Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old founder and CEO of Telegram, shared an unexpected personal revelation: he has fathered over 100 biological children worldwide despite never being married. This announcement was made through his popular Telegram channel on Monday evening, July 29.
Durov, known for his preference to remain single, disclosed that his journey into fatherhood began 15 years ago when a friend approached him to donate sperm due to fertility issues. Initially hesitant, Durov agreed and began donating at a clinic. His contributions helped over 12 families conceive children.
“Fifteen years ago, a friend asked me to donate sperm because he and his wife were struggling with fertility. I laughed at first but soon realized he was serious,” Durov recounted. “The clinic’s director mentioned a shortage of ‘high-quality donor material,’ which convinced me to contribute.”
By 2024, Durov’s donations had resulted in over 100 children across 12 countries. Even years after he ceased donating, some clinics still possess his frozen sperm for future use.
Durov hinted at the possibility of open-sourcing his DNA to help his biological children find him, despite potential risks. He also urged healthy men to consider sperm donation, emphasizing the global shortage of healthy sperm.
Pavel Durov, a Russian-born Emirati entrepreneur, was recognized as the richest expatriate in the UAE by Forbes in 2022 and was named the most powerful entrepreneur in Dubai by Arabian Business in February 2023.
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