Pavel Durov, the billionaire founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram, has launched a controversial initiative in partnership with Moscow’s AltraVita fertility clinic. The offer promises free IVF treatment to women under the age of 38, but there is a catch: participants must use Durov’s sperm.
This initiative comes after Durov claimed to have fathered over 100 children across 12 countries through sperm donations. He now aims to “open-source” his DNA, making it easier for his biological children to find each other. Durov is funding the IVF treatments at AltraVita clinic, which explicitly states on its website that the procedure will involve his sperm. The clinic also notes that Durov will not take on any legal or financial responsibility for the children born as a result of the donations.
AltraVita has marketed the offer as a “one of a kind” opportunity to undergo IVF with sperm from “one of the most famous and successful entrepreneurs of our time.” The clinic describes it as a “generous contribution” from Durov, aimed at helping those who dream of parenthood but face fertility challenges.
The clinic has not disclosed specific details about the screening or selection process for Durov’s sperm. However, it does state that all sperm donors undergo medical and psychological evaluations in accordance with Russia’s Ministry of Healthcare regulations, and all donations are tested for infectious diseases, including HIV.
Durov first began donating sperm 15 years ago and shared in a Telegram post from July 2024 that the clinic’s director at the time encouraged him to donate more, citing a shortage of “high-quality donor material” and describing it as his “civic duty.”
This move by Durov echoes the actions of other high-profile sperm donors. In 2023, Dutch courts banned Jonathan Meijr, a man who had fathered over 500 children, from continuing his donations. His story was documented in the Netflix film The Man with 1000 Kids, which highlighted the complications of tracking sperm donations internationally.
Durov has expressed that his efforts aim to alleviate a global shortage of sperm, particularly healthy sperm, which he sees as a growing issue. He also hopes to destigmatize sperm donation and encourage other men to contribute, ultimately increasing the options available to families struggling with infertility.
Though Durov’s public stance on sperm donation is bold, his personal situation has also attracted attention. He left Russia in 2021, taking French citizenship after refusing to comply with a government investigation into his earlier social media ventures. Recently, Durov was arrested in France in connection to charges related to enabling criminal activity on Telegram and is currently restricted from leaving the country.
This initiative, along with Durov’s global reputation, is likely to spark debates about ethics, the future of reproductive technology, and the role of wealthy figures in influencing these fields.
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