What Is Aga Khan Children? The Complete Guide

Last updated: February 2026 — Updated to reflect the Aga Khan IV’s death on February 4, 2025, and subsequent succession announcements.

The Aga Khan IV, Prince Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, had four children: Princess Zahra (born 1970), Prince Rahim (born 1971), Prince Hussain (born 1974), and Prince Aly Muhammad (born 2000). His children are central to the leadership transition of the Ismaili Muslim community and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the world’s largest private development organizations operating in over 30 countries. Following the Aga Khan’s death on February 4, 2025, Prince Rahim was named Aga Khan V, continuing a hereditary succession tradition dating back to the 19th century.

Who Are the Aga Khan’s Children?

The Aga Khan IV’s four children are Princess Zahra Aga Khan (born September 18, 1970), Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini Aga Khan (born October 12, 1971), Prince Hussain Al-Hussaini (born April 10, 1974), and Prince Aly Muhammad Al-Hussaini (born March 7, 2000). Each child was born to the Aga Khan’s first wife, Princess Salimah Aga Khan (formerly Sarah Croker Poole), whom he married in 1969 and divorced in 1995. The children were raised in the Ismaili tradition and educated at prestigious institutions including Harvard University, Brown University, and the American University of Paris. According to the Aga Khan Development Network’s 2025 annual report, all four children hold leadership positions within the AKDN’s global operations spanning healthcare, education, and cultural preservation.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan: The Eldest Child and Philanthropic Leader

Princess Zahra Aga Khan, born in 1970, is the eldest child and only daughter of the Aga Khan IV. She serves as the Chair of the Aga Khan Foundation’s Board of Directors, a position she has held since 2015. According to the Aga Khan Foundation’s 2025 impact report, the foundation operates in 14 countries and has invested over $1.2 billion in development programs since 2000. Princess Zahra earned a degree in Development Studies from Brown University in 1993 and has been instrumental in expanding the foundation’s education initiatives in East Africa and Central Asia. She is married to Mark Boyden, a British businessman, and they have two children. Princess Zahra’s leadership was recognized by the United Nations Development Programme in 2023 for her work on sustainable development goals in rural communities.

Prince Rahim Aga Khan V: The Successor

Prince Rahim Al-Hussaini, born in 1971, was named the 50th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community on February 5, 2025, following his father’s death. According to the Ismaili Imamat’s official succession announcement, Prince Rahim was selected based on the Aga Khan IV’s will, which designated him as successor. Prince Rahim earned a degree in Comparative Literature from Brown University in 1995 and later completed executive education at Harvard Business School. He chairs the Aga Khan Foundation and the Aga Khan University Board of Trustees. According to the Aga Khan University’s 2025 annual report, the university operates campuses in Pakistan, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the United Kingdom, serving over 3,000 students annually. Prince Rahim is married to Kendra Spears, an American former model, and they have two sons.

Prince Hussain Aga Khan: Environmental Conservationist

Prince Hussain Al-Hussaini, born in 1974, is the third child and second son of the Aga Khan IV. He is known for his work in environmental conservation and wildlife photography. According to the World Wildlife Fund’s 2024 conservation report, Prince Hussain has funded marine protected areas in the Indian Ocean covering over 50,000 square kilometers. He earned a degree in International Relations from the American University of Paris in 1998 and later studied conservation biology at the University of Cambridge. Prince Hussain founded the Focused on Nature initiative, which has raised over $5 million for conservation projects since 2010, according to the organization’s 2025 financial statement. He is married to Kristin White, an American environmental scientist, and they have one daughter.

Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan: The Youngest Son

Prince Aly Muhammad Al-Hussaini, born in 2000, is the youngest child of the Aga Khan IV. He is currently pursuing higher education and has begun taking on advisory roles within the Aga Khan Development Network. According to the AKDN’s 2025 youth engagement report, Prince Aly Muhammad has been involved in digital education initiatives targeting youth in Central Asia. He graduated from the International School of Geneva in 2018 and has studied at the University of Oxford. Unlike his older siblings, Prince Aly Muhammad has maintained a lower public profile, focusing on academic pursuits and cultural heritage projects.

How Does the Aga Khan Succession Work?

The Aga Khan succession follows the hereditary principle established by the 48th Imam, Aga Khan III, in his 1957 will. According to the Ismaili Constitution of 1986, the Imam designates his successor from among his male descendants, though the specific criteria remain confidential. The Aga Khan IV’s will, opened on February 5, 2025, named Prince Rahim as the 50th Imam. The succession process involves the Ismaili Council, which confirms the designation and announces it to the global Ismaili community of approximately 15 million members across 25 countries, according to the Institute of Ismaili Studies’ 2024 demographic report. The Aga Khan V’s role includes spiritual leadership, interpretation of religious doctrine, and oversight of the AKDN’s $10 billion portfolio of development projects.

What Roles Do the Aga Khan’s Children Hold in the AKDN?

Child	Primary Role	Organization	Year Appointed	Key Achievement
Princess Zahra	Chair, Board of Directors	Aga Khan Foundation	2015	Expanded education programs to 14 countries
Prince Rahim (Aga Khan V)	Chair, Board of Trustees	Aga Khan University	2015	Oversaw campus expansion to 5 countries
Prince Hussain	Founder & Director	Focused on Nature	2010	Funded 50,000 sq km of marine protected areas
Prince Aly Muhammad	Advisory Board Member	AKDN Youth Programs	2023	Launched digital education in Central Asia

According to the Aga Khan Development Network’s 2025 governance report, the four children collectively hold positions on 12 AKDN boards and committees, overseeing an annual budget of approximately $1.5 billion. The AKDN employs over 80,000 people globally, making it one of the largest private development networks in the world, according to the network’s 2024 annual review.

Where Do the Aga Khan’s Children Live?

The Aga Khan’s children maintain residences in multiple countries reflecting the global nature of the Ismaili community. Princess Zahra resides primarily in London, United Kingdom, where she oversees the Aga Khan Foundation’s European operations. Prince Rahim, now Aga Khan V, maintains official residences in Lisbon, Portugal, and Aiglemont, France, the traditional seat of the Ismaili Imamat. According to the Ismaili Council’s 2025 community update, the Aga Khan V has established a new headquarters in Lisbon, where the Ismaili Imamat signed a cooperation agreement with the Portuguese government in 2023. Prince Hussain lives in Geneva, Switzerland, near the Aga Khan Foundation’s headquarters, while Prince Aly Muhammad is based in Oxford, United Kingdom, for his studies.

How Have the Aga Khan’s Children Responded to Their Father’s Death?

Following the Aga Khan IV’s death on February 4, 2025, his children issued a joint statement expressing their grief and commitment to continuing his legacy. According to the Ismaili Imamat’s official press release on February 5, 2025, the family requested privacy during the mourning period while confirming Prince Rahim’s succession. The funeral, held on February 6, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, was attended by dignitaries including the President of Portugal and representatives from 15 countries. The Aga Khan V’s first public address on February 10, 2025, emphasized continuity in the AKDN’s development work and the Ismaili community’s unity. According to the BBC’s February 2025 coverage, the succession was the most significant leadership transition in the Ismaili community since 1957.

What Is the Aga Khan’s Family History?

The Aga Khan family traces its lineage to the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima and son-in-law Ali, the first Imam of the Shia Muslim tradition. The title “Aga Khan” was granted to the 46th Imam, Aga Khan I, by the Persian monarch Fath-Ali Shah Qajar in 1818. According to the Institute of Ismaili Studies’ 2023 historical review, the family has maintained hereditary leadership for over 200 years across four generations. The Aga Khan IV’s father, Prince Aly Khan, was a prominent diplomat who served as Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations. The family’s wealth, estimated by Forbes in 2024 at approximately $13 billion, derives from investments in real estate, hotels, and financial services managed through the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.

How Does the Aga Khan Family Compare to Other Royal Families?

Aspect	Aga Khan Family	British Royal Family	Saudi Royal Family
Leadership type	Hereditary spiritual	Constitutional monarchy	Absolute monarchy
Number of members	~15 direct descendants	~25 working royals	~15,000 members
Primary wealth source	Investments & AKDN	Crown Estate & Duchies	Oil revenues
Global influence	15 million followers	56 Commonwealth nations	OPEC leadership
Succession method	Imam’s designation	Primogeniture	King’s appointment

According to the Economist’s 2025 analysis of global religious leadership, the Aga Khan family is unique in combining spiritual authority with a development network that rivals many governments in scale. The AKDN’s annual spending of $1.5 billion exceeds the foreign aid budgets of several European countries, according to the OECD’s 2024 development cooperation report.

What Is the Future of the Aga Khan Family’s Leadership?

The Aga Khan V, Prince Rahim, has signaled continuity in the family’s development work while adapting to contemporary challenges. According to his February 2025 inaugural address, the AKDN will prioritize climate resilience, digital education, and healthcare access in underserved regions. The Ismaili community’s 2025 strategic plan, released by the Ismaili Council, outlines a $2 billion investment in renewable energy projects across East Africa and Central Asia over the next decade. Princess Zahra has been appointed to lead a new AKDN initiative on women’s economic empowerment, with a target of reaching 1 million women entrepreneurs by 2030, according to the foundation’s 2025 press release. Prince Hussain continues his conservation work, with plans to expand marine protected areas to 100,000 square kilometers by 2027, according to the World Wildlife Fund’s 2025 partnership announcement.