details about the 106 Pavel Durov children and his $17 billion inheritance plan, he's become a topic of global fascination.
Pavel Durov’s inheritance plan is more than just math. It’s a reflection of how modern billionaires are reshaping legacy. By giving 106 children an equal slice of his empire—but making them wait decades to touch it—he’s forcing the world to rethink wealth, parenting, and responsibility.
The legacy of the Telegram founder and his 106 children will likely be discussed for decades—especially when the 30-year countdown begins.