Pavel Durov & the Serial-Donor Debate 2025 –
When One Sperm Donation Means 50, 100 or 1,000 Children

Author photo
Zappelphilipp Marx•
Collage of newspaper articles about sperm donors with exceptionally many children

In June 2025, Telegram founder Pavel Durov astonished the public when he revealed that he has already fathered more than 100 children—six within committed relationships, but the majority through sperm donations across twelve countries. He has promised every one of his offspring an equal share of his multibillion-dollar fortune.

Durov has become emblematic of a new generation of serial donors—men who bring far more than 50 children into the world. Private donations often evade state oversight; borders and registration requirements vary greatly worldwide. The following profiles illustrate why the issue is more pressing than ever in 2025 and which legal grey areas urgently need to be closed.

Pavel Durov – Tech billionaire with more than 100 children

According to interviews with the New York Post and Le Point, Durov has been donating sperm since 2009 “to spread talent”. He plans to divide his roughly US $17 billion fortune equally among all descendants—but not until 30 years after his death. (Source)

Jonathan Jacob Meijer – “The Man with 1,000 Children”

The Guardian reports that the Dutch musician fathered between 550 and more than 1,000 children. In 2023 a court forbade him from further donations; Netflix dramatised the scandal in The Man with 1000 Kids. (Source)

Ari Nagel – “The Sperminator” (USA, 165 children)

The New-York mathematics professor welcomed his 165th child in 2024 and announced plans to retire from donating at the age of 50. (Source)

Kyle Gordy – World tour to the 100-child mark

Gordy, the self-styled “CEO of Sperm Donating”, counts 87 confirmed births and is touring Japan, Ireland and South Korea in 2025 to reach an even 100. (Source)

Robert Charles Albon – aka “Joe Donor” (over 180 children)

A 2025 ruling by the UK High Court revealed that Albon has fathered more than 180 children. The court specifically warned women about unregulated private donations. (Source)

Clive Jones – 129 children delivered from a van

The retired teacher from Nottingham delivers samples by van to recipients; 129 children have been officially confirmed. (Source)

Anthony Greenfield – 64 children via Kenyan bank

The US donor handed more than 500 samples to a Kenyan sperm bank in 2024, which plans hundreds more pregnancies each year. (Source)

Dr Donald Cline – Clinic scandal in Indiana (at least 94 children)

In the 1970s and ’80s, Cline secretly inseminated patients with his own sperm; DNA tests have identified at least 94 children. Netflix tells the story in Our Father. (Source)

Bertold Wiesner – Historical serial donor (over 600 children)

DNA analyses show that the Viennese physiologist fathered up to 600 children between the 1940s and 1960s by using his own sperm in his London clinic. (Source)

Risks & policy gaps

Genetic risks — A 2025 case involving a TP53 mutation showed how a single donor sample affected at least 67 children, ten of whom have already developed cancer.

Inconsistent caps — The UK limits one donor to ten families, Denmark to twelve; many countries issue only guidelines. An EU ministers’ initiative is currently debating a Europe-wide 25-family cap.

Private markets — Facebook groups, courier deliveries and international sperm banks circumvent national registers; half-siblings risk unintended incest, and mandatory medical testing is often skipped.

Sperm donation with RattleStork – a flexible alternative

RattleStork connects intended parents with verified sperm donors. Singles and couples can plan home inseminations autonomously, discreetly and affordably—without clinic waiting lists or hidden fees.

RattleStork – the sperm donation app
Figure: RattleStork – the sperm donation apps

Conclusion

From Pavel Durov’s pro-natalist billion-dollar plans to Netflix documentaries about serial donors, these cases demonstrate how quickly unregulated sperm donation can breach ethical and medical limits. Unified registers, clear caps and transparent platforms like RattleStork are key building blocks for making family planning safe, fair and sustainable.

Disclaimer: Content on RattleStork is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical, legal, or other professional advice; no specific outcome is guaranteed. Use of this information is at your own risk. See our full Disclaimer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

A serial donor is a sperm donor who fathers far more children than usual—often 50, 100 or even over 1,000. Donations may occur across multiple clinics or privately, evading central oversight.

Yes. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) stipulates a donor may be used by no more than 10 families in the UK. This is enforced by licensed clinics, though private arrangements remain hard to regulate.

The HFEA sets a statutory limit of 10 families per donor. It also requires full health screening, genetic testing and recording in the UK Donor Registry to protect donor-conceived individuals’ rights.

A large number of half-siblings increases the chance of unintentional incest. Additionally, a single inherited mutation—for example a TP53 mutation—could be passed on to dozens of children.

Private donation is arranged directly between donor and recipient, often online, with no statutory testing or registry. Clinic donation in the UK is regulated by the HFEA: donors undergo health screening, genetic tests, counselling and are registered.

A recent sperm analysis, HIV and hepatitis screening, CMV status, genetic carrier screening (e.g. CFTR, SMA), plus blood group and Rh factor. Clinics must review full lab reports before accepting a donor.

The RattleStork platform verifies donors via ID, health documentation and video interview. Recipients then order discreet courier kits, track cycle timing and perform home inseminations without clinic waiting lists. The service also generates a legal donor agreement.

In the UK, yes: donor-conceived individuals can access identifying information about their donor upon turning 18 via the HFEA Donor Register. Anonymous donation is no longer permitted.

Typical costs range from £700–£1,000 per IUI cycle (including processing) and £4,000–£7,000 per IVF cycle with donor sperm. Private donations may appear cheaper but carry significant medical and legal risks.

No. Under the HFEA Code of Practice, donors receive only a modest compensation for expenses (around £35 per donation). Any commercial payment beyond this is prohibited.

Yes. Most UK clinics offer cryopreservation, allowing you to store multiple vials and plan genetic siblings across several years without further donor visits.

Licensed clinics must cease use of remaining vials and report the breach to the HFEA, which may investigate and sanction the clinic. Private cases are unenforceable but may breach other laws.

Use consumer DNA databases (e.g. 23andMe, Ancestry), apply to the HFEA Donor Register, or join donor-sibling networks. Some platforms, including RattleStork, now offer sibling-matching features.

With a licensed clinic donation and proper legal agreements, donors waive all parental, custody and support rights. They also have no automatic right to contact unless a separate voluntary arrangement is made.

A sperm analysis measures count, motility and morphology. Meeting WHO reference values is essential for IUI eligibility; if below, clinics often recommend IVF or ICSI. A recent, normal analysis significantly improves pregnancy outcomes.