Telegram CEO Pavel Durov's Shocking Transformation Photos Spark Plastic Surgery Rumours

Pavel Durov, the co-founder and CEO of Telegram, who usually stays out of the spotlight, has recently been in the news for troubling reasons. He was arrested in France over serious allegations in connection to his app, including illegal transactions, child exploitation, drug trade and fraud. Alongside the legal troubles, shocking before and after photos of Durov have surfaced online. The image highlights a drastic change in his appearance, which has been sparking rumours that he might have undergone plastic surgery. While his recent photos show him with a full head of hair and a fit body, older pictures reveal a totally different look.

According to Forbes, the Russia born founder has seen his wealth grow to $15.5 billion since launching the app in 2013. However, his recent arrest has introduced a new twist to his public persona, particularly regarding his physical transformation. A popular X account recently posted a side by side comparison of Durov’s older and more recent photos, showing a noticeable difference between his earlier and current looks. The comparison has been garnering a lot of attention online. The page wrote, “Pavel Durov (Telegram CEO) before his hair transplant and plastic surgery.”

Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “This just goes to show. We’re not ugly, we’re just poor.”

Another shared, “Creepy what plastic surgery can do to one’s face.”

“If I had his billions I would do the same things to improve my appearance,” a comment read.

Another wrote, “Telegram users paid for the transformation.”

An individual shared, “I always had a feeling that there was something distinctive about his facial features.”

One more asked, “Why do all these big names undergo one health challenge or the other? Money is certainly not everything.”

According to a Reuters report, France initially did not confirm Pavel Durov’s arrest, but anonymous sources have provided details about the case. They revealed that Durov was detained soon after landing at Le Bourget airport on a private jet from Azerbaijan. Authorities reportedly checked the passenger list, saw Durov’s name and detained him due to an existing arrest warrant.

In a statement, the company stated, “Telegram abides by EU laws, including the Digital Services Act — its moderation is within industry standards and constantly improving. Telegram’s CEO Pavel Durov has nothing to hide and travels frequently in Europe. It is absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform. We’re awaiting a prompt resolution of this situation. Telegram is with you all.”

Pavel Durov was reportedly arrested for allegedly enabling various crimes on Telegram due to insufficient control on the app and a lack of cooperation with the authorities.