Pavel Durov, founder and CEO of Telegram, has announced that his estate will be shared equally among more than 100 children he has fathered through both personal relationships and sperm donation. The Russian-born tech billionaire, speaking in a recent interview with Le Point, emphasized that all his children—regardless of how they were conceived—will have identical inheritance rights.

A Unique Family Philosophy

Durov, 40, explained that he wrote his will to prevent future disputes and ensure fairness. He stated that none of his children will have access to his fortune for at least 30 years, hoping they will build their own paths and not depend solely on inherited wealth. “I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account,” Durov explained.

Wealth, Security, and Telegram’s Future

Durov, whose net worth is estimated by Bloomberg at nearly $14 billion, downplayed his wealth and clarified that most of his liquid assets stem from early bitcoin investments—not from Telegram, which he has no plans to sell. He also revealed his motivations for creating a will now, citing the risks associated with defending digital freedoms and a desire to secure both his family’s and Telegram’s futures.

Telegram, with over a billion monthly users, remains at the center of global debates over privacy and content moderation. Durov has faced legal challenges, including recent arrest and criminal allegations in France related to illicit activity on the platform. He has strongly denied all accusations, defending Telegram’s commitment to privacy and user freedom.