Telegram achieves profitability as 2024 revenue exceeds $1 billion

Telegram, the popular messaging platform, has officially reached a significant milestone: the company is now profitable. Founder and CEO Pavel Durov revealed on Monday that Telegram’s total revenue surpassed $1 billion in 2024, marking a major achievement for the app that has long focused on providing free and secure communication to its users. With a growing user base and a variety of new revenue-generating features, Telegram is solidifying its position as a profitable tech company.

Telegram is now profitable 🏆

📈 This year, the number of Telegram Premium subscribers tripled, exceeding 12 million. Our ad revenue also increased a few times. Telegram's total revenue in 2024 surpassed $1 billion, and we are closing the year with more than $500 million in cash…

— Pavel Durov (@durov) December 23, 2024

The company’s premium subscription service, introduced in 2022, has been a key driver of this success. According to Durov, Telegram now boasts 12 million paid subscribers, a substantial increase since the launch of the service. In addition to this, Telegram is finishing the year with more than $500 million in cash reserves, excluding the value of its crypto assets, ensuring a strong financial position heading into 2025.

In his announcement, Durov also noted that Telegram has made significant strides in managing its financial obligations. The company has repaid a notable portion of its $2 billion in debt bonds this fall, capitalizing on favorable bond prices. While the company has made substantial progress, Durov emphasized that there is still much work to be done as Telegram continues to grow its revenue streams and explore future opportunities.

Earlier this year, Durov indicated that the company would achieve profitability by 2025 and has been working towards a potential public listing in the future. Telegram has been diversifying its revenue model by introducing features tailored to businesses, such as ad revenue sharing and opportunities for creators to earn money through paid content on channels. Additionally, Telegram launched a mini app store, further expanding its monetization capabilities.

With a massive user base of over 950 million active monthly users, Telegram’s profitability marks a major turning point for the platform, signaling a bright financial future as it continues to innovate and expand its services for both individuals and businesses.