Telegram's CEO built two dominant social networks from scratch before 40 and has fathered more than 100 biological children. He's also facing up to 10 years in prison

Telegram founder Pavel Durov smiles while wearing an all-black outfit (Credit: Thomas Samson / AFP—Getty Images)

• Telegram just announced its first annual profit, raking in $540 million in 2024. Revenues also hit $1.4 billion, up from $343 million a year ago. The company is fully owned by Pavel Durov, the 40-year-old billionaire wunderkind who’s often been called the Mark Zuckerberg of Russia, and who also happens to be facing criminal charges right now.

Pavel Durov, the man behind the encrypted messaging service Telegram, is one of the most interesting figures in the world of tech. While he’s often compared to Mark Zuckerberg, given his penchant for launching successful social-media companies, he also has a lot in common with world’s richest man—and fellow free-speech absolutist—Elon Musk.