Multimillionaire and spiritual leader The Aga Khan dies at 88 years

The philanthropist and spiritual leader of billionaire Aga Khan died at the age of 88, has announced his beneficial organization that the AGA Khan development network.

Prince Karim Aga Khan was the 49th hereditary imam of the Muslims of Ismaili, who track his lineage directly to the Muhammad prophet.

He “died peacefully” in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family, said his beneficial organization in a statement on social networks.

Born in Switzerland, he had British citizenship and lived in a castle in France.

King Carlos III has been informed of the death of the philanthropist, who was a friend of him and his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II.

It is understood that the king is deeply sad for the loss of a personal friend of many years and is in contact with the family in private.

The beneficial organizations of Aga Khan directed hundreds of hospitals, educational and cultural projects, largely in the developing world.

He enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle, with a private island in the Bahamas, a super yates and a private jet.

The AGA Khan Development Network said it offered its “condolences to the family of its highness and the community of Ismaili worldwide.”

“We continue to work with our partners to improve the quality of life of people and communities around the world, as I wanted, regardless of their religious affiliations or origins,” he added.

The Ismailis, a Muslim sect, have a world population of approximately 15 million, including 500,000 in Pakistan. There are also great populations in India, Afghanistan and Africa.

Prince Karim Aga Khan happened to his grandfather as IMAM of the Muslims of Ismaili in 1957 at the age of 20.

The prince had an estimated fortune of $ 1 billion (£ 801 million) in 2008, According to Forbes magazine. His hereditary wealth was promoted by numerous commercial interests, including the reproduction of horses.

He became an outstanding owner and breeder of breed in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland, raising Shergar, once the most famous and valuable racing horse in the world.

He was the founder of the beneficial organization of the AGA Khan Foundation and gave his name to bodies, including a university in Karachi, and the Aga Khan program for Islamic architecture at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture was key to the restoration of the Humayun tomb in Delhi. There is an annual award of Aga Khan to architecture.

And founded the Nation Media Group, which has become the largest independent media organization in Eastern and Central Africa.

Shergar won the Derby in EPSOM in 1981 for 10 lengths in the Green Emerald rage silks of Aga Khan with red jackets, but was kidnapped in Ireland two years later and never found himself.

Despite losing his beloved horse, he told the BBC in 2011, on the 30th anniversary of Shergar’s greatest triumph, who did not contemplate his Irish breeding operation.

Shergar’s triumph said: “It is a memory that can never disappear.

“I have seen that movie that I do not know, dozens or hundreds of times. I still try to analyze where this remarkable performance comes from. Every time I see the movie, I feel that I have learned something.

“If you are in races, the Epsom Derby is one of the greats. It has always been, so winning a career of that quality itself is an extraordinary privilege. Winning as it won was more than that.

“I had seen enough races to be able to determine what the rider felt, how the horse was going at that time and when it reached the corner of Tattenham, I couldn’t believe what I saw, frankly.

“His victory so far was unique. Two things I found impressive, one was the ease with which that horse moved and the second was the fact that during the right finish he kept going, going, going. He was really remarkable.”

AGA Khan won the great race another four times with Shahrastani (1986), Kahyasi (1986), Singndar (2000) and Harzand (2016).

Other notable successes included the prix of L’Aromphe 2008 with the brilliant Potra undict Zakava.