Pavel Durov, the co-founder and CEO of the social media platform Telegram, has made a surprising revelation: he is the biological father of over 100 children in 12 countries. In a lengthy post on his Telegram channel, boasting over 5.82 million subscribers, Durov shared that he had been an active sperm donor in previous years. The 39-year-old, who established Russia’s largest social network Vkontakte at the age of 22, expressed a desire to “open-source” his DNA.
Durov explained that he was informed recently of having over 100 biological offspring, a revelation that sparked curiosity about how this was possible for someone who has never been married and prefers a solitary lifestyle. He then recounted his journey into sperm donation, revealing that it began 15 years ago when a married friend approached him with a peculiar request. His friend, facing infertility issues, asked Durov to donate his sperm at a clinic to help them have a child. Durov initially dismissed the request as a joke, laughing it off, but eventually realized his friend was serious.
At the clinic, Durov was informed that “high-quality donor material” was in short supply and that it was his “civic duty” to “donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples.” As of 2024, many years after he ceased being a donor, Durov learned that at least one IVF clinic still possesses his frozen sperm available for anonymous use by families seeking to have children.
Looking to the future, Durov stated his intention to open-source his DNA, making it easier for his biological children to connect with each other. He acknowledged the inherent risks but maintained that he doesn’t regret his decision to be a donor. Durov emphasized the growing global shortage of healthy sperm, stating that he’s proud to have contributed to addressing this issue.
Durov’s motivation for sharing this personal story is clear: he aims to challenge societal norms surrounding sperm donation and inspire more healthy men to consider it as a means of helping families struggling to conceive. He encourages a more open-minded approach to family creation, challenging the conventional definition of family and promoting the acceptance of non-traditional parenthood. He urges readers to “defy convention — redefine the norm!”
