Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Offers IVF Funding, Promises Inheritance to Biological Children
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Telegram founder Pavel Durov is offering to cover the full cost of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for women under 37 who choose to conceive using his sperm, with the added promise that all resulting children will be entitled to a share of his $17 billion fortune.
The 41-year-old Russian-born tech billionaire, whose net worth is estimated at $17 billion, revealed the initiative during an October interview on the Lex Fridman Podcast. He claims to have already fathered at least 100 children through sperm donation, in addition to his six children with three partners, as reported by the New York Post.
A “Civic Duty” to Address Global Fertility Concerns
Durov frames his extensive sperm donation as a “civic duty,” citing a growing global shortage of “high-quality donor material.” He advocates for the destigmatisation of sperm donation and believes it’s a critical step in addressing declining fertility rates worldwide.
“As long as they can establish their shared DNA with me, someday, maybe in 30 years from now, they will be entitled to a share of my estate after I’m gone,” Durov stated. He emphasized that he views all of his children equally, regardless of their circumstances of conception.
Environmental Factors and Declining Sperm Counts
Durov has publicly connected the observed decline in sperm counts and the rise in infertility rates to environmental factors, specifically pointing to plastic pollution as a contributing cause. He expressed a desire to actively help mitigate this issue through his donations.
His involvement in sperm donation began in 2010, initially to assist a friend facing difficulties with conception. Encouraged by fertility specialists who highlighted the existing shortage, he continued donating over the years. In a July 2024 Telegram post, Durov revealed that his efforts have already helped over 100 couples across 12 countries achieve parenthood.
“Of course, there are risks, but I don’t regret having been a donor,” he wrote. “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.”
This unconventional approach to philanthropy and family planning raises complex questions about the future of inheritance and the evolving definition of parenthood in the 21st century.
