Pavel Durov, the 39-year-old CEO of the messaging service Telegram, dropped a bombshell on his own platform Tuesday, claiming to have fathered over 100 children through sperm donation. The tech mogul, known for his eccentric lifestyle and penchant for privacy, revealed he’s been an anonymous sperm donor for the past 15 years.
Durov’s journey into mass sperm donation began with a friend’s request. “A friend of mine approached me with a weird request. He said that he and his wife couldn’t have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby,” Durov wrote. Initially amused, he soon realized the gravity of the situation.
The clinic’s director apparently told Durov that “high quality donor material” was scarce and framed donation as a “civic duty.” This pitch, bizarre as it sounded to Durov, led him to sign up for regular donations. Fast forward to 2024, and Durov claims his contributions have helped over 100 couples across 12 countries conceive children.
Elon Musk, who’s also a fan of making babies, responded to Durov’s revelation with a tweet: “Rookie numbers,” he said while mentioning Gengis Khan, who had over 100 children with nearly 500 wives. Musk himself is father to 12 known children, though not through sperm donation.
“Rookie numbers lmao” – Genghis Khan
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 29, 2024
Durov’s claim of a worldwide, “quality” sperm shortage aligns with global trends. Increased demand for donor sperm, driven by infertility issues, single women seeking motherhood, and same-sex couples, has outpaced supply in many regions. Regulatory challenges, cultural factors, and personal barriers contribute to the shortage.
In the U.K., a national sperm bank reported having only nine active donors in its database. Australia and several European countries require non-anonymous, altruistic donations, potentially deterring some donors. Conversely, the United States allows compensation and anonymity, resulting in a larger donor pool.
So, sperm donation is a good social service, but when is ”too much,” too much? The concept of mass sperm donation isn’t without precedent or controversy. For example, a Dutch man, identified as Jonathan Meijer, was sued for allegedly fathering at least 550 children worldwide. The lawsuit, brought by a mother who used his sperm and the Donorkind Foundation, wanted to prevent him from making further donations.
Dutch guidelines limit donors to 25 offspring or 12 families to mitigate risks of accidental incest and protect donor children’s mental health. Jonathan was blacklisted by Dutch fertility clinics in 2017 but allegedly continued donating abroad and through unofficial channels.
This issue could be tackled by Durov’s plan to “open-source” his DNA —making his genetic information publicly accessible. This could mean uploading his genetic data to a public database, allowing access for finding genetic relatives, studying traits, or contributing to scientific research.
As dystopian as it sounds, open-sourced DNA could have various practical applications. It can contribute to genetic research, accelerating discoveries in genomics and personalized medicine. It can allow individuals to connect with unknown biological relatives, which could be particularly beneficial for those conceived through sperm donation. In healthcare, genetic information can lead to more personalized treatment plans today.
The practice also enhances genealogical research, providing data points for tracing family histories and understanding ancestral origins. Additionally, public DNA data can educate people about genetics, genetic diversity, and assisted reproduction methods.
Seems like Durov’s taking “user acquisition” to unprecedented biological heights. The CEO wants to “destigmatize the whole notion of sperm donation” and encourages other men to do the same. “Defy convention—redefine the norm,” he wrote.