The Aga Khan, a spiritual leader, philanthropist and one of the world’s richest men, has died aged 88.
Most often in the public eye thanks to his racehorses, the British citizen was the spiritual leader of 12 million members of the Ismaili sect of Islam.
Some believe he was a direct descendent of the Prophet Mohammed through his daughter, Hazrat Bibi Fatima, and the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat Ali.
He inherited his title from his grandfather in 1957 aged of just 20 and is believed by his followers to be ‘the bringer of life’.
In spite of his sometimes turbulent private life he remained revered for the worldwide charitable works he has directed funds to.
In an announcement on social media, the Aga Khan Development Network said: ‘His Highness Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), passed away peacefully in Lisbon on 4 February 2025, aged 88, surrounded by his family.
The Aga Khan Prince Karim al-Hussaini walks from Downing Street after a breakfast meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on January 28, 2010
Karim Al Hussaini Shah, Aga Khan IV, fastening a ski during a skiing trip in Kitzbuhel in 1957
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, prior to dinner at Windsor Castle on March 8, 2018
Aga Khan IV, wearing a tweed jacket over a sweater with a shirt and tie, as he stands with his horse Zeddaan in 1973
Prince William and Kate are greeted by Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini on their arrival for a visit to the Aga Khan Centre in London in 2019
‘Prince Karim Aga Khan was the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network. The announcement of his designated successor will follow.
‘Leaders and staff of the Aga Khan Development Network offer our condolences to the family of His Highness and to the Ismaili community worldwide.
‘As we honour the legacy of our founder, Prince Karim Aga Khan, we continue to work with our partners to improve the quality of life for individuals and communities across the world, as he wished, irrespective of their religious affiliations or origins.’
The Aga Khan, whose ancestors fled Persia for India two centuries ago, was born in Switzerland and spent much of his later life in France, despite having British citizenship. He died in Lisbon, Portugal.
His first wife was British model Sally Croker-Poole, who he married in 1969. They had two sons and a daughter. Eldest son Prince Rahim, 53, is expected to be his official successor.
That first marriage ended after 25 years, and he married Princess Gabrielle in 1998 at his huge Aiglemont estate, near Paris. She is a German former pop singer who converted to Islam for her marriage, and adopted the new name of Inaara.
The couple had a son, but after six years announced their separation.
The Aga Khan’s vast wealth allowed him to run a £100m yacht, named Alamshar after one of his racehorses.
King Charles, then Prince of Wales, poses with the Aga Khan IV as they tour Altit village in Skardu, Pakistan, in 2006
Then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown meets the Aga Khan to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of becoming the Imam of the Shia Ismaili community in 2008
Karim Aga Khan and Begum Salimah with their daughter Princess Zahra Aga Khan in 1970
Karim Aga Khan and his wife Princess Salimah after their religious wedding, according to the rite of the Ismaili Muslims, in Paris in 1969
He also owned the infamous Shergar, who was stolen by gunmen in Ireland in 1983 and never seen again.
The Aga Khan Centre in London is home to the Aga Khan Foundation, the Aga Khan University’s Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, and the Institute of Ismaili Studies.
The organisations work to promote understanding about Muslim cultures and to connect the public to global development issues.
He is survived by his children Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad, his brother Prince Amyn Muhammad, half-sister Princess Yasmin, and four grandchildren.
The Aga Khan was the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan by his first wife, Joan Yarde-Buller, and spent his early life in Nairobi, Kenya, after being born in Geneva in 1936.
He attended the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland before graduating from Harvard University in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Islamic history.
When he returned to the university following an eight-month break when he succeeded his grandfather, he said it was ‘a big joke on campus’ with his classmates calling him ‘Jesus’.
The Aga Kahn III broke with 1,300 years of tradition to make Prince Karim Al-Hussaini his successor, allowing the title to skip over a generation.
He said in his will: ‘In view of the altered conditions in the World in very recent years, including the discoveries of atomic sciences, I am convinced that it is in the best interest of the Shia Muslim Ismailian Community that I should be succeeded by a young man.’
This is a breaking story, more to follow.
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