Telegram founder Pavel Durov lost $10 billion in a year
The net worth of Pavel Durov, owner of the Telegram messenger, has shrunk to $6.6 billion.
This is more than twice less compared to last year's figure of $17.1 billion.
Experts explain this collapse by a significant deterioration in market conditions and the revaluation of tech companies in 2026.
Pavel Durov first appeared on the list of the world's wealthiest people in 2016 with a fortune of $600 million.
By 2018 he had become a dollar billionaire, and in 2021 Forbes estimated his wealth at its peak — $17.2 billion.
At the time, investors had high hopes for Telegram's future IPO, valuing the company at $30–35 billion.
However, the realities of 2026 have changed the picture. Analysts note that the market has become significantly more cautious toward the messenger.
American Snapchat is often used for comparison: despite a similar user base, Snapchat's revenue for 2025 amounted to $5.9 billion, while Telegram projected only around $2 billion.
As Snap's market capitalization fell by almost half, this dragged down the valuation of Durov's assets as well.
Financial obligations have added further pressure. By the end of March 2026, the messenger's founder must repay bonds worth approximately $1.1 billion.
Investors suggest that to settle his debts, Durov may have to offer bondholders a direct stake in the company, as an IPO at the current valuation appears unlikely.
Legal troubles are also complicating matters. After seven months under investigation in Paris, Durov returned to Dubai in March 2025, but the French investigation into his case is ongoing.
The valuation is also affected by regulatory restrictions and the blocking of the messenger in major markets, particularly in Iran, making the current moment extremely unfavorable for a public offering.
As a reminder, Durov commented on reports by Russian media about criminal proceedings against him.
Durov's account was also blocked on TikTok.
