AGA Khan, Imam of Nizâritite Ismaelis and PhilanthropE billionaire, is dead

AGA Khan, Imam of the Nizârites Ismaelis, a branch of Shiite Islam, and philanthropic with colossal fortune, died on Tuesday February 4 in Lisbon at the age of 88, announced its foundation.

“His Highness Prince Karim al-Hussaini, Aga Khan IV, 49th hereditary imam of Ismaelian Shiite Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be with him), died peacefully in Lisbon on February 4, 2025, at age 88 years old, surrounded by his family ”said the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) on X.

The name of his successor will be announced in Lisbon, once the family, the leaders of the Ismaelian community and the executors of the last wishes of the deceased have gathered there, explained the Nizâritis Ismaelis on a website specially dedicated to the transition .

Born on December 13, 1936 in Geneva, Karim al-Hussaini had been inducted in 1957 49th Imam of the Nizâritis Ismaelis, the second digitally Shiite Muslim group with between 12 and 15 million members distributed around the world, especially in Central Asia and from the South, in Africa and the Middle East.

At less than 21 years old, he succeeded his grandfather Mahomed Shah. His father, Ali, was dismissed from the succession after her tumultuous marriage with the American actress Rita Hayworth.

Prince Karim was responsible for developing the already considerable work of his grandfather who created hospitals, housing, or banking cooperatives in developing countries.

Philanthropy and business sense

The heir had invested a large part of the immense family fortune, the amount of which is not known, in the poorest countries, combining philanthropy and business sense.

For this, it had founded AKDN, a gigantic foundation which claims 96,000 employees worldwide and finances development programs, particularly in Asia and Africa.

Since 1984, this network includes a branch dedicated to economic development, the Aga Khan fund for economic development (AKFED), which has 36,000 employees, 90 companies and generates annual revenue of $ 4.5 billion.

A billionaire with yachts and jets, Aga Khan also created in 1977 the Aga Khan of architecture prize rewarding the innovative architectural projects of Muslim companies.

Familiar with the race fields, he perpetuated the family tradition of breeding of thoroughness in his eight stud farms in France and Ireland and contributed to the vast renovation of the Chantilly estate, north of Paris.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said he was “Deeply saddened” by the news of death. “It was a symbol of peace, tolerance and compassion in our troubled world”he wrote on X.

“Aga Khan has devoted its life to promoting peace and prosperity for all. On all continents and with all cultures, he has worked to take up the greatest humanitarian challenges in the world: poverty, education, gender inequalities ”also reacted to X, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

AGA Khan had British and Portuguese nationalities, as well as Canadian honorary citizenship, a distinction rarely granted.

The Pakistani Peace Nobel Malala Yousafzai expressed on X “More sincere condolences to the family and relatives of his Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan”. “His heritage will be perpetuated through the incredible work he has led in favor of education, health and development in the world”she greeted.

AGA Khan had four children: Zahra, Rahim and Hussain, born from his first marriage to the British model Sally Crocker-Poole, then Aly, born in 2000 of a second union with the German lawyer Gabriele Zu Leingingn, whose he divorced in 2004.

Before his death, Aga Khan had appointed his successor in his last wishes, according to the Shiite practice of “Nass” (Transfer of the imamate from one imam to another through an explicit designation, in the same way that the prophet Muhammad was designated by God, according to tradition).

The announcement of the name of this successor, the 50th Imam, will take place before the funeral of Aga Khan, which will take place “As soon as possible” In Lisbon, according to Nizârites Ismaelis.