Telegram messenger founder, Pavel Durov revealed that the more than 100 children he has fathered will share in his estimated US$13.9 billion.
In an exclusive interview with French political magazine, Le Point, the billionaire said the fortune will be shared between the six children he is the “official father” of and the 100 babies conceived through sperm donations he started 15 years ago.
"They are all my children and will all have the same rights! I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death," he told the magazine.
The self-exiled Russian technology tycoon also said that his children wouldn't have access to his inheritance for 30 years.
“I want them to live like normal people, to build themselves up alone, to learn to trust themselves, to be able to create, not to be dependent on a bank account,” he said.
Durov has already written his will now at age 40 as he believes his job involves "risks – defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states".
The messaging app that he founded, Telegram, is known for privacy and encrypted messages and currently has more than a billion monthly users.
In an interview with Le Point, he denied serious criminal charges he faces in France.
The charges allege he failed to moderate the app to reduce criminality; however, he denies refusing to cooperate with law enforcement over drugs, trafficking and child sexual abuse content and fraud on Telegram.
"Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn't make those who run it criminals," Durov said.
Despite receiving acquisition offers for the messaging platform, Durov said it’s not for sale and he still holds 100% of the company.
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