Alright, buckle in because this story is the kind of thing that makes you wonder if billionaires are just bored or if they really do live in some alternate universe the rest of us can’t access. Telegram founder Pavel Durov, already known for being a tech billionaire with disturbingly perfect abs, has casually dropped a bombshell that’s raising eyebrows everywhere: He has over 100 children, thanks to a mix of personal relationships and, wait for it, prolific sperm donations. You can’t make this stuff up.
Durov, often called the “Mark Zuckerberg of Russia” but with way more flair (and apparently kids), built his fortune as the founder of VKontakte, Russia’s version of Facebook, and later Telegram, the encrypted messaging app now used by over a billion people worldwide. He’s famous for resisting government overreach, living like a monk with his no-meat, no-sugar, no-alcohol diet, and doing 300 push-ups a day like it’s part of some billionaire starter kit. But apparently, in between his workouts and dodging authoritarian governments, the guy’s been… busy.
In an interview with Le Point, Durov revealed he has six “official” children with three different women and at least 100 more spread across 12 countries, courtesy of his long-running habit of donating to sperm clinics. And he’s not shying away from those responsibilities, either. According to Durov, all his kids—yes, all 106-plus of them—will inherit an equal share of his fortune, which hovers somewhere between $13.9 billion and $17.1 billion depending on the day’s crypto market.
For those doing the math, each of these kids stands to inherit roughly $132 million… but there’s a catch. They’ll have to wait 30 years before seeing a dime, as Durov wants them to “build themselves up” and “not depend on a bank account.” Sounds noble enough, but knowing you’ve got $130 million waiting for you probably changes your motivation level a bit.
Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, reveals he plans to leave his $17 BILLION fortune to his 100+ children— six from relationships and others via sperm donations over 15 years. pic.twitter.com/MT8jlvOOzM
— Buzzing Pop (@BuzzingPop) June 20, 2025
Now, before you think this is just some tech world soap opera, Durov’s story comes with legal headaches too. He’s facing allegations in France over Telegram allegedly enabling criminal activity, which he denies, but the drama’s not slowing him down.
At this rate, Elon Musk looks downright boring. Welcome to the new billionaire reality show.
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