Pavel Durov — the founder and CEO of Telegram — has unveiled a groundbreaking inheritance plan: he intends to equally distribute his multi-billion dollar fortune among all of his children, which include both his six biological offspring and over 100 children conceived via sperm donation across 12 countries.
Wealth & Inheritance Details
- Net Worth: Estimated between $13.9 billion and $17.1 billion (depending on the source)
- Children Count:
- 6 biological children from three different partners
- 100+ children conceived through sperm donations
- Inheritance Terms:
- All children—natural and donor-born—will receive equal shares.
- Funds will be locked for 30 years post his interview (June 19, 2025), meaning inheritors only gain access in 2055 when the youngest likely turns 30
Motivation & Context
- Rationale: Durov aims to foster independence among his children and avoid financial entanglements that might sow discord:
“I want them to live like normal people… not to be dependent on a bank account.”
- Equality Principle: He stresses no preferential treatment between those born naturally and through donation, seeking fairness across the board .
- Security Concerns: Living under legal and political pressure (including arrest in France in 2024), he drafted his will now to protect both his legacy and his company from emerging risks
Broader Implications
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Innovation | A novel, diaspora-based inheritance approach democratizes wealth equally among natural and donor children. |
| Ethical Debates | Raises questions around anonymity, genetic parenthood boundaries, and large-scale sperm donation practices. |
| Future Planning | Delaying access until 2055 encourages accountability and potentially buffers against misuse. |
Final Take
Pavel Durov’s inheritance plan is unprecedented in scope, reshaping norms around legacy and parenthood. By delaying disbursement for three decades and enforcing strict equality, he’s emphasizing independence and fairness while confronting the unique realities of his unconventional family.
Would you like a deeper dive into the legal, ethical, or technical aspects of this plan—or how it compares to traditional inheritance models?