Pavel Durov was Born on October 10, 1984. He is a Russian from Leningrad Russia SFSR. but he spent most of his childhood in Turin.
He later studied at Saint Petersburg State University. He became a Russian executive, entrepreneur, and investor.
Pavel Durov, with his brother co-founded Telegram. Also, Co-founded the famous Russian Networking Site VK (VKontakte).Â
He was on the Forbes Billionaire list. With a net worth of 11.5 Billion Dollars. which was created from telegram.
According to Forbes By 25 August 2024, he was the 120th richest man in the world with a net worth of 15.5 billion dollars.
And was also recognized by Forbes as the richest expat in the United Arab Emirates. In February 2023, he got titled as THE âMOST POWERFUL ENTREPRENEUR IN DUBAIâ.
Pavel Durovâs Personal Life
Pavel Durovâs younger brother is Nikolai Durov. Who helped him co-found Telegram. and was crucial to its development as the lead developer, programmer, and architect.
Pavel Durov is not married. In 2017, he moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates where Telegramâs headquarters is located.
He became an Emirati citizen in 2021. In August 2021, Pavel Durov got French citizenship. even though he hadnât lived in France beyond a brief period. His naturalization is always seen as âmysterious,â. Possible due to a special âmerit foreignerâ procedure.
Because this merit foreigner is an honor to individuals by the french government. who have contributed to Franceâs global influence on international economic relations.
After becoming a French citizen, Durov changed the French version of his name to âPaul du Roveâ.
A year later, he revealed the name change and application for French citizenship was a part of an April Foolâs joke. but the application was actually approved, and the passport got issued.
Pavel Durovâs Children and Ex-Wife.
Pavel married Daria Bondarenko, whom he met while studying at university. But later they got Divorced.
They had two children together:
Daughter: Alina, born in 2009
Son: Mikhail was born in 2010.
As of 2021, Daria Bondarenko was living in Barcelona, Spain. After Separating from Durov.
Durovâs Children âRichest Heirsâ.
In 2021, Russian Forbes ranked Durovâs children as the sixth richest heirs in Russia. This suggests that Durovâs wealth has positioned his children to inherit significantly. Though Durov himself resides outside of Russia.
New Allegations on Durov
On July 23, 2024, a woman named Irina Bolgar, was born in 1980 and residing in Switzerland. Contacted Forbes with proof that showed she was the mother of three children by Pavel Durov.
She provided a family photo from 2020 as evidence of her relationship with Durov. Forbes verified the authenticity of the documents she presented, confirming her claims.
Legal Action
In August 2024, Bolgar filed a lawsuit against Durov in Switzerland. she alleged that Durov had abused their youngest son five times between 2021 and 2022. which is a very serious accusation.
Bolgar also stated that Durov had stopped seeing their children since September 2022. and had ceased paying child support, which had an sum of 150,000 euros per month.
This timing of the lawsuit is noteworthy. As it came several months after the child support payment stopped. suggesting that the end of financial support led to the escalation of legal actions.
Durovâs Sperm Donation and Alleged Paternity.
Also to his children with Daria Bondarenko and Irina Bolgar. Durov has made the surprising claim that he has fathered more than 100 children. By sperm donation in 12 different countries since 2010.
This is a controversial claim of Durov. As he chosen to spread his genetic lineage far beyond traditional family structures.
This claim could state Durovâs unconventional views on parenthood. Or suggest that he wishes to exert influence or leave a legacy in a nontraditional way.
Also Read: Telegram CEO Pavel Durvo Got Arrested, For ILLEGAL Activities.
Pavel Durov, Mark Zuckerberg Of Russia?
Pavel Durov always gets comparisons with âMark Zuckerbergâ. He is a Russian entrepreneur recognized for founding VKontakte (VK). Russiaâs equal to Facebook.
His early success led to notable recognitionâthe most promising leader under 30 in Northern Europe by the Nordic Business Forum in 2014.Â
Durovâs influence extended beyond tech innovation. He has been celebrated for his stance against censorship. He earned an award from Kazakhstanâs Journalists Union in 2018. For defending free online communities.
That same year, Fortune included him in their â40 Under 40â list. recognizing his business impact.
In recent years, Durovâs influence shifted to a global scale. In 2023, Arabian Business named him Dubaiâs most powerful entrepreneur. Highlighting his continued prominence in tech and business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Telegram has a relatively small team, with around 30 to 50 core employees, as the company operates with a lean structure focusing on efficiency.
Pavel Durov studied at Saint Petersburg State University, where he earned a degree in Philology, focusing on linguistics and languages.
Pavel Durov, the CEO of Telegram, is Russian by birth but has since acquired citizenship in other countries, including Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Pavel Durov, the owner of Telegram, was born on October 10, 1984, making him 39 years old as of 2024.
Pavel Durov made his money primarily from co-founding the social networking site VKontakte (VK) and later selling his stake. He also earns from Telegram, the messaging app he founded.