Why was billionaire Pavel Durov arrested? -

Why was billionaire Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, arrested? wife, net worth

Pavel Durov, the visionary behind the widely used messaging platform Telegram, has recently been in the news for a troubling reason. According to reports, Durov was arrested in France, raising questions and concerns within the tech community and beyond. Here’s what we know about the arrest and its potential implications.

Who is Pavel Durov’s wife? relationship

Pavel Durov is a private individual, and information about his relationships is not widely available in the public domain.

There is no official record of him being married. His focus has primarily been on technology and entrepreneurship, particularly with the creation of Telegram.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov arrested

At Le Bourget Airport, which is close to Paris, French officials detained Telegram’s creator, Pavel Durov. The CEO and founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, was recently taken into custody in France on grave accusations of money laundering, drug trafficking, and terrorism.

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The CEO and inventor of the popular encrypted messaging app Telegram, Pavel Durov, was taken into custody in France upon landing his private plane at Le Bourget Airport. He was charged with several significant offenses, such as money laundering, fraud, pedo-criminal material, drugs, and terrorism.

What are the charges against Pavel Durov?

As of now, the specific charges against Pavel Durov have not been publicly disclosed in the news sources. However, his recent arrest in France is related to alleged violations associated with the encrypted messaging platform Telegram. 

The investigation centers around issues such as a lack of moderators on the platform and potential criminal activity by users. Further details may emerge as the legal proceedings unfold. 

How much is Pavel Durov’s net worth? How does he make his money? 

The CEO and co-founder of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has an impressive wealth. His estimated net worth as of August 25, 2024, is a staggering $15.5 billion. His ownership of the well-known encrypted messaging service Telegram is the main source of his riches.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov
Telegram founder Pavel Durov sources

Co-founding the social networking site VKontakte (VK), which went on to become Russia’s most popular social network, marked the beginning of Durov’s entrepreneurial career. His influence goes beyond the commercial world; in February 2023, Arabian Commercial acclaimed him as the most influential entrepreneur in Dubai, and in 2022, Forbes named him the richest foreign national in the United Arab Emirates.

Durov Achievements and Recognition: Russian to Global Tech Leader

After leaving Russia, Durov applied for citizenship in Saint Kitts and Nevis and deposited $300 million in Swiss institutions. His principal undertaking included developing Telegram, an encrypted messaging platform whose headquarters were first headquartered in Berlin and subsequently moved to Dubai. 

In 2018, he launched the TON platform and the cryptocurrency “Gram” to profit from Telegram’s widespread use. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) presented Durov with legal challenges after he raised $1.7 billion from investors.

Durov made Telegram a popular encrypted messaging service and VK one of Europe’s largest social networks. His awards include Most Promising Northern European Leader Under 30, Young Global Leaders member of the World Economic Forum, and the 2018 Union of Kazakhstan Journalists anti-censorship prize. He was one of Fortune’s “40 Under 40” that year.