According to reports, Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested on Saturday night in France as part of an inquiry into the messaging app's lack of moderators. The Russian embassy in France has criticised France for its lack of information on the issue and demanded consular access to Durov, emphasising the need to defend his rights.
Known for his journey from developing the largest social network in Russia to one of the most well-liked messaging applications worldwide, Pavel Durov is a well-known person in the internet and social media industries. This is a thorough look into Pavel Durov's biography, complete with his family, education, net worth, and controversies.
| Birthdate | October 10, 1984 |
| Age | 39 (as of 2023) |
| Birthplace | Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union |
| Other Names | Paul du Rove |
| Citizenship | Russia (from 1991), Saint Kitts and Nevis (from 2013), United Arab Emirates (from 2021), France (from 2021) |
| Education | Saint Petersburg State University (BA) |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Years Active | 2006-present |
| Titles | Co-founder of VK, Co-founder and CEO of Telegram Messenger Inc. |
Pavel Valeryevich Durov, born October 10, 1984, is a prominent Russian business leader, entrepreneur, and investor. He is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Telegram Messenger Inc. and the co-founder of the social networking platform VK (formerly VKontakte). Since 2021, Durov has acquired citizenship in Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the United Arab Emirates, and France. In 2023, Forbes listed him among the billionaires with a net worth of $11.5 billion, mainly due to his stake in Telegram. By August 2024, his wealth had grown to $15.5 billion, making him the 120th richest person globally. In 2022, Forbes recognized him as the wealthiest expatriate in the UAE, and in February 2023, Arabian Business honoured him as Dubai's most influential entrepreneur.
Durov gained notoriety by founding VKontakte, the biggest social network in Russia. Following his departure from VKontakte, Durov started Telegram, which has amassed hundreds of millions of users worldwide and is currently among the most widely used messaging applications. Durov's projected net worth of $15.5 billion is mostly attributed to the platform's widespread use and room for expansion in the future.
Image Source: Twitter
Pavel Durov's grandfather, Semyon Petrovich Tulyakov, was a World War II veteran who served in the 65th Infantry Division of the Soviet Red Army. He fought on the Leningrad Front at Krasnoborsky and Gatchinsky, where he was wounded three times. For his bravery, he was awarded the Order of the Red Star, the Order of the Patriotic War 2nd degree, and the Order of the Great Patriotic War 1st degree on the 40th Victory Day.
Durov's father, Valery Semenovich Durov, holds a Doctorate in Philological Sciences and has authored several academic papers. Since 1992, he has led the Department of Classical Philology at the philological faculty of Saint Petersburg State University. In March 2022, Durov revealed that on his mother's side, his family hails from Kyiv, with her maiden name being Ivanenko, a Ukrainian surname. He also mentioned that they still have many relatives living in Ukraine.
Pavel Durov comes from a distinguished military and intellectual family. Valery Semenovich Durov, his father, is a prominent scholar and a doctorate holder in philological sciences. His mother's maiden name was Ivanenko, and she was of Ukrainian descent. Durov has referred to his numerous relatives who reside in Ukraine, underscoring his strong ties to the nation. Durov's views and career aspirations have been impacted by his rich family history and diversified ancestry.
Nikolai Durov, the older brother of Pavel Durov, was instrumental in the establishment of Telegram. As the project's principal developer, programmer, and architect, Nikolai made a substantial technological contribution to Telegram's success.
Pavel Durov has a secluded lifestyle and is single. At the moment, he lives in Dubai, which is also home to Telegram's corporate office. Durov has obtained various citizenships during his life. His naturalisation as a French citizen in August 2021 gave him citizenship in the European Union. He was granted citizenship in the United Arab Emirates earlier in April 2021, which is indicative of his worldwide view and the scope of his commercial endeavours.
Pavel Durov has a secluded lifestyle and is single. He presently resides in Dubai, which is also home to Telegram's corporate office. Durov has obtained various citizenships during his life. His naturalisation as a French citizen in August 2021 gave him citizenship in the European Union. Durov obtained citizenship in the United Arab Emirates earlier in April 2021, which is indicative of his worldwide perspective and the scope of his commercial endeavours.
Throughout his career, Pavel Durov has had several legal difficulties, mostly in Russia. He fled Russia in 2014, having refused to close down opposition networks on VKontakte as ordered by the authorities. His career took a major turn after making this decision, which resulted in the selling of his interest in VKontakte and the subsequent founding of Telegram.
'Telegram has also been the subject of debates, particularly to its views on encryption and user privacy. After Durov refused to provide state security officials access to users' encrypted conversations, Russia sought to outlaw Telegram in 2018. Widespread demonstrations followed, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that support free expression and internet privacy criticised this.'
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