Russian Telegram founder Pavel Durov — with 100 kids already — offers to pay IVF costs for any woman under 37 who wants to use his sperm

The founder of the messaging app Telegram, Russian billionaire Pavel Durov, is taking a unique approach to fighting infertility by offering to cover the full cost of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for women under 37 who want to conceive using his sperm.

Durov, who is worth close to $17 billion, sees his sperm donations as a “civic duty” to address the shortage of high-quality donor material and reduce the stigma around sperm donation. He claims to have fathered at least 100 children through sperm donation, in addition to having six children with three different partners.

All of Durov’s children, whether conceived through IVF or naturally, will one day inherit a share of his massive fortune. He believes that his genetic material can help address the issue of falling sperm counts and infertility worldwide, which he attributes to environmental factors like pollution from plastics.

In an in-depth profile by The Wall Street Journal, it was reported that Durov’s sperm has become a sought-after commodity. Last year, dozens of women responded to an advertisement offering his sperm for free at a clinic in Moscow.

Although Durov no longer donates sperm directly, samples from his earlier donations remain stored at the Altravita Clinic in Moscow. The clinic describes Durov’s genetic material as being in high demand due to its compatibility and quality.

While Durov is not directly involved in selecting the women who receive his sperm, he has set restrictions to avoid legal complications. Only unmarried women aged 37 or younger are eligible to use his sperm samples.

Despite the controversies surrounding his personal life, Durov continues to push the boundaries of reproductive ethics and technology. He sees his sperm donations as a way to help couples struggling with infertility and believes that his actions have already made a positive impact on many lives.

His dedication to sperm donation as a form of altruism and social responsibility sets him apart from other tech billionaires who are exploring different avenues of reproductive technology.