Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, the revered spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community and a dedicated philanthropist, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 88. He ascended to leadership at just 20 years old while still a student at Harvard University and devoted his life to advancing humanitarian causes worldwide.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Ismaili community confirmed his passing, stating that he was surrounded by his family in Portugal at the time of his death. As per tradition, his successor has been designated in his will, which will be publicly disclosed in Lisbon following a formal reading before family and religious leaders. The date for this announcement has yet to be determined.
Regarded by his followers as a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, Aga Khan IV was chosen by his grandfather to lead the Shia Ismaili Muslim community, bypassing his own father. His grandfather believed the leadership should be entrusted to a young individual who had grown up in the modern era, capable of addressing contemporary challenges.
Throughout his lifetime, the Aga Khan skillfully balanced his roles as both a spiritual leader and a global philanthropist. His work through the AKDN focused on improving healthcare, education, housing, and economic development in more than 30 countries, with an annual budget exceeding $1 billion for nonprofit initiatives. His contributions to healthcare include the establishment of hospitals in regions where medical services were historically scarce, such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Bangladesh.
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His death was met with an outpouring of condolences from leaders, charitable organizations, and the equestrian world, where he was widely known for his passion for horse breeding. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau described him as “an extraordinarily compassionate global leader” and a “dear friend.
Bestowed the title of “His Highness” by Queen Elizabeth II in 1957, the Aga Khan inherited leadership over a 1,300-year-old dynasty. His formal investiture as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where his grandfather had once been honored with gifts of diamonds equal to his weight.
Recalling his unexpected transition from student to global leader, the Aga Khan once reflected in a 2012 interview: “I was an undergraduate who suddenly knew what his work for the rest of his life was going to be. I don’t think anyone in my situation would have been prepared.”
Despite his vast wealth—estimated in the billions—he saw financial prosperity as a means to fulfill social responsibilities rather than an end in itself. The Ismaili community traditionally tithes up to 12.5% of their income to support his stewardship, funding social welfare initiatives worldwide.
An advocate for Islamic culture, the Aga Khan worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between Muslim societies and the Western world. He established the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture and helped create Islamic architectural programs at institutions such as Harvard and MIT. His restoration efforts preserved numerous historic Islamic sites across the globe.
Born on December 13, 1936, in Creux-de-Genthod, Switzerland, he was the son of Joan Yarde-Buller and Prince Aly Khan. He spent part of his childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, where a hospital now bears his name. Beyond his humanitarian efforts, he represented Iran in alpine skiing at the 1964 Winter Olympics and maintained a deep interest in horse breeding.
Having lived for extensive periods in France, the Aga Khan had been based in Portugal in recent years, with his foundation and development network headquartered in Switzerland.
The funeral will take place in Lisbon, though the exact date has not been disclosed. He is survived by three sons, a daughter, and several grandchildren.
