Monday, November 24, 2025

Telegram Founder Pavel Durov

Pavel Durov is a Russian-born entrepreneur who is best known as the founder and CEO of the messaging app Telegram

. He previously co-founded the Russian social network VKontakte (VK). Durov left Russia in 2014 after refusing to cooperate with the government's demands, and he now resides in Dubai with his company. He has recently faced legal troubles, including an indictment in France on charges related to the alleged misuse of Telegram for criminal activities.

Founder of VK and Telegram: Durov started the social networking site VKontakte (VK) in Russia in 2006. After leaving VK in 2014, he co-founded Telegram with his brother, Nikolai Durov.
Based in Dubai: Following his departure from Russia, Durov and his brother moved to Dubai, where the headquarters of Telegram is now located. He has since obtained citizenship in the United Arab Emirates and France.
Legal troubles: In August 2024, French authorities indicted Durov on charges including spreading child abuse images, drug trafficking, and fraud. The indictment alleges that Telegram failed to comply with law enforcement requests to remove illegal content.

Philosophy and values: Durov has been a vocal proponent of free speech and privacy, a stance that was a key motivator for creating Telegram after his experience with the Russian government. He has publicly stated he will not cooperate with authorities in ways that violate his values of free speech.

Net worth: As of 2023, Durov was listed on Forbes' billionaires list with an estimated net worth of $11.5 billion. His fortune is largely derived from his ownership of Telegram

Who is Pavel Durov? Founder of Telegram & TON

https://99bitcoins.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/durov.jpg

By Mensholong Lepcha
Last Updated: November 21, 2025

Pavel Durov’s Ideology & Philosophy

Durov’s views are shaped by a mix of libertarian ideas, digital freedom, and his own distrust of government power. After he was forced out of VK by the Russian authorities, his outlook changed completely. He came to believe that no government should be able to control what people say online.

He often talks about freedom in emotional terms, not just legal ones. To him, privacy is something passed down from earlier generations. And he believes it can disappear very quickly if people stop fighting for it.

He often warns that Western countries are starting to use the same surveillance tactics we used to associate only with authoritarian governments. On October 7, 2025, he even wrote a Telegram and X post to mark his 41st birthday, saying:

Our generation is running out of time to save the free Internet built for us by our fathers. What was once the promise of the free exchange of information is being turned into the ultimate tool of control … A dark, dystopian world is approaching fast, while we’re asleep. Our generation risks going down in history as the last one that had freedoms, and allowed them to be taken away.

Conclusion

Now you’re caught up on who Pavel Durov is, what he’s built in Web2 and Web3, and why he is one of the most interesting founders of our time. From building social media megaliths to combining those apps with blockchain technology, Pavel has been there and done that. He also has the vast fortune to show for it.

Pavel Durov’s story is inspiring. He’s built two major social media giants and ventured into Web3. At the same time, he’s championed digital privacy and anti-censorship while resisting government force and requests to compromise on free speech.

As the world becomes more connected and digitalized, individuals such as Durov become more important. Durov speaks for the interests of the common man, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed. Durov today is one of the most highly-regarded tech entrepreneurs of his generation.