It’s an unusual story from Pavel Durov, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Telegram Messenger app, who revealed how he came to have 100 biological children across the globe despite remaining unmarried.
Sharing this revelation through his popular channel, the 39-year-old entrepreneur explained that although he preferred a solitary lifestyle, he found himself involved in donating sperm 15 years ago, at the request of a friend who needed assistance due to fertility issues. This act led to Durov helping over 12 families worldwide to have children, all thanks to what he termed as “high-quality donor material.”
In his own words, Durov expressed his disbelief at having over 100 biological offspring, especially since he had never tied the knot or desired a traditional family life:
“A peculiar request came my way fifteen years back. A friend approached me, explaining their fertility struggles, and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic to help them conceive. Initially, I found it amusing, until it dawned on me that he was serious.
“The clinic emphasized the scarcity of ‘high-quality donor material’ and convinced me to continue donating sperm anonymously to assist more couples. This outlandish idea spurred me to become a sperm donor.”
Reflecting on his past actions, Durov highlighted how his contributions facilitated the birth of over a hundred children for families in 12 different countries. Even years after he ceased donating, his preserved sperm remains accessible at a fertility clinic for anonymous usage by aspiring parents.
He hinted at his intention to make his DNA publicly available, enabling his biological offspring to locate him easily. Durov acknowledged potential risks but expressed no regrets about his decision to donate, recognizing the global sperm shortage crisis and his role in addressing it.
Encouraging other healthy men to follow suit, Durov advocated for sperm donation to aid struggling families worldwide.
Hailing from Russia but residing in the UAE, Durov’s entrepreneurial acumen gained him recognition as the wealthiest expat in the United Arab Emirates in 2022, as per Forbes. Additionally, Arabian Business crowned him the most influential entrepreneur in Dubai in February 2023.