Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of the Telegram messaging app, shared how he became the biological father to over 100 children despite never marrying. The 39-year-old entrepreneur opened up about his unconventional journey in a post on his popular Telegram channel on Monday evening.
Durov recounted that his involvement in sperm donation began 15 years ago, prompted by an unusual request from a friend facing fertility challenges.
“Fifteen years ago, a friend approached me with a weird request. He said that he and his wife couldn’t have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realising he was dead serious,” Durov shared.
He explained that this initial request led to further involvement after a conversation with the clinic’s head. The clinic’s director emphasized a significant shortage of high-quality donor sperm and urged Durov to contribute regularly. Intrigued by the idea and recognizing the potential impact, Durov agreed.
“Fast forward to 2024, my past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids. Moreover, many years after I stopped being a donor, at least one IVF clinic still has my frozen sperm available for anonymous use by families who want to have kids,” he said.
Despite his preference for a solitary lifestyle, Durov is now aware of his vast biological progeny. He expressed pride in his contributions to families struggling with infertility. He also mentioned plans to open-source his DNA, making it easier for his biological children to find him in the future.
“Of course, there are risks, but 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.
