Who is Pavel Durov? The $15B Telegram founder and father of over 100 children

Durov's arrest in Paris raises questions about the enigmatic billionaire's unconventional life and surprising claims.

Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder of the widely popular messaging app Telegram, is a figure shrouded in intrigue, not just for his tech innovations but also for his unconventional lifestyle. 

Despite being worth an estimated $15 Billion, Durov, 39, lives a minimalist life, devoid of the trappings typically associated with billionaires. 

In a rare interview earlier this year, Durov disclosed that he owns no personal assets, including houses, land, yachts, or private jets.

Instead, he resides in Dubai, focusing all his energy on Telegram, the platform he founded in 2013 alongside his brother Nikolai. 

Durov's journey to becoming one of the most influential figures in tech began in Russia, where he was born. 

He spent part of his childhood in Italy before returning to Russia when his father, a scholar of ancient Roman literature, took a position at St. Petersburg University. 

It was there that Durov, along with his brother, developed a deep interest in computer programming. 

This passion led him to create VK, also known as the "Facebook of Russia," which quickly became the largest social media platform in Russia and the former Soviet states.

However, Durov's refusal to comply with Russian security agencies' demands to hand over user data related to Ukrainian protesters led to his forced departure from VK. In 2014, he left Russia and eventually settled in Dubai, after unsuccessful attempts to establish himself in Berlin, London, and San Francisco due to bureaucratic hurdles.

Beyond his professional achievements, Durov's personal life has also garnered attention. Despite his muscular physique and good looks, he is believed to be single.

Recently, Durov made a surprising claim in a Telegram post, stating that he is the father of over 100 children worldwide, thanks to his role as a sperm donor. 

He is known to have a daughter and a son with his ex-partner, Daria Bondarenko, who now resides in Barcelona. 

Additionally, Irina Bolgar, a 44-year-old Russian woman living in Switzerland, has publicly claimed that Durov fathered her three children, born in 2013, 2016, and 2017.