Wed Feb 05 20:37:51 UTC 2025: ## Prince Rahim al-Hussaini Succeeds Father as Aga Khan, Leading Millions of Ismaili Muslims
**Lisbon, Portugal –** Prince Rahim al-Hussaini, 53, has been named the new Aga Khan, spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslim community, following the death of his father, Prince Karim Al-Hussaini, at age 88. The announcement was made by the Ismaili community, stating that the succession followed historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition. The Aga Khan IV, renowned for his extensive philanthropy and considerable wealth, passed away Tuesday in Lisbon.
The Aga Khan, a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad, holds a position of immense reverence within the Ismaili community, numbering an estimated 12 to 15 million people worldwide. He is considered not only a spiritual leader but also a head of state, holding near-divine status among his followers.
Prince Rahim, the eldest son of the Aga Khan IV and Sarah Croker Poole, inherits a vast legacy, including the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN, a billion-dollar organization operating in over 30 countries, focuses on healthcare, housing, education, and rural development, employing 80,000 people and impacting millions through infrastructure development and social programs in Africa and Asia. Prince Rahim has been actively involved in the AKDN, serving on the boards of several agencies.
His personal life includes a previous marriage to model Kendra Spears, with whom he has two sons. He now assumes the immense responsibility of leading the Ismaili community and managing the substantial family fortune, the extent of which remains largely unquantified but is estimated to be in the billions. The Ismailis, traditionally concentrated in India but now with significant populations across East Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East, contribute a tithe of up to 12.5% of their income to the Aga Khan.
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