Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old CEO of Telegram, revealed a surprising aspect of his private life: over the past 15 years, he has fathered more than 100 children through anonymous sperm donation. Durov disclosed this information on Telegram, describing his journey as an anonymous donor.
Durov was initially hesitant but was persuaded by a clinic director's claim that "high quality donor material" was scarce. The tech mogul saw this as a "civic duty" and began donating regularly. His contributions have since assisted over 100 couples across 12 countries in conceiving children.
Although Durov claims that he has never been married, media reports have stated that he is the father of two children. Durov has a daughter and a son, born in 2009 and 2010 respectively. Both children were born to Durov's ex-partner Daria.
Durov's idea of donating sperm originated from his friend's request
Durov said, "15 years ago, a friend of mine made a strange request to me. He said that he and his wife were unable to have children normally due to fertility problems, so he asked me to donate sperm at a clinic so that They could have children. I laughed until I fell down and then realized he was serious."
Elon Musk comments on Durov’s sperm donation
Elon Musk, known for his own views on procreation, responded to Durov's announcement by comparing him to historical figures known for their numerous offspring, such as Genghis Khan. Musk himself has 12 known children, though not through sperm donation.
Global demand for donated sperm is high
Durov's revelation highlights a global trend of increased demand for donor sperm, driven by infertility issues, single women seeking motherhood, and same-sex couples.
Many regions face a shortage of donor sperm, exacerbated by regulatory and cultural factors. For instance, the U.K. has reported a limited number of active donors, while countries like Australia require non-anonymous, altruistic donations.
Large-scale sperm donation may raise ethical issues
The practice of mass sperm donation has sparked ethical debates, particularly regarding the potential for accidental incest and the psychological well-being of donor-conceived children. The case of Jonathan Meijer, a Dutch man who allegedly fathered at least 550 children, underscores these concerns. Dutch guidelines limit donors to 25 offspring or 12 families to mitigate such risks.
Durov plans to "open source" his DNA
Durov's plan to "open-source" his DNA aims to make his genetic information publicly accessible. This proposal could allow people to find genetic relatives, study genetic traits, and contribute to scientific research.
While it may sound dystopian, open-sourced DNA can have practical applications in genetic research, personalized medicine, and genealogical studies.
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