Pavel Durov’s Legacy of Code, Cash, and Children: Telegram CEO to Leave $13.9 Billion Fortune to 106 Heirs

 

In a move that has sparked a whirlwind of fascination, controversy, and curiosity, Telegram CEO and tech visionary Pavel Durov has reportedly decided to leave his entire $13.9 billion fortune to his 106 children — a number that includes six he is legally connected to, and a staggering 100 conceived through sperm donation.

This isn’t just about wealth. It’s about redefining legacy in the digital age.

Durov, long seen as an enigmatic figure in the tech world — part libertarian idealist, part digital dissident — is no stranger to radical decisions. From resisting authoritarian governments to turning Telegram into a global fortress for encrypted communication, his every move seems calculated to challenge the status quo. And now, his will might just be his boldest message yet.

At first glance, leaving your fortune to your children seems mundane. But when the number is 106, it forces society to reconsider what family, responsibility, and legacy mean in the 21st century. Critics have questioned the ethics, logistics, and even emotional dynamics of such a decision, while supporters call it a revolutionary step toward democratizing wealth within his own lineage.

Is Durov trying to build a dynasty of digital heirs? A decentralized family network spanning continents, ideologies, and DNA? Maybe. Or perhaps this is his final protest against the traditional billionaire blueprint: donate to charities, foundations, or institutions. Instead, he’s chosen to empower the biological network he helped create—regardless of how unconventional it may seem.

But questions remain. How will the wealth be managed? Will there be a trust? Will all children be treated equally? And what kind of emotional or psychological weight does inheritance carry when it’s shared among over a hundred heirs?

One thing’s clear: Pavel Durov is not here to conform. Whether it’s how we message or how we define family, he’s pushing the world to think differently.

And maybe, just maybe, that’s his greatest legacy of all.