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Aga Khan IV
Prince Shah Karim al-Hussaini, known simply as Aga Khan IV, was the 49th Imam of Nizari Isma'ili Shia Islam from 1957 until his death in 2025. He inherited the Nizari imamate and the title of Aga Khan at the age of 20 upon the death of his grandfather, Sultan Muhammad Shah. During his Imamate, he was also known by the religious title Mawlānā Hazar Imam by his Isma'ili followers.
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business · Imam of Nizari Isma'ilism from 1957 to 2025 · businessperson · alpine skier · business magnate · philanthropist · imam · racehorse owner and breeder · merchant · religious leader · also Aga Khan IV, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan (IV), Shah Karim, Karim Aga Khan, Karim al-Husayn Shah, IV Aga Khan
Born 13 December 1936 · Died 4 February 2025 · Q311793
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There are those... who enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their lot. Unless these unfortunates can be touched with the spark which ignites the spirit of individual enterprise and determination, they will only sink back into renewed apathy, degradation and despair. It is for us, who are more fortunate, to provide that spark.
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2026· 1 entry
2025· 10 entries
Business Recorder: OPINION: Aga Khan IV: Remembering an iconic leader in the service of humanity
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Won award: Canada (2025).
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Architectural Record: Tribute: Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, the Aga Khan IV (1936–2025)
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Yahoo: Aga Khan IV to be buried in Egypt on Sunday
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The Washington Post: Aga Khan IV, philanthropic leader of Ismaili Muslims, dies at 88
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Yahoo: International Owner, Breeder The Aga Khan IV Dies At Age 88
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Died 2025-02-04.
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“There are those... who enter the world in such poverty that they are deprived of both the means and the motivation to improve their lot. Unless these unfortunates can be touched with the spark which ignites the spirit of individual enterprise and determination, they will only sink back into renewed apathy, degradation and despair. It is for us, who are more fortunate, to provide that spark.”
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“Tolerance, openness and understanding towards other peoples' cultures, social structures, values and faiths are now essential to the very survival of an interdependent world.”
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“Pluralism is no longer simply an asset or a prerequisite for progress and development, it is vital to our existence.”
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2022· 1 entry
Won award: Canada (2022).
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2019· 1 entry
Won award: Portugal (2019).
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2018· 7 entries
Won award: United States (2018).
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Awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (2018).
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Awarded honorary doctor of Simon Fraser University (2018).
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Awarded honorary doctorate from the University of British Columbia (2018).
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Won: Canada (2018).
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The Henrique de Mendonça Palace in Lisbon was designated as the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat
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On the centenary of the World War I Armistice
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2017· 2 entries
Won: Portugal (2017).
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Awarded honorary doctor from the NOVA University Lisbon (2017).
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2016· 1 entry
Won: Canada (2016).
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2014· 2 entries
Won award: Portugal (2014).
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Karim al-Husseini became the first faith leader to address a joint session of the Parliament of Canada
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2013· 4 entries
Awarded North–South Prize (2013).
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Won: Canada (2013).
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Won award: Portugal (2013).
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Won award: Jordan (2009–13).
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2012· 2 entries
Won: Canada (2012).
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Awarded Honorary doctor of the University of Ottawa (2012).
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2011· 2 entries
Won award: United States (2011).
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Awarded honorary Canadian citizenship (2011).
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2010· 1 entry
Won award: Canada (2010).
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2009· 7 entries
Won award: France (2009).
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Awarded honorary doctorate from the University of Alberta (2009).
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Won: United Kingdom (2009).
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Awarded honorary doctorate from the University of Cambridge (2009).
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Won award: Portugal (2009).
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Won: Canada (2009).
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Forbes estimated al-Husseini's net worth at approximately US$1 billion, and in 2013, Vanity Fair reported that his fortune had been estimated at US$13
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2008· 6 entries
Won award: France (2008).
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Won award: Mali (2008).
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Won award: United States (2008).
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Awarded honorary doctor of Harvard University (2008).
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Won award: Kazakhstan (2008).
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Won: United States (2008).
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2006· 4 entries
Won award: United Kingdom (2006).
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Won award: Germany (2006).
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Won award: Spain (2006).
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Became the majority shareholder of French horse auction house Arqana
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2005· 8 entries
Won award: Canada (2005).
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Won award: Scotland (2005).
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Won award: Tanzania (2005).
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Won award: United Kingdom (2005).
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Won award: United States (2005).
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Won award: Germany (2005).
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Awarded honorary doctorate from the American University of Beirut (2005).
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It was reported that he owned a Bombardier Global Express and another transcontinental jet
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2004· 3 entries
Awarded Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2004).
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Awarded Honorary doctorate from University of Toronto (2004).
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Won: Canada (2004).
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2003· 1 entry
Won award: Mali (2003).
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2002· 1 entry
Won award: Kazakhstan (2002).
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2001· 2 entries
Won award: France (2001).
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Won award: Sweden (2001).
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1999· 1 entry
Former IRA member Sean O'Callaghan claimed in his autobiography that the IRA had carried out the abduction
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1998· 1 entry
Won award: Spain (1998).
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1996· 4 entries
Won award: United States (1996).
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Won: United States (1996).
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Awarded honorary doctorate from Brown University (1996).
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Won award: Portugal (1996).
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1993· 1 entry
Won: United Kingdom (1993).
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1992· 2 entries
Won award: United States (1992).
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Won award: Uzbekistan (1992).
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1991· 3 entries
Won award: France (1991).
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Won award: Spain (1991).
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Won award: United Kingdom (1991).
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1989· 1 entry
Awarded Order of Merit for Labour (1989).
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1987· 2 entries
Won: Canada (1987).
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Awarded honorary doctorate from McMaster University (1987).
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1986· 2 entries
Awarded Grand Cordon of the Order of the Throne (1986).
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Al-Husseini promulgated a constitution for the Nizari Ismaili community, which was amended in 1998
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1985· 1 entry
Won award: Pakistan (1985).
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1984· 1 entry
Won award: United States (1984).
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1983· 3 entries
Awarded honorary doctorate from the McGill University (1983).
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Won: Canada (1983).
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Al-Husseini, law enforcement, and members of the public suspected the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA), although the group denied involvement
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1982· 2 entries
Won award: United Kingdom (1982).
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Won award: Italy (1982).
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1981· 2 entries
Won award: Pakistan (1981).
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Won award: Kenya (1981).
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1980· 1 entry
Won award: Pakistan (1980).
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1979· 1 entry
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) launched the Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture (AKPIA), supported by an endowment from al-Husseini
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1977· 3 entries
Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (1977).
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Al-Husseini founded the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London and served as chair of its board of governors
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Karim al-Husseini established the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a triennial award intended to recognize architectural projects that address contemporary design alongside social, environmental, and historical contexts
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1972· 1 entry
The government of Uganda, led by President Idi Amin, expelled people of South Asian origin, including many Nizari Ismailis, giving them 90 days to leave the country
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1970· 2 entries
Won award: Pakistan (1970).
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Won: Pakistan (1970).
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1969· 2 entries
Al-Husseini married former British model Sarah Frances Croker Poole, who assumed the name Salimah Aga Khan upon marrying him
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The wedding ceremonies were held on 22 October 1969 (civil) and 28 October 1969 (religious) at Karim Aga Khan's home in Paris.
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1967· 1 entry
Founded the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, Sardinia, and served as its president for several decades
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1966· 1 entry
Won award: Madagascar (1966).
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1963· 1 entry
Had previously been married to Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen, with whom she had a daughter, Teresa
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1962· 1 entry
Won award: Italy (1962).
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1960· 1 entry
Won award: Ivory Coast (1960).
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1959· 4 entries
Two years after ascending the Imamate, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history (with Cum Laude honours) and his varsity H for the Harvard Crimson men's soccer team
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Studied at Harvard University (1959).
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Founded the Kenyan media company Nation Media Group, which among others owns Daily Nation and Sunday Nation
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By Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, later overthrown in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, but al-Husseini preferred to use the style of His Highness
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1957· 3 entries
Shah Karim al-Husseini was appointed as the 49th Imam of the Nizari Ismaili community at the age of 20
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Following the death of his grandfather, Karim al-Husseini was granted the style of His Highness by Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
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Career landmark: Ismaili imam (1957–2025).
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1949· 1 entry
His parents divorced in part due to his father's extramarital affairs, and shortly after, his father married American actress Rita Hayworth—with whom he had a daughter, Yasmin Aga Khan, the half-sister of al-Husseini
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1936· 1 entry
Born 1936-12-13.
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1887· 1 entry
And was extended to his successor shortly after his accession as Imam
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