Telegram founder says he has fathered greater than 100 youngsters

The multi-billionaire founding father of instantaneous messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, says he has fathered greater than 100 youngsters.

“The clinic, the place I began donating sperm 15 years in the past to assist a buddy, instructed me that greater than 100 infants had been conceived this manner in 12 nations,” Mr Durov instructed French political journal Le Level.

Mr Durov, who says he’s the “official father” of six different youngsters with three completely different companions, added that each one of his offspring will share his estimated $13.9bn (£10.3bn) fortune.

He additionally reiterated that he denies any wrongdoing in reference to severe felony costs he faces in France.

“They’re all my youngsters and can all have the identical rights! I do not need them to tear one another aside after my dying,” Mr Durov mentioned.

However the self-exiled Russian expertise tycoon instructed the journal that none of his youngsters would have entry to their inheritance for 30 years.

“I need them to reside like regular folks, to construct themselves up alone, to be taught to belief themselves, to have the ability to create, to not be depending on a checking account,” he mentioned.

The 40-year-old mentioned he had written a will now as a result of his job “entails dangers – defending freedoms earns you a lot enemies, together with inside highly effective states”.

His app, Telegram, identified for its concentrate on privateness and encrypted messaging, has greater than a billion month-to-month energetic customers.

Mr Durov additionally addressed felony costs he faces in France, the place he was arrested final yr after being accused of failing to correctly reasonable the app to scale back criminality.

He has denied failing to cooperate with regulation enforcement over drug trafficking, baby sexual abuse content material and fraud. Telegram has beforehand denied having inadequate moderation.

Within the Le Level interview he described the costs as “completely absurd”.

“Simply because criminals use our messaging service amongst many others would not make those that run it criminals,” he added.