A frenzy has erupted across IVF clinics as women queue up for hours to acquire the sperm of tech billionaire Pavel Durov, following reports that he has fathered over 100 children with his “high-quality” genes.
Unprecedented excitement for Durov’s DNA
Russian media reports describe a “boom” in demand, with medical clinics noting the excitement among women eager for Durov’s genetic material. Clinics have revealed that some women are even offering bribes to secure his sperm, which is renowned for producing children who begin reading by 18 months.
“Potential mothers stand in lines for hours to find the right profile and even offer bribes for exactly his sperm. All the appointments are for him,” reported the newspaper Mash. Women are reportedly scrutinizing donor profiles to match Durov’s known characteristics and interview responses.
An IVF clinic confirmed to Russian news outlet E1 that Durov’s sperm is stored and costs approximately £315, with prices significantly higher for foreign nationals.
Durov’s remarkable donor journey
The 39-year-old billionaire recently boasted on Telegram about fathering more than 100 children through sperm donation. “I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. My past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids,” he wrote.
Durov began donating 15 years ago when a friend facing fertility issues asked for his help. Since then, he has assisted over 100 couples, viewing sperm donation as a “civic duty.” He emphasized the global shortage of healthy sperm and his desire to destigmatize donation, encouraging more men to contribute.
Durov announced plans to open-source his DNA to help his biological children connect. Despite his contributions to fertility solutions, Durov’s history includes fleeing Russia after defying government demands to hand over data from VK, a major social media platform he founded. Now residing in the UAE, he continues to run Telegram, valued at £23.5 billion.
Elon Musk humorously responded to Durov’s revelation, writing: “Rookie numbers lmao – Genghis Khan.” Musk himself, who has fathered 12 children, often speaks about combating a global underpopulation crisis, a claim debunked by scientists predicting the world population will surpass 10 billion by 2100.
Durov and Musk’s efforts highlight a unique trend among billionaires contributing to global repopulation, sparking debates and curiosity about the future of genetic legacy and population growth.