Pavel Durov, the Founder and CEO of Telegram, recently shared on the app that he discovered he has over 100 biological children. Fifteen years ago, a friend facing fertility issues asked Durov to donate sperm, which he did at a clinic. By 2024, his donations had helped over 100 couples across 12 countries conceive children.
Durov, who has never married and prefers a solitary lifestyle, was initially surprised by the request but eventually agreed. The clinic later encouraged him to donate more, citing a shortage of “high-quality donor material.” His sperm remains available for anonymous use by families seeking to have children.
Durov now plans to open-source his DNA so that his biological children can connect with each other.
Social Media Reaction:
His post quickly went viral, amassing over 1.8 million views. Reactions on social media, particularly on X, were mixed.
One user commented, “Over 100 biological kids? Are you the Father Abraham we were told about?”
Another questioned, “The Telegram CEO has over 100 biological kids—Is that bullish or bearish?”
A third pointed out, “There’s actually a documentary on Netflix about mega donors who travel the world donating sperm, both legally and on the black market, to spread their genetics as widely as possible.”