Pavel Durov’s net worth revealed: How rich is the co-founder of Telegram?

Currently under arrest by the French authorities, Pavel Durov’s net worth is beginning to spark increasing interest. Dubbed the “Russian Elon Musk,” this piece delves into his finances, various controversies, and private life.

Who is Pavel Durov?

Pavel Durov is a Russian-born entrepreneur best known for co-founding the social networking site VKontakte (VK) and the messaging app Telegram. Born on October 10, 1984, in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Durov has become one of the most significant figures in the tech world.

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Pavel Durov’s net worth

Forbes estimates Pavel Durov’s net worth to be around $15.5 billion. His wealth primarily comes from his ownership of Telegram, which has grown significantly in popularity and user base since its inception over a decade ago.

How does Pavel Durov make his money?

Here’s a brief overview of how Pavel Durov makes his money:

• VKontakte (VK): Durov co-founded VK in 2006, which quickly became the largest social networking site in Russia. VK’s success brought significant financial gains, especially as the platform attracted millions of users and advertisers;

• Telegram: In 2013, Durov launched Telegram, a messaging app known for its strong emphasis on privacy and security. Telegram’s popularity soared, and it now has hundreds of millions of users worldwide. Although Telegram is free to use, it has explored various monetization strategies, including premium features and advertising;

• Investments: Durov also made strategic investments in various tech startups and other ventures, further increasing his wealth.

Controversies

Durov faced significant pressure from the Russian government while running VKontakte (VK). In 2014, he refused to hand over user data of Ukrainian protesters to Russian authorities and also declined to shut down opposition groups on VK. This led to his ousting from the company and his eventual departure from Russia.

In August 2024, Durov was arrested in France over allegations related to insufficient moderation on Telegram, which allegedly allowed criminal activities such as money laundering and drug trafficking to proliferate on the platform. The arrest has sparked debates about the balance between privacy and security on digital platforms.

Personal life

Pavel Durov is a private individual known for his minimalist lifestyle. He has a brother, Nikolai, who helped co-found VK and Telegram. After leaving Russia, Durov obtained citizenship in several countries and currently resides in Dubai.

Durov follows a strict diet, practices martial arts, and avoids alcohol and caffeine. Despite his public persona as a rebel, he keeps much of his personal life out of the spotlight, focusing on his professional endeavors and philanthropic activities in education and technology.

The bottom line

As of August 27, 2024, Pavel Durov’s net worth of $15.5 billion ranks him 120th on Forbes’ real-time billionaires list. While this might seem insignificant, it’s important to remember that we’re discussing billionaires, and Durov, being in his early 40s, has plenty of time to potentially grow his wealth even further—assuming he doesn’t face a 20-year prison sentence.

Disclaimer: The content on this site should not be considered investment advice. Investing is speculative. When investing, your capital is at risk.

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