Pavel Durov’s life reads less like a business profile and more like a never-ending stream of provocative headlines. The billionaire founder of Telegram has spent years dodging governments, hoarding cash, and making sure his personal life stays just as chaotic as his business dealings.
Here’s how the man behind one of the world’s most private messaging platforms keeps both governments and expectations at arm’s length.
He Built Telegram After Walking Away From Russia’s Top Social Network
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Before Telegram, there was VKontakte, a platform Durov co-founded in his early twenties that quickly earned the nickname “Russia’s Facebook.” He became a national tech darling until 2014, when the Russian government asked for user data and Durov said no. That refusal cost him control of VK, his company shares, and his place in the country.
He Poured His Vkontakte Fortune Into Building Telegram
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After being ousted, Durov sold his stake in VK for over $200 million. Nearly all of it went into Telegram, the encrypted messaging app he founded with his brother. Telegram now has over a billion users, operates without investors, and reported profitability for the first time in 2024.
He’s Been Arrested—But Not for His Own Behavior
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In 2024, Durov was briefly detained in France, not for any personal crime, but because Telegram was allegedly being misused for illegal activity. His response was that tech laws written before the iPhone shouldn’t apply to the 21st century. He’s still facing six charges, and he’s still not particularly concerned.
He Moved Telegram’s Operations to Dubai for Freedom—And Taxes
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Durov relocated to Dubai in 2017 and has kept Telegram’s base there ever since. He cites both the lack of personal income tax and a more hands-off approach from local authorities as reasons. Though he’s a citizen of the UAE now, he’s still firm about avoiding a permanent headquarters.
He Once Offered Free IVF to Women Willing to Have His Children
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Durov has confirmed that he privately offered to cover IVF costs for women willing to have his biological children, primarily through sperm donation. He told interviewers that the goal was to “improve the genetic pool,” and has since fathered over 100 children across multiple countries.
He’s Made Those 100+ Children Heirs to His Fortune
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In 2025, Durov updated his will to include all of his children, whether conceived naturally or through donation. That means over 100 people may eventually inherit from his $14 billion estate. But they’ll have to wait 30 years before seeing any of it.
He Keeps His Lifestyle Sparse, but Not Without Flair
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Publicly, Durov claims to own almost nothing: no house, no car, no jet. And yet, photos of him on luxury yachts say otherwise. He says he’s not lying, just borrowing. His aesthetic is part monk, part Bond villain, and somehow it works.
His Ex Accused Him of Abuse and Dodging Child Support
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In a Swiss legal case, former partner Bolgar accused Durov of inappropriate behavior toward their child and failing to provide regular financial support. Durov denied having a romantic relationship and claimed he sends $10,000 per month per child. Bolgar presented notarized agreements and receipts suggesting inconsistent payments.
He Thinks AI Will Wreck White-Collar Jobs—But Sees Upside
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Durov believes artificial intelligence will upend stable professions like law and medicine, especially for those slow to adapt. But he’s not pessimistic. He views job loss as a symptom of progress, so long as people continue creating things of value. He’s more concerned about people than profits.
Testing the Waters of Philanthropy
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In 2025, Durov sent €400,000 to the Foundation for AIDS Research. There were no big announcements or press tours. It’s his way of saying he cares, without actually saying much at all. It was subtle, strategic, and very on brand for him.
Four Passports, Zero Loyalty (To Any Flag)
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While most people juggle one passport and a few airport stamps, Durov carries four. He started with Russian citizenship, picked up one from St. Kitts & Nevis in 2013 (hello, Caribbean tax benefits), added a French passport in 2021, and locked in UAE citizenship that same year.
Donated US$1 Million to the Wikimedia Foundation
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At the Digital Life Design conference in Munich, Pavel Durov made headlines by donating US$1 million to the Wikimedia Foundation with the aim of supporting free knowledge worldwide. His generous contribution reflected his commitment to open access and digital freedom.
He Once Threw Cash From His Window Just to Watch the Chaos
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In 2012, standing at his office window in St. Petersburg, Durov folded several 5,000-ruble notes into paper airplanes and launched them into the street. People stopped, stared, then scrambled to grab the bills. The scene turned chaotic. When asked why he did it, Durov didn’t offer much, just called it a personal experiment and moved on.
What He Eats (Or Doesn’t) Could Power a Netflix Doc
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Durov doesn’t drink coffee, avoids alcohol, and cut out gluten, dairy, and meat years ago. By 2019, he was mostly eating fish. Sometimes he skips food entirely. He rarely explains it, but the pattern is consistent.
A Childhood That Zigzagged Across Continents
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Before all the code and chaos, there was Turin. Durov spent much of his early life in Italy while his father taught at the university. That cross-cultural upbringing likely shaped his later desire to be everywhere—and nowhere—all at once. He doesn’t settle easily. And maybe, he never will.
