Telegram Founder to Leave $14 Billion Estate to 100+ Children He's Conceived

Pavel Durov might only 40 years old but he’s already planning to leave billions to over 100 children that he's conceived.

The founder and CEO of instant messaging app Telegram sat down with French political magazine Le Point, where he revealed that he will leave his estate to his six biological kids, as well as the many children he’s fathered through sperm donation.

Durov told the publication that he views all his children the same. "They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don’t want them to tear each other apart after my death," he said.

Last year, he revealed that he’s conceived more than 100 children, which includes the six biological children that he’s had with three partners. He claims that a clinic told him he fathered the 100+ children over 15 years.

The Russian-born tech mogul is reportedly worth an estimated $13.9 billion, though he says that number is “theoretical.” According to Fortune's math, that means each child will receive $132 million.

"Since I’m not selling Telegram, it doesn’t matter. I don’t have this money in a bank account. My liquid assets are much lower — and they don’t come from Telegram: they come from my investment in bitcoin in 2013."

But his kids won’t receive their inheritances anytime soon, saying he wants them to "live like normal people."

"I decided that my children would not have access to my fortune until a period of 30 years has elapsed, starting from today. I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account."

Durov, who lives in Dubai, recently wrote his will, explaining to Le Point that his "work involves risks."

"Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states," he added. "I want to protect my children, but also the company I created, Telegram. I want Telegram to forever remain faithful to the values I defend."

Durov launched Telegram in 2013. The messaging app — for which he is Telegram’s sole shareholder — is known for its security and privacy. Last year in Paris, he was arrested following allegations that his platform was involved in assisting money launderers, drug traffickers, and people disseminating child pornography. He was later indicted on charges including complicity in the distribution of child exploitation material and drug trafficking.