Rita Hayworth & Prince Aly Khan: The Hollywood Goddess and the Playboy Prince
She gave up Hollywood for a prince, only to discover his kingdom was built on infidelity
Key Facts
What Happened
Rita Hayworth was the love goddess of 1940s Hollywood — the woman whose pinup image was pasted to an atomic bomb dropped on Bikini Atoll and whose poster hung in every American barracks during World War II. In 1948, at the peak of her fame, she met Prince Aly Khan, son of Aga Khan III, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili Muslims and one of the wealthiest men in the world. Their romance was a global sensation: the most glamorous woman in Hollywood and a genuine prince.
They married on May 27, 1949, in a lavish ceremony on the French Riviera, and their daughter Yasmin was born on December 28, 1949. But the fairy tale quickly soured. Aly Khan was a legendary playboy who had no intention of changing his ways. Hayworth had given up her career and her identity as a Hollywood star to become a princess, only to find herself isolated in a foreign world while her husband pursued other women. She later said: 'I was just a decoration for his collection.'
Hayworth returned to Hollywood in 1951, and the divorce was granted in January 1953 on grounds of extreme mental cruelty. The custody battle over Princess Yasmin was the most contentious element. Aly Khan wanted his daughter raised as a Muslim and offered Hayworth $1 million if she would agree. Hayworth, who was raised Catholic, refused. She won sole custody, and Yasmin was raised in the United States. The financial and visitation terms were finalized in November 1953.
Hayworth's story has a tragic coda. She returned to Hollywood but was never the same star. Her increasingly erratic behavior throughout the 1960s and 1970s was attributed to alcoholism, but was eventually diagnosed as early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Her daughter Yasmin became her primary caregiver and then channeled her experience into advocacy, becoming a leading figure in the Alzheimer's Association. The annual Rita Hayworth Gala has raised over $42 million for Alzheimer's research since 1985. What began as a divorce tragedy became, through Yasmin's dedication, a legacy of compassion.
Legal Breakdown: Child Custody
Religious Upbringing in Custody Disputes
The Hayworth-Khan custody battle centered on religion — a factor that remains contentious in modern custody disputes. Courts generally try to maintain the status quo of the child's religious upbringing, and they are reluctant to award custody based on one parent's religious preferences over another's. Khan's offer to pay $1 million for the right to determine Yasmin's religion was essentially an attempt to buy a custody outcome — something courts strongly disfavor. A child's religious upbringing is a factor in custody decisions, not a commodity to be purchased.
International Custody and Jurisdiction
The Hayworth-Khan divorce involved an American citizen, a citizen with ties to France, India, and the Middle East, and a child born in Europe. International custody disputes involve complex questions of jurisdiction — which country's courts have authority over the child. Hayworth's decision to return to the United States with Yasmin established American jurisdiction. Today, the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction provides a framework for resolving such disputes, but in 1953 no such framework existed.
Career Sacrifice and Identity Loss
Hayworth gave up her career at its peak to become a princess — and found herself trapped in a gilded cage. When she returned to Hollywood, she had lost crucial career momentum. This pattern — one spouse sacrificing career for the relationship and suffering economically afterward — is exactly what modern alimony and rehabilitative support are designed to address. Courts increasingly recognize that career interruption during marriage creates long-term economic harm.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →Courts will not allow a parent to buy the right to determine a child's religious upbringing. Religion is one factor among many in custody decisions.
- →International custody disputes require immediate legal counsel specializing in international family law. Jurisdiction is everything.
- →Giving up your career for a marriage creates real economic vulnerability. If you do, protect yourself with a postnuptial agreement.
- →A child's needs come first in custody disputes — not a parent's religious, cultural, or financial preferences.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.