Pavel Durov, the founder of the encrypted messaging platform Telegram, has revealed that his more than 100 children will equally inherit his estimated $13.9 billion (£10.3 billion) fortune.
“They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don’t want them to tear each other apart after my death,” Durov told French political magazine Le Point.
Durov, 40, confirmed he is the legal father of six children with three different partners. However, he said he has fathered over 100 more through sperm donations to a fertility clinic.
Despite ongoing legal issues in France, the Russian-born tech billionaire, who now lives in self-imposed exile, insisted that his intentions are clear: his children will not receive access to their inheritance for another 30 years.
“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,” he said.
Durov explained that he chose to write his will now because of the risks associated with his work.
“Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states,” he said.
Telegram, known for its strong focus on privacy and encrypted communications, currently boasts more than one billion monthly active users worldwide.
Durov also addressed the serious criminal charges he faces in France. He was arrested last year after being accused of failing to adequately moderate Telegram to prevent criminal activity on the platform.
French authorities have alleged that Telegram has not sufficiently cooperated in investigations involving drug trafficking, child sexual abuse material, and fraud. Durov denies the claims, and Telegram has previously stated that it maintains robust moderation protocols.
“Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn’t make those who run it criminals,” he told Le Point, describing the allegations as “totally absurd.”
