When he was arrested, he was with his 24-year-old girlfriend, who is now missing. He himself claims to be the father of a hundred children and says he plans to have more.
French authorities have charged Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, with crimes related to organized crime, although he has been released under judicial supervision and is prohibited from leaving the country. However, beyond his legal situation, the life of this magnate is truly intriguing.
At 39 years old, Durov faces 12 criminal charges, including complicity in the sale of child abuse material, drug trafficking, and fraud. Additionally, it has been revealed that he is the father of 100 children and that his 24-year-old girlfriend is missing.
Durov, nicknamed “the Russian Mark Zuckerberg” for his role in creating VKontakte (VK), Russia’s largest social network, has proven to be much more than just a tech entrepreneur.
In July 2024, he shocked the world by announcing that he is the biological father of more than 100 children thanks to sperm donations he has made over the past two decades. This revelation not only added to his aura of mystery but also elevated him to the status of a living legend, similar to figures like Elon Musk.
Born in 1984 in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, Pavel Valeryevich Durov spent his early years in post-communist Italy. When he was 4 years old, his family moved to this country where his father had been invited to work at St. Petersburg State University. This move was crucial for a young Durov, who from an early age demonstrated extraordinary talent in mathematics and programming.
Upon returning to Russia, Pavel and his older brother, Nikolai, excelled in math competitions, winning gold medals at the International Mathematical Olympiad. But his true passion was programming. The Durov family, one of the few in Russia to own an IBM PC XT in the early ’90s, provided the brothers with the necessary tools to develop their technical skills.
VKontakte (VK), the Russian Facebook
In 2006, at the age of 21, Durov founded VKontakte (VK), which quickly became Russia’s answer to Facebook. VK not only captured millions of users but also became a symbol for Russian youth. With his libertarian spirit and rejection of government interference, Durov became an icon for a new generation of Russians seeking greater freedom during a time of increasing oppression by the Kremlin.
However, his refusal to comply with the Russian government’s demands, such as not sharing the personal data of Ukrainian protesters during the 2013 protests in Kyiv, sealed his fate at VK. By refusing to back down, Durov was forced to leave the company in 2014. Shortly thereafter, he sold all his shares and left Russia, embarking on a journey that would lead him to create one of the most secure and controversial messaging platforms in the world.
That same year, along with his brother Nikolai, Durov launched Telegram. This messaging app, known for its end-to-end encryption and strong commitment to privacy, quickly became a haven for those seeking to escape government surveillance. Based in Dubai, Telegram reached over 950 million active users worldwide by 2024.
But with success came controversy. Telegram has been criticized for allowing secure communication for extremist and criminal groups. Despite pressure from Western governments, Durov has maintained his firm stance: “You cannot make it secure against criminals and open to governments.” This statement, which he made in a 2016 interview with CNN, summarizes his worldview: freedom must be absolute, even if it carries risks.
Father of 100 Children
Although Durov’s career has been full of achievements and controversies, in July 2024, he shocked the world by revealing that he is the biological father of over 100 children. It all began about 15 years ago when a close friend asked him to donate sperm to help him and his wife, who were facing fertility problems.
Durov, who initially took the request as a joke, eventually agreed after speaking with the director of an in vitro fertilization clinic. The shortage of quality sperm was a growing problem, and Durov decided it was his civic duty to help.
On his Telegram channel, where he has over 11 million followers, Durov explained that he has helped more than 100 couples in 12 countries have children and that there is still some of his frozen sperm in a few clinics. “I am proud to have done my part to alleviate the global shortage of healthy sperm,” he commented in his message.
But Durov didn’t stop there. He announced that he plans to make his DNA public so that his biological children can find each other more easily. “It’s a risk, but I don’t regret it,” he declared, emphasizing that sperm donation is an act that should be destigmatized.
The man behind the myth
Pavel Durov is not just a brilliant entrepreneur; he is an enigma. From his minimalist lifestyle to his staunch commitment to privacy, every aspect of his life reflects a personality that refuses to be pigeonholed.
Often compared to Elon Musk for his bold vision and challenge to established norms, Durov remains an elusive figure, preferring discretion and mystery.
His recent arrest in France on charges related to a lack of moderation on Telegram has opened a new chapter in his life, testing his resolve and commitment to his principles. Durov was detained on August 24 at Le Bourget airport as part of a judicial investigation launched last month related to 12 alleged criminal offenses, including complicity in the sale of child abuse material, drug trafficking, fraud, complicity in organized crime activities, and refusal to cooperate with judicial authorities when required by law.
According to a statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office, Durov’s detention was extended on Monday night for up to 48 hours. At the end of that period, the authorities will have to decide whether to release him or formally charge him, the prosecutor’s office said in a previous statement.
The Russian embassy in Paris reported that consular access to Durov was denied because French authorities consider his French citizenship to be predominant. While free speech advocates support him, governments that criticize him continue to pressure for more control over his platform.
Missing girlfriend
His arrest opened a parallel mystery, as his 24-year-old girlfriend, Yulia Vavilova, who was with him when he was apprehended, disappeared without a trace.
She is a cryptocurrency coach and influencer, and it is believed that she may have hidden or fled or that she was involved in Durov’s capture. Various internet users have described her as a “mysterious” figure, and some sources have indicated that Vavilova might not be her real surname, which she started using after arriving in Dubai. There are also suspicions that her Instagram posts may have triggered the arrest of the Telegram CEO.