Prince Karim Aga Khan, 49th Ismaili Imam, passes away in Lisbon.
In sad news, Ismaili leader Prince Karim Aga Khan IV left the world on Tuesday night at the age of 88, his family members announced.
The octogenarian leader breathed his last with his family members as his death was officially confirmed, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) said in a statement expressing its condolences.
Karim married two times; the first marriage was with British model Sally Croker-Poole in 1969, and the two separated after 2.5 decades.
He later married Princess Gabrielle, and they had a son before separating 6 years later.
He is survived by Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim, Prince Hussain, and Prince Aly Muhammad.
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Khan assumed leadership of the Isma’ili sect in the 1950s after the death of his grandfather.
He was recognised not only for his spiritual guidance but also for his key philanthropic contributions.
His leadership of the Ismaili community was marked by an unwavering commitment to global humanitarian efforts, especially medicine, education, and healthcare.
Prince Karim’s immense wealth allowed him to own the luxurious yacht Alamshar and the famous racehorse Shergar, which was stolen in 1983 and never recovered.
A Harvard graduate spent much of his later life in Paris, with his final days in Portugal.
His passing marks the end of an era for the Ismaili Muslim community, and the world awaits further announcements regarding his successor.
The Ismailis, a Muslim sect, have a worldwide population of about 15 million, including 500,000 in Pakistan.
There are also large populations in India, Afghanistan, and Africa.
Prince Karim Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather as imam of the Ismaili Muslims in 1957 at the age of 20.
Net worth
The prince had an estimated fortune of $1bn (£801m) in 2008, according to Forbes magazine.
His inherited wealth was boosted by numerous business interests, including horse-breeding.
