In a revelation that has stirred global conversation, Pavel Durov, the billionaire creator of the Telegram messaging app, has made an extraordinary offer. He has pledged to cover in-vitro fertilization (IVF) costs for women willing to use his donated sperm. Furthermore, he promises that any resulting children will receive an equal portion of his immense wealth, estimated at $17 billion, provided they can prove a genetic link to him.
A Global Family and a Multi-Billion Dollar Promise
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, the 41-year-old Russian-born tech entrepreneur disclosed in July 2024 that he is the biological father to over 100 children spread across at least 12 different countries. Durov began his journey as a sperm donor around 2010, initially to assist a friend struggling to conceive. This later evolved into anonymous donations at Moscow's AltraVita fertility clinic.
The clinic itself became part of the unusual story in the summer of 2024. It launched a marketing campaign specifically promoting Durov's "biomaterial," highlighting its "high genetic compatibility." The campaign offered free IVF treatments to unmarried women under the age of 37. A former doctor from the clinic told the WSJ that the unmarried condition was to sidestep potential legal issues and described the interested women as "well-educated and very healthy." The clinic's website prominently featured a banner with Durov's photograph alongside the Telegram logo, advertising his "in-demand" sperm.
DNA Verification: The Key to a Fortune
The inheritance plan was detailed by Durov himself. In an interview with a French magazine and later on the Lex Fridman podcast in October 2024, he stated that all his biological offspring would receive equal shares of his estate. "As long as they can establish their shared DNA with me, someday maybe in 30 years from now, they will be entitled to a share of my estate after I'm gone," Durov explained. This announcement reportedly triggered a flood of messages from individuals claiming to be his children. In response, Durov mentioned plans to open-source his DNA data to help his biological children connect with each other in the future.
While Forbes estimates his net worth at $17 billion, Durov noted that the majority of this wealth is tied to Telegram, which he intends to leave to a non-profit foundation. He also holds an undisclosed amount of Bitcoin, purchased back in 2013.
Addressing a Global Shortage or a Unique Legacy?
Durov has framed his extensive sperm donation as a philanthropic effort to combat a growing global issue. In a 2024 post on his Telegram channel, he wrote, "The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I'm proud that I did my part to help alleviate it." He positioned his actions as a direct response to rising male infertility and declining sperm counts globally.
The news inevitably drew comparisons to other high-profile figures with large families, such as Elon Musk, who has at least 14 children. Musk reacted on his platform, X, with a joking reference: "'Rookie numbers lmao'—Genghis Khan," alluding to the Mongol conqueror linked to millions of descendants. Durov retorted with a gaming meme from "StarCraft" that read, "SPAWN MORE OVERLORDS."
The story of Pavel Durov's unconventional family planning and unprecedented inheritance scheme continues to spark debates on ethics, legacy, and modern family structures in the digital age.
