Pavel Durov, the elusive tech magnate often referred to as the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia,” is rewriting the script on wealth, fatherhood, and legacy. Best known as the founder of Telegram, a secure messaging app used by nearly a billion people worldwide, Durov shocked the world this week with an extraordinary revelation: he is the biological father of more than 100 children—and plans to split his multibillion-dollar fortune equally among all of them.
The news has ignited a firestorm of debate, intrigue, and fascination across social and media platforms. But beyond the headlines lies a complex story about identity, responsibility, and what it means to leave behind more than money.
“Yes, They Are All My Children”
In a rare and introspective interview, Durov acknowledged what had long been whispered in donor communities around the world: he has spent more than a decade anonymously donating sperm, resulting in the birth of over 100 children across at least a dozen countries.
This wasn’t, as some critics claimed, an act of ego or a sci-fi experiment in legacy. According to Durov, it began with a friend’s infertility struggle. One donation turned into dozens, and eventually, into what he now calls “an invisible, beautiful family.”
“Yes, they are all my children,” Durov wrote in a personal statement shared on his Telegram channel. “And each deserves an equal place in my heart—and in my legacy.”
A $17 Billion Pie — Divided Equally
Durov’s current estimated net worth is between $14 billion and $17 billion, a figure accumulated largely through Telegram’s exponential growth and his earlier venture, VKontakte, Russia’s largest social network.
In his newly revised will, he stipulates that each biological child, regardless of how they were conceived or raised, will receive an equal share of his fortune. Assuming the number of confirmed offspring stands at 106, that means each child could eventually inherit approximately $160 million.
This is, by any measure, one of the most ambitious inheritance declarations in modern history—both in its scale and in its symbolism.
No Golden Spoon: The 30-Year Delay
Despite the vast fortune at stake, none of Durov’s children will be seeing that money anytime soon. His will includes a condition that no inheritance can be accessed until the year 2055, precisely 30 years from the date of his public declaration.
This clause, he says, is meant to protect his children—not from the world, but from the corrosive effects of unearned wealth.
“I want them to build lives, fail, love, struggle, and rise on their own terms,” he explained. “If they receive wealth, it should feel like an echo of who they became—not a shortcut.”
Financial experts are calling it a bold psychological experiment, with some hailing it as genius, and others questioning its fairness to children who may never know their father personally.
The DNA Network: Finding Each Other
In another unprecedented move, Durov announced plans to make his full DNA profile publicly available. This, he says, is to help donor-conceived individuals who suspect they may be related connect with one another.
“I believe in transparency,” he said. “My children deserve the chance to find each other, if they choose.”
Already, private forums and Telegram groups have begun forming among young adults seeking confirmation of biological ties to Durov. While no formal organization exists yet, insiders suggest that a “Durov Descendants Network” may soon emerge—a private community of half-siblings from around the globe.
From Tech Revolutionary to Unconventional Patriarch
Durov is no stranger to making bold moves. At age 22, he co-founded VKontakte, only to be ousted by Russian authorities a decade later for refusing to hand over user data. In 2013, he launched Telegram with a promise: absolute privacy, no advertisements, and no compromises.
Now, he seems to be applying that same uncompromising philosophy to the concept of family. In a world where billionaires often fund spaceflights or superyachts, Durov is distributing his legacy in flesh and blood.
But unlike Musk or Bezos, Durov remains almost ascetic. He wears all-black, avoids alcohol, follows a strict vegan diet, and has no known permanent residence. Instead of creating a dynasty, he appears to be planting seeds around the world—literal and symbolic.
Legal, Ethical, and Emotional Fallout
Of course, this revelation is not without its complications.
Legally, it opens a minefield of inheritance claims that could stretch across borders and decades. Ethically, it revives questions about anonymity in sperm donation and the rights of donor-conceived individuals. Emotionally, many wonder what it means for these children to know they are one of 100, yet likely never meet their father in any meaningful way.
“It’s simultaneously beautiful and deeply strange,” says Dr. Lara Kim, a bioethicist specializing in fertility. “This isn’t just about money—it’s about belonging, and identity.”
A Legacy Beyond Code
Ultimately, Pavel Durov’s announcement is not just about inheritance—it’s about redefining legacy. For a man who has always remained on the fringes of conventional tech celebrity, his vision of family reflects the same disruptive spirit he brought to Silicon Valley.
Whether history will remember him as a visionary or a cautionary tale remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Durov has left the world with more than just an app. He’s left it with over a hundred stories still being written.
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