Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced on Tuesday that he is prepared to fully fund in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures for women under the age of 38 who are planning to have a child using his donated biomaterial.
The entrepreneur said that he first became a sperm donor in 2010, responding to a request from a friend who was facing fertility problems. Subsequently, on the recommendation of doctors, he continued donating due to a shortage of high-quality genetic material.
According to him, as a result of these donations, more than 100 families in 12 countries have already become parents. Durov also said that he has six children from three partners.
Durov noted that he perceives donation as a form of civic responsibility and a way to reduce the social stigma associated with such practices. Among the factors contributing to the deterioration of male reproductive health, Durov cited environmental problems.
The head of Telegram emphasised that he does not distinguish between children born in relationships and children born as a result of donation. In the future, all of them will be able to claim his inheritance, provided that their kinship is confirmed. Durov’s fortune is estimated at around $17 billion.
According to The Wall Street Journal, in 2024, dozens of women responded to an offer from a Moscow clinic where the entrepreneur’s donor material is stored. Although Durov no longer donates biomaterial personally, previously collected samples remain available. Participation in the programme is limited: unmarried women up to the age of 37 can take advantage of it, and embryos undergo mandatory genetic screening. The clinic’s services are primarily aimed at wealthy Russian and foreign clients.
