Prince Shah Karim Al Husseini, the 49th imam of the Ismaili Muslims, is remembered for his luxurious lifestyle and philanthropic efforts. Born in 1936 in Geneva, he became the imam at 20, following the death of his grandfather. A racehorse owner, his notable horse Shergar was famously kidnapped in 1983. His wealth, estimated between $800 million to $13 billion, derived from horse breeding and investments. Committed to helping the impoverished, he believed that addressing poverty could help thwart extremism, as he articulated in a rare 2007 interview, reflecting on global challenges of inequality and despair.
Shergar, the thoroughbred owned by the Imam, won prestigious races including the Epsom Derby before being kidnapped in 1983, with no trace ever found.
With wealth estimates ranging from $800 million to $13 billion, the Imam's fortune stemmed from inheritance, horse breeding, and investments in tourism and real estate.
Prince Shah Karim Al Husseini became the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims at age 20, succeeding his grandfather after his death in 1957.
Through his philanthropic efforts, he aimed to alleviate poverty, believing it could prevent extremism—a sentiment he shared in a 2007 interview.
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