The clinic described Durov as a person with "high genetic compatibility" and also mentioned that he is willing to cover the costs of in vitro fertilization for women no older than 37 who wish to use his sperm.
A former doctor at the clinic noted that all the patients looked attractive, were well-educated, and in excellent health: "They were looking for a father for their child, and many of them considered Durov a suitable candidate." Durov, who is currently 41 years old, claims that he already has at least 100 children in different countries, in addition to the six he conceived with three different mothers.
According to Durov, he began donating sperm around 2010, initially helping a friend who was trying to get pregnant, and then anonymously to address the shortage of "quality donor material." Although he stopped donating sperm many years ago, his frozen sperm is still available at the AltraVita clinic.
In the summer of 2024, in an interview with a French publication, Durov stated that his biological children will have equal rights to inheritance. Forbes estimates his net worth at $17 billion, most of which is tied to the value of Telegram, which he plans to transfer to a nonprofit foundation. He also owns an unspecified amount of bitcoins acquired in 2013, which has led to numerous messages from people claiming to be his descendants.
"If they manage to prove that we share a common DNA gene, perhaps in 30 years they will be able to claim part of my inheritance," he said in one of the podcasts. Durov also intends to make his DNA publicly available so that his biological children can find each other.
Thus, Durov joins the ranks of influential people exploring the boundaries of reproductive ethics and technology. Some, like Elon Musk, view having children as a way to address the problem of declining population growth and colonizing future generations. Durov, for his part, sees his donation as a way to help combat the shortage of healthy sperm and inspire other men to follow his example.
Durov believes that part of Western civilization is in decline. He has often spoken out about the threats to freedom and privacy arising from technological regulation in Europe and other countries. "In October, while we sleep, a grim world is rapidly approaching us," he wrote, commenting on digital IDs and arrests for social media statements. "We are on the path to self-destruction."
The revelation of information about Durov's more than 100 children prompted a joking response from Musk, who himself is a father of at least 14 children. "Newbies, lol — Genghis Khan," he wrote on Twitter, hinting that around 16 million people could be descendants of this historical figure.
"I'll be back soon, increasing the unit limit," Durov replied to Musk's post, adding a meme from the game "StarCraft" with the call to "CREATE MORE SUPPLY DEPOTS."
The main clinic conducting this program is AltraVita, which serves wealthy Russians and foreign clients. In its promotional materials, the clinic claims to offer "selective" embryos screened for genetic diseases.
Last year, Durov stated on Telegram that he was initially skeptical about sperm donation, but [AltraVita founder] Yakovenko convinced him that it was his civic duty in the face of declining sperm quality and rising male infertility.
This initiative has received a positive response in Russia, where there is a serious demographic crisis exacerbated by emigration and war. "The shortage of healthy sperm is becoming an increasingly pressing issue in the world, and I am proud to have contributed to its solution," Durov noted.
In an interview, he also pointed to plastic pollution as one of the reasons for the rapid decline in sperm concentration in men, calling it a threat to "our survival." A former AltraVita doctor confirmed that Durov was not involved in selecting the mothers. "Suddenly, a chance appeared: everything was paid for, and the donor turned out to be a successful and attractive person," he added.
Billionaire
Durov, known for his preference for wearing black, except when posing shirtless, holds libertarian views, rejecting interaction with government authorities. He has long positioned Telegram as a tool of resistance against authoritarianism both in Russia and the West.
In his personal life, Durov leads a healthy lifestyle, avoiding alcohol and caffeine, and promoting physical activity and adequate sleep. His first two children were born in 2009 and 2010, when he was still managing VK. It was then, he claims, that he began donating sperm to AltraVita.
Later, between 2013 and 2017, he had three children with lawyer Irina Bolgar, who now lives in Switzerland. Currently, there is a conflict between them: Bolgar claims that Durov stopped financial support after she refused to move the children to Dubai and has also filed a criminal complaint in Switzerland accusing Durov of violence against their youngest child.
Durov's press secretary denied these allegations, stating that they never had a relationship and that Durov "provides financial support to all his children," including a $7 million advance in alimony to Bolgar in 2019.
In December 2024, Durov had a child with Hungarian model and influencer Diana Bako, who shares on social media that she lives in Dubai and receives help from her child's two grandmothers.
Durov's current girlfriend, internet influencer Yulia Vavilova, reported a miscarriage in France after Durov's arrest in 2024. At a charity ball earlier this year, coinciding with the Cannes Film Festival, Durov paid 400,000 euros at an auction for Vavilova to receive a cameo role in a Spike Lee film.
In one of the podcasts, Durov noted that he intends to postpone the distribution of inheritance among his children, as he believes that challenges help shape determination and focus. Durov also expressed hope that his example will encourage other healthy men to become sperm donors. "Of course, there are risks," he shared on Telegram in 2024, "but I do not regret my decision to become a donor."
