The private life of Telegram’s founder adds to his troubles


A photo provided by Bolgar shows her with Durov in Venice, Italy, in April 2013. Bolgar, the mother of three children with Durov, has poked holes in the Russian tech titan’s carefully managed image through a criminal complaint and her account of their opulent lifestyle. — Irina Bolgar via The New York Times

GENEVA: For many of their nearly 10 years as romantic partners, Irina Bolgar said, she and Pavel Durov enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle. The extravagance grew as Telegram, the messaging app Durov created, became a worldwide hit and cemented him as a billionaire and one of the world’s most powerful tech executives.

During the summers, they would spend about US$1mil (RM4.22mil) for a month at a 116-acre resort in Sardinia. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, they stayed in a beachside penthouse with its own elevator. Private planes ferried them to Paris, Italy and Monaco.

Uh-oh! Daily quota reached.


Experience an ad-free unlimited reading on both web and app.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Tech News

Meet SwagBot, the AI-powered robot cattle herder preventing soil degradation
OpenAI CFO thinks business users will pay thousands monthly for AI tools
Australia plans new rules forcing Big Tech to continue paying news outlets
AI a productivity boost to banks but making money from it is a challenge
Microsoft expects $800 million impairment charge in Q2 2025 over General Motors' Cruise exit
US bankers cautious on crypto despite expected regulatory easing
Adobe forecasts fiscal 2025 revenue below estimates on slower subscription spending
Stunning rally in Big Tech drives Nasdaq to 20,000
Apple’s next Ultra smartwatch will be able to send texts via satellite
Senators say US must boost security after Chinese Salt Typhoon telecom hacking

Others Also Read