Pavel Durov, the founder and owner of messaging app Telegram, has been making headlines recently. With more than 700 million monthly active users worldwide, Telegram competes with messaging apps like Facebook’s WhatsApp. Durov is known as Russia’s Zuckerberg because he created Vkontakte, Russia’s biggest social network, at the age of 22.
Durov’s net worth, according to Forbes, is an impressive $11.5 billion as of May 1, 2023, making him number 153 in the world today. However, Durov’s success has not come without controversy.
In 2014, Durov left Russia after he refused to cooperate with the Russian secret service and provide encrypted data of his first social network’s users. He later became a French citizen in 2021 and moved himself and Telegram to Dubai in 2017, where he currently resides and holds United Arab Emirates citizenship.
Since the Ukraine war began, Telegram has become a critical source of information, and plenty of disinformation too, related to the conflict. Despite its popularity, Telegram has faced criticism for its role in spreading misinformation and extremist content.
Durov, who is 38 years old, has two children and is currently single. He holds a Master of Science degree from Saint Petersburg State University. Durov’s success story has made him an influential figure in the tech industry, and his dedication to protecting user privacy has earned him a loyal following.
As Telegram continues to grow, it will be interesting to see what Durov and his team have in store for the messaging app’s future.