Billionaire tech entrepreneur Pavel Durov, the enigmatic founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has reportedly outlined an unconventional and attention-grabbing will that could see his substantial fortune distributed among more than 100 children. With a net worth estimated at close to $14 billion, Durov’s estate plans offer a unique contrast to how many of the world’s wealthiest individuals approach inheritance.
An Unprecedented Inheritance
According to recent reports, Durov, 40, has revealed plans to divide his entire estimated $13.9 billion fortune among his numerous biological children. This includes the six children he has with three different partners, as well as potentially over 100 more children conceived via sperm donation over the past 15 years across 12 countries. Based on the estimated number of heirs exceeding 106, this could translate to an inheritance of approximately $132 million for each child.
Durov stated in an interview that his will makes no distinction between children conceived traditionally and those from sperm donations, asserting equal rights for all.
The 30-Year Condition
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Durov’s will is a significant condition: his children will reportedly not gain access to their inheritance for a period of 30 years from the date the will is finalized. His stated reason for this lengthy delay is a desire for his children to experience life outside the shadow of extreme wealth. He aims for them to develop self-reliance, build their own successes independently, and learn to navigate the world without immediate access to a vast bank account.
This approach starkly contrasts with the philosophies of many other billionaires. Figures like Bill Gates, who plans to leave less than 1% of his fortune to his children, and Laurene Powell Jobs, who reportedly doesn’t intend to pass on her estate, have voiced concerns that inheriting immense wealth could hinder their children’s ability to forge their own path and achieve personal fulfillment. Durov’s method, while ensuring all known biological offspring receive a share, employs a unique mechanism—the delayed access—to potentially address similar concerns about the impact of instant riches.
The Man Behind Telegram
Pavel Durov is a Russian-born entrepreneur known for co-founding the social media platform VKontakte before launching Telegram in 2013. He reportedly left Russia in 2014 after refusing government demands regarding VKontakte user data and has since become a vocal proponent of digital privacy and freedom from censorship. Telegram, while praised for its encryption features, has also faced considerable controversy over its moderation policies, including allegations of enabling illicit content and the spread of disinformation. Durov, who holds dual citizenship and is based in Dubai, has recently faced legal scrutiny, including an indictment in France, which he has reportedly dismissed as “absurd.”
Durov’s highly unusual inheritance plan adds another layer to the public persona of the often-private tech mogul, setting a new precedent in high-stakes estate planning for the ultra-wealthy. The specifics of how potential heirs conceived via sperm donation will be identified and navigate the process remain complex, depending on donation type (anonymous vs. directed) and international legal frameworks, but the stated intention is clear: equal distribution among all recognized biological descendants.
