Telegram Founder Pavel Durov Funds Free IVF for Women Using Donated Sperm

Telegram founder and billionaire Pavel Durov is making headlines after reportedly funding free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for eligible women at a Moscow fertility clinic using his donated sperm, reviving global interest in his revelation that he has fathered more than 100 biological children across 12 countries through sperm donation.

Pavel Durov

Telegram founder and billionaire entrepreneur Pavel Durov has drawn international attention after a Moscow fertility clinic introduced an unusual offer of free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment using his donated sperm, providing eligible women with an opportunity to pursue motherhood through assisted reproductive technology.

The initiative, reportedly funded by Pavel Durov, has generated widespread interest because of the technology billionaire’s remarkable history as a sperm donor. The 41-year-old businessman previously disclosed that his donations had helped more than 100 biological children be born across 12 countries.

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, AltraVita, a fertility clinic based in Moscow, has started promoting the program, offering to finance IVF procedures for qualified women who agree to use Durov’s previously donated sperm.

The clinic’s official website reportedly confirms the availability of free IVF treatment using genetic material donated by the Telegram founder. However, the opportunity is limited and applicants must satisfy specific medical requirements before being accepted into the program.


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Under the clinic’s eligibility guidelines, interested women must be 37 years old or younger and receive a favorable medical evaluation from a reproductive medicine specialist.

Applicants are also required to arrange an initial consultation, undergo medical examinations, and secure approval from the clinic’s fertility experts before proceeding with treatment.

A separate investigation by The Wall Street Journal indicated that applicants were also expected to be unmarried to prevent potential legal complications involving parental rights. The information was attributed to a former clinic physician who had evaluated some women interested in participating in the program.

AltraVita reportedly stated that Pavel Durov would shoulder the costs of IVF procedures involving his donated sperm, although the number of available treatment slots remains limited.
Pavel Durov’s sperm donations helped father more than 100 children
The unusual fertility program is connected to Durov’s long-standing involvement in sperm donation, which reportedly began around 2010 when a close friend asked him to help address the couple’s difficulties conceiving a child.

In July 2024, Pavel Durov publicly revealed that he had helped bring more than 100 biological children into the world through sperm donations over approximately 15 years.

He explained that his involvement initially started as a personal favor. Although he was surprised by his friend’s request, he eventually agreed to donate sperm to help the couple achieve their dream of becoming parents.

What began as an act of friendship eventually developed into a much larger undertaking.

Pavel Durov said he continued donating sperm because he believed there was a growing shortage of healthy donor material and wanted to help individuals and couples struggling with infertility.

Over the years, his donations reportedly contributed to the birth of children in 12 different countries, making his story one of the most unusual examples of large-scale sperm donation involving a technology entrepreneur.

Pavel Durov stopped actively donating sperm several years ago, previously frozen samples reportedly remain available through the Moscow-based AltraVita clinic.

The billionaire has described sperm donation as a way of contributing to society, particularly amid concerns about declining fertility rates and the limited supply of suitable sperm donors.

His revelations have also triggered discussions about reproductive technology, genetic connections, donor anonymity, and the ethical responsibilities associated with fathering a large number of children through assisted reproduction.


Who is Pavel Durov? Telegram founder’s background and career


Beyond his unusual involvement in reproductive medicine, Pavel Durov is internationally recognized as the founder of Telegram, one of the world’s most widely used messaging applications.

Born Pavel Valeryevich Durov on October 10, 1984, in Leningrad, now known as St. Petersburg, Russia, he developed an interest in computers, technology, and programming during his younger years.

He later attended Saint Petersburg State University, where he studied philology and graduated in 2006.

At just 22 years old, Durov founded VKontakte, commonly known as VK and Pavel Durov , a social networking platform that eventually became one of Russia’s largest online communities.

The disagreements involving corporate ownership, business control, and government demands for access to user information contributed to his departure from the company in 2014.

Following his exit from VK, Pavel Durov shifted his attention toward Telegram, which he launched in 2013 alongside his brother, Nikolai Durov, a mathematician and computer scientist.

Telegram gradually developed into a major international messaging platform, attracting millions of users through its privacy-focused features, encryption technology, and communication services.

Pavel Durov established his base in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, while also acquiring citizenship in several countries, including France, the UAE, Russia, and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Despite his extraordinary financial success, the billionaire has maintained a public image associated with minimalism, personal discipline, independence, and an unconventional approach to business.

His lifestyle and outspoken views have made him one of the most closely watched personalities in the international technology industry.
Durov plans to divide his fortune equally among his children
Durov’s personal life has attracted renewed attention following his revelation that he has more than 100 biological children through sperm donation, in addition to six children conceived naturally with three different women.

His plans for his children extend beyond acknowledging their biological connections.

In a 2025 interview with French publication Le Point, Pavel Durov revealed his intention to distribute his considerable fortune equally among all his biological children, regardless of whether they were conceived naturally or through sperm donation.

The Telegram founder explained that he did not want to establish distinctions between his children based on their circumstances of conception.

Instead, he intended to recognize them equally as his biological offspring and provide them with the same inheritance rights.

His children would not receive their inheritance immediately. Durov said they would have to wait 30 years before gaining access to their respective shares of his wealth.

He explained that the waiting period was intended to encourage independence, personal development, and ambition, ensuring that his children would establish their own identities rather than depend entirely on inherited money.

The billionaire also expressed interest in making his DNA information accessible in the future so his biological children could potentially identify one another and discover their genetic relationships.

His inheritance plans have sparked further discussions about the responsibilities of sperm donors, the rights of donor-conceived children, and the long-term implications of having numerous biological offspring across different countries.


Free IVF program raises questions about reproductive ethics

AltraVita’s reported free IVF initiative continues to attract international attention, placing Durov’s unconventional approach to fatherhood under the spotlight.

The program illustrates how financial resources and advances in reproductive medicine can potentially expand opportunities for people experiencing fertility challenges.

By financing IVF procedures using his previously donated sperm, Durov is extending his involvement in reproductive assistance beyond the families he initially helped through traditional sperm donation.

The arrangement raises important questions about medical screening, genetic counseling, donor-conceived family relationships, and the legal rights of children born through assisted reproductive technology.

Experts and observers may also examine the implications of having a single donor contribute to the birth of a large number of biological children across multiple countries.

For Pavel Durov, the initiative reflects his previously expressed desire to help people who want to have children while drawing attention to concerns about declining fertility and the availability of sperm donors.

His extraordinary story, however, demonstrates that the Telegram founder’s influence extends far beyond technology and social media.

With more than 100 biological children reportedly conceived through sperm donation, an unusual free IVF offer, and plans to distribute his fortune equally among his offspring, Pavel Durov has become a subject of international fascination for reasons that go well beyond his achievements as a billionaire entrepreneur.