The Aga Khan IV was the spiritual leader of the Isma’ili branch of Shia Islam, a billionaire philanthropist who helped build homes, hospitals and schools throughout the world.
- Died: February 4, 2025 (Who else died on February 4?)
- Details of death: Died in Lisbon, Portugal at the age of 88.
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The Aga Khan IV’s legacy
He was born Prince Karim Al-Husseini, but to millions of his Isma’ili followers, he was the Aga Khan IV, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad and a spiritual leader who was both a fabulously wealthy billionaire and a noted philanthropist.
Al-Husseini became the Aga Khan IV in 1957 at age 20 after the passing of his grandfather, the Aga Khan III, superseding both his father and uncle. Born in Switzerland, he inherited massive wealth and spent his youth studying at elite boarding schools and universities, including Harvard. He was even a competitive downhill skier in his youth, racing for Great Britain in the 1962 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships and Iran in the 1964 Winter Olympics.
As the Aga Khan IV, he devoted billions towards helping Nizari Ismailis, especially those in developing nations. Through his Aga Khan Development Network, an umbrella organization for an array of different agencies – some for profit, some not – he directed funds towards health education and services, the construction of hospitals, economic development, especially in Africa and Asia; building homes and schools, and more.
He also enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, with a particular interest in horse racing. He had a private island in the Bahamas, a private jet, a 164-foot superyacht, the Alamshar, and owned hundreds of valuable racehorses and horse breeding/stud farms in France and Ireland.
The Aga Khan IV received dozens of honors over the course of his life, including the Andrew Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy, Philanthropic Entrepreneur of the Year by Le Nouvel Économiste in France, and countless others from an array of nations.
Notable quote
“(The goal) is to improve the quality of life and that indeed involves reducing poverty, but it also provides people with the means to improve their quality of life. That is the goal.” — 2019 interview with the Aga Khan Development Network
Tributes to the Aga Khan IV
Full obituary: The Washington Post
