Pavel Durov, the Founder and CEO of Telegram, recently made a surprising revelation: he has over “100 biological kids.” Durov shared this news with his 5.7 million subscribers on the messaging app. “I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. How is this possible for a guy who has never been married and prefers to live alone?” he commented.
Pavel Durov recounted an unusual request he received about 15 years ago from a friend who struggled with fertility issues. His friend and his wife asked Durov to donate sperm at a clinic so they could have a child. Initially, Durov laughed off the request but soon realized his friend was serious.
The clinic’s director informed Durov that there was a shortage of “high-quality donor material” and emphasized it as his “civic duty to donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples.” Intrigued by the uniqueness of the request, Durov agreed to become a sperm donor.
Fast forward to 2024, Durov’s donations have assisted over 100 couples across 12 countries in having children. Even years after he ceased donating, at least one IVF clinic still holds his frozen sperm for anonymous use by families.
In his message, Durov expressed his intent to open-source his DNA to help his biological children connect with each other. He emphasized the importance of healthy sperm donation and expressed pride in his contribution. “I don’t regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I’m proud that I did my part to help alleviate it,” Durov stated. He also hopes to destigmatize sperm donation and encourage more healthy men to contribute.
Since the post was shared, it has garnered over 1.8 million views. A screenshot of his post shared on X (formerly Twitter) elicited varied reactions. One user commented, “Tech CEOs’ new hubristic hobby seems to be competing on the number of offspring they can claim – without ever loving them or being in their lives.” Another noted the humor in the situation, mentioning that some of Durov’s sperm donations are still preserved. Another user added, “This is what happens when you ‘donate’ your sperm to IVF clinics. I don’t see how this can be spun as a win.”
Despite the mixed reactions, Durov remains resolute in his decision and mission to redefine societal norms surrounding sperm donation.