Aga Khan Troubled Marriages: Married Twice, Divorced Twice

The spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Muslims for nearly seven decades, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, passed away on Tuesday, February 5, in Lisbon.

He was known for combining moral leadership and philanthropic endeavours with a vast personal fortune, making a significant impact on global development and welfare.

Aga Khan was the 49th hereditary imam of the Ismaili Muslims, who say they are direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.

Following the death of the philanthropist, it has been revealed that he was married twice and divorced twice.

Interestingly, all of his wives were divorcees. Aga Khan’s first marriage was to Sarah Frances Croker Poole, a former British fashion model, in 1969.

Aga Khan Divorce 1st Wife in 1995

She converted to Islam, adopting the name Begum Salimah Aga Khan. The couple had three children: Zahra Aga Khan, Rahim Aga Khan, and Hussain Aga Khan.

However, their union ended in 1995 after 11 years of marriage.

Reports indicate that trouble in their relationship surfaced when Salima Begum failed to accompany her husband to high-profile events like the Royal Ascot and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, the top race in France which the Aga Khan won.

Salimah was previously married to Lord James Charles Crichton-Stuart, son of John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute.

Also Read: Prince Rahim: Profile of Aga Khan IV Successor Named in His Father’s Will

Prince Karim Marries Three Years After First Divorce

After his divorce in 1995, three years later, in 1998, Aga Khan married Princess Gabriele Thyssen of Leiningen, a former German pop singer and UNESCO consultant, who became known as Begum Inaara Aga Khan.

Aga Khan and Gabriele had a son, Prince Aly Muhammad. Their marriage, however, was short-lived, and they separated in 2004 after six years.

The lengthy divorce battle culminated in 2014 with a hefty cash settlement in France.

The case was initially heard in the High Court in London, where it was predicted to become one of the most expensive divorces in history, with a potential settlement reaching up to half a million dollars.

However, the case was transferred to France, where Princess Inaara was awarded a divorce settlement worth $60 million when adjusted for inflation. 

Before marrying Aga Khan, Gabriele’s life took a significant turn in 1991 when she married Russian Prince Karl Emich of Leiningen. 

The couple welcomed a daughter a year later, and Gabriele became a consultant for UNESCO, focusing on gender equality and improving conditions for women.

By 1998, they had separated, and Gabriele soon entered another royal union with Aga Khan.

Parent’s Divorce

Before their marriages to each other, both Aga Khan and Gabriele Thyssen had experienced the impact of their parents’ divorces.

Aga Khan was born in Geneva on December 13, 1936, as the eldest son of Prince Aly Khan, a renowned playboy, and his first wife, Joan (Yarde-Buller) Khan, a descendant of the British aristocracy.

In 1949, his parents divorced, and his father later married American actress Rita Hayworth, with whom he had a daughter, Princess Yasmin Aga Khan.

Similarly, Gabriele was born in 1963 as Gabriele Homey to entrepreneur parents Renate Kerkhoff and Helmut Friedhelm Homey.

After her parents’ divorce, her mother, who later became Renate Thyssen-Henne, remarried Bodo Thyssen, a grandson of German entrepreneur Joseph Thyssen.

Gabriele was adopted by her stepfather and took his surname, becoming Gabriele Thyssen.

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