Early Life
Pavel Durov was born on October 10, 1984, in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now St. Petersburg, Russia). He spent much of his childhood in Turin, Italy, where his father worked. Durov graduated from the Philology Department of Saint Petersburg State University in 2006. At a young age, Durov displayed an interest in computer programming, which led him to hack the school's computer network at 11 years old.
Rise to Success
In 2006, Durov co-founded VKontakte (VK), a social networking site that quickly became Russia's largest. Due to his refusal to cooperate with the Russian government's demands regarding user data, he sold his stake in VK and left Russia in 2014. In 2013, Durov launched Telegram, a messaging app with a focus on user privacy. Durov and Telegram moved to Dubai in 2017. Telegram has over 1 billion monthly active users worldwide.
Key Business Strategies
Telegram's success is attributed to its strong stance on privacy, offering encrypted messaging and features such as self-destructing messages. Telegram generated revenue from user donations until 2021 when it introduced an advertising service in public channels. Durov is known for running Telegram with a small team, emphasizing discipline and a focus on what not to do.
Philanthropy
In 2024, Durov announced his plan to leave his fortune to his children. He also stated he would fund IVF for women under 37 using his sperm.
