Aga Khan Bows Out: Spiritual Leader, Billionaire, Philanthropist

Billionaire philanthropist and spiritual leader Aga Khan has died at the age of 88, his charity the Aga Khan Development Network has announced. Prince Karim Aga Khan was the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, who trace their lineage directly to the Prophet Muhammad. He “passed away peacefully” in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family, his charity said in a statement on social media.

Born in Switzerland, he had British citizenship and lived in a chateau in France. He enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, with a private island in the Bahamas, a super-yacht and a private jet.

The Aga Khan’s charities ran hundreds of hospitals, educational and cultural projects, largely in the developing world.

The Aga Khan Development Network said it offered its “condolences to the family of His Highness and to the Ismaili community worldwide”. “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,” it added.

His successor, which will be one of his male descendants, will be named soon, the Aga Khan Development Network said.

The Ismailis are a Shia Muslim sect who revere a number of Imams, including Imam Ismail, who died in 765 AD. They have a worldwide population of about 15 million, including 500,000 in Pakistan. There are also large populations in India, Afghanistan and parts of Africa.

Prince Karim Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather as imam of the Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at the age of 20.

The prince was the founder of the Aga Khan Foundation, the Nation Media Group, (the parent company for Monitor Publications, NTV, KFM among other media outlets)  which has become the largest independent media organisation in east and central Africa. He is also the proprietor of Serena Hotels that are located in the different parts of the East African Region, The Aga Khan University, The Aga Khan Hospital among other investments.

Several world leaders have paid tribute to the prince King Charles  who is understood to be deeply saddened by the death of the philanthropist, who was a friend of both himself and his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and is in touch with the family privately.

The Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Mayiga said, “We have learnt, with sadness, the demise of the Aga Khan, Prince Karim Al- Hussaini, 88. The Kingdom of Buganda has cordial relations with the Ismail Community – in Uganda and abroad, for whom the Aga Khan is spiritual leader. We appreciate the Aga Khan’s humanness, extending significant social services and economic initiatives in Uganda, and worldwide.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described him as a “symbol of peace, tolerance and compassion in our troubled world”.