Jul 31, 2026
A $38 Million Theft, A Global Manhunt & The Illusion Of Digital Safety
A $38 million Coldcard bitcoin theft and Russia's case against Telegram founder Pavel Durov show why digital security and privacy must be verified, not assumed.
PROFILE
Pavel Durov
$6.6B
Real Time Net Worth
as of 10/2/26
Reflects change since 5 pm ET of prior trading day.
Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
From the Editor
Last Updated Mar 10, 2026, 1:01am EDT
- Pavel Durov is the founder and owner of messaging app Telegram, which has more than 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
- Telegram, which is free to use, competes with messaging apps like Facebook's WhatsApp.
- Durov left Russia after refusing to cooperate with the secret service and provide encrypted data of his first social network's users. Telegram was banned in Russia from 2018 to 2021.
- In 2026, Russia charged Durov with aiding in terrorism and put him on an international wanted list. He was accused of failing to remove certain channels on Telegram, which were allegedly being used as a conduit for Ukrainian forces to recruit Russians and promote acts of terrorism.
- Durov became a French citizen in 2021 but lives in Dubai.
- Durov, who has six children between three ex-girlfriends, claims to have donated sperm that fathered 100 children in 12 countries.
Wealth History
HOVER TO REVEAL NET WORTH BY YEAR
Forbes Lists
Personal Stats
- Age
- 41
- Source of Wealth
- Messaging app, Self Made
- Residence
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Citizenship
- United Arab Emirates
- Marital Status
- Single
- Children
- 6
- Education
- Master of Science, Saint Petersburg State University
Did you know
In Their Own Words
As soon as one agency gets to uncontrollably monitor private communications, soon enough this access falls into the hands of third parties - bribers, hackers, agents of other countries.
Pavel Durov
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Ukraine Warned Over Danger Of Russian Spying On Telegram
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