Telegram boss to leave fortune to over 100 children he fathered

The founding father of on the spot messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, says the greater than 100 youngsters he has fathered will share his estimated $13.9bn (£10.3bn) fortune.

“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 told French political magazine Le Point.

Mr Durov says he’s the “official father” of six youngsters with three totally different companions, however has greater than 100 different youngsters after donating sperm to a fertility clinic.

He additionally reiterated that he denies any wrongdoing in reference to serious criminal charges he faces in France.

However the self-exiled Russian know-how tycoon instructed the journal that his youngsters wouldn’t have entry to their inheritance for 30 years.

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

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

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

Mr Durov additionally addressed legal fees he faces in France, the place he was arrested final 12 months 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 fees as “completely absurd”.

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

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