Who Owns Telegram?

By Anders Bylund – Updated Jan 9, 2026 at 12:17 PM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Pavel Durov primarily owns Telegram, with private funding, but may IPO for financial stability.
Telegram's messages are encrypted; its service architecture is private, securing user data.
Investment in Telegram isn't available yet; alternatives include Meta, Snap, Weibo, and Twilio.
We’re bullish on these 10 stocks ›

With its focus on secure communication and an unconventional business structure, Telegram is far from your typical Silicon Valley start-up. Questions around who owns Telegram and whether investors can invest in it naturally follow, alongside a closer look at the company’s key stakeholders and core philosophies.

Who is the owner of Telegram?

Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai founded Telegram in 2013. Pavel heads the entrepreneurial side of the business, focusing on the strategic aspects of the platform. Nikolai manages the technical side, leveraging his experience in cryptography and software development.

After being ousted from VKontakte, the Russian version of Facebook, the brothers founded Telegram. The new service started life in London with a focus on strong encryption and privacy features.

Telegram's messaging system runs on a global network of data centers. The company's headquarters have moved around the world, mainly to navigate and adapt to international data privacy laws. As of 2025, Telegram's headquarters are in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but Pavel Durov has said the office could move again if local laws change.

The client software is open-source, meaning that anyone is able to review the app's code. However, the server-side code is not public. Telegram argues that sharing that code wouldn't boost security because observers can't verify that the public code is exactly what runs on the operating servers. In English, Telegram is saying that there's no way to match up the code in a meaningful way.

Who are the largest shareholders?

Telegram has never published any details about its ownership structure. That may change in the future as Durov has suggested he was considering taking Telegram public, but as of August 2025, nothing has been confirmed. While an initial public offering (IPO) may seem incompatible with Telegram's current business structure, Durov sees community value in a financially stable version of the messaging system.

While discussing the IPO idea with The Financial Times in March 2024, Durov said, "The main reason why we started to monetize is because we wanted to remain independent. Generally speaking, we see value in it as a means to democratize access to Telegram's value."

Pavel appears to be the main owner of the Telegram business. Nikolai may hold a smaller ownership stake, but it has not been confirmed.

The company has raised funds from several investors over the years, including the Abu Dhabi Catalyst Partners fund and its parent organization, Mubadala Investment Company, as well as additional investment from BlackRock (BLK +5.93%).

Other shareholders may exist, but their stakes can't hold a candle to Pavel's controlling interest. If Telegram proceeds with an IPO, more information should become available to clarify the ownership structure.

Who is on the board of directors for Telegram?

Telegram isn't organized as a traditional corporation, with a board of directors steering the long-term strategy and an executive team running the day-to-day business. Instead, Pavel Durov calls the shots, and Nikolai Durov manages the technical development efforts, and they are supported by a growing group of employees.

The closest thing to an official board is former Morgan Stanley (MS +5.78%) executive John Hyman, who serves as Telegram's chief investment adviser.

FAQ

About the Author

Anders Bylund is a contributing Motley Fool media and technology analyst covering semiconductors, cloud computing, internet infrastructure, quantum computing, and streaming media. Previously, Anders was a systems administrator for Nielsen Technology and CSX, gaining hands-on experience with enterprise-class systems. He was also a freelance writer for Ars Technica, TIME, USA Today, CNN, WIRED, and AOL's Daily Finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in library and information sciences from Florida State University. He believes in coyotes and time as an abstract.

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Anders Bylund has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends BlackRock. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.