Overview

• Forbes places Durov’s net worth at about $17.1 billion, making him the wealthiest resident of Dubai.
• Durov founded Telegram in 2013 and is widely reported to retain full ownership of the privacy-focused messaging platform that underpins his fortune.
• He settled in Dubai in 2017, with reports citing a 15,000-square-foot residence in the Jumeirah Islands community.
• On September 28, he alleged French intelligence sought the removal of Moldovan political channels on Telegram, a claim the French foreign ministry has denied.
• He remains under judicial supervision in France after a 2024 airport arrest on suspicion of organized crime linked to Telegram’s use, allegations he rejects.