Despite a £12.2bn fortune, the ‘Russian Zuckerberg’ says he sticks with a budget handset to better understand his users’ experience.
Pavel Durov, the billionaire behind Telegram, has revealed that his main phone is a battered Samsung worth just £142.
The 39-year-old entrepreneur, dubbed “the Russian Zuckerberg,” co-founded both Telegram and VK alongside his brother, programmer Nikolai Durov.
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Forbes estimates his net worth at £12.2 billion, yet he continues to rely on a budget smartphone.
Explaining his unusual choice, Durov said: “I’ve been using this £142 Samsung as my primary device for the last two years.
I chose it because it’s one of the most widely used phones among Telegram users.
I wanted to understand their experience to serve them better.”
Based in Dubai, where he now lives, Durov admitted the handset may finally have reached the end of its life after succumbing to the region’s extreme heat.
“It seems I’ll have to change my phone soon,” he added, posting a photo of the dismantled device.
The Durov brothers were born in Leningrad (now St Petersburg) before moving to Turin, Italy, where their father worked.
They launched VK in 2006 and Telegram in 2013, with the messaging app now boasting over 900 million users worldwide.
Despite his wealth and influence, Durov’s low-tech phone habit highlights a commitment to keeping in touch with the experience of everyday Telegram users – even if it means sticking with a cracked, heat-worn Samsung.
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