Pavel Durov, the enigmatic founder of Telegram, has recently garnered attention after his arrest in France. He faces multiple charges for allegedly failing to address extremist and illegal content on the messaging platform. As this legal issue unfolds, old photos of Durov have surfaced online, highlighting a significant change in his appearance. These images have sparked rumors about possible hair transplants and cosmetic surgery.
The speculation began with a recent post on X, which shared a before-and-after comparison of Durov’s appearance. The newer images display him with a full head of hair and a fit physique, while the older photos show a receding hairline. The post was captioned, “Pavel Durov (Telegram CEO) before his hair transplant and plastic surgery.”
Social media has been abuzz with speculation. Some Reddit users have suggested that the changes might be due to cosmetic procedures such as hair systems or wigs. Others argue that the differences could simply be the result of improved lighting and camera angles.
One user noted, “The facial changes might be due to better lighting and angles in the second photo, rather than surgery.” Another commented humorously, “Proof you’re not ugly, you’re just broke!” A third user remarked, “If I had his billions, I would do the same things to improve my appearance.” Meanwhile, a fifth user observed, “I always had a feeling that there was something distinctive about his facial features.”
Durov, who is 39 and a citizen of Russia, France, and the United Arab Emirates—where Telegram is headquartered—was detained at Le Bourget airport in Paris. He is accused of not adequately addressing illegal content on Telegram, which boasts around 900 million users. The company denies these allegations. Although Durov is currently out on bail, he is prohibited from leaving France and may face a trial.
A private individual who rarely engages with the public, Durov is known for his ascetic lifestyle. Forbes estimates his net worth at $15.5 billion. Despite his wealth, he promotes a life of simplicity, including ice baths and abstaining from alcohol and coffee.