Benazir Bhutto Biography: Height, Parent, Children, Husband, Age, Net Worth, Siblings

Benazir Bhutto was a trailblazing Pakistani politician, celebrated as the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority country as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Her leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and her advocacy for democracy and women’s rights made her a global icon despite facing significant political and personal challenges.

Profile

• Full Name: Benazir Bhutto
• Stage Name: None
• Born: June 21, 1953
• Died: 2007 (Age: 54 years old)
• Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan
• Nationality: Pakistani
• Occupation: Politician
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Nusrat Ispahani Bhutto
• Siblings: Murtaza Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto, Shahnawaz Bhutto
• Spouse: Asif Ali Zardari
• Children: Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, Aseefa Bhutto Zardari
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: USD 850 million

Early Life and Education

Benazir Bhutto, a pioneering politician, was born on June 21, 1953, in Karachi, Pakistan, into a prominent political dynasty.

The eldest child of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, a former Prime Minister, and Nusrat Ispahani Bhutto, a politically active figure of Persian descent, she grew up in a wealthy, aristocratic Sindhi family.

Raised alongside her siblings—Murtaza, Sanam, and Shahnawaz—she was exposed to politics at an early age, often accompanying her father to diplomatic events.

Her father’s progressive views ensured she received an elite education, attending the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Karachi and the Jesus and Mary Convent in Murree.

At 16, she moved to the United States, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Government cum laude from Harvard’s Radcliffe College in 1973.

She then studied Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall, graduating in 1976, and completed a postgraduate degree in International Law in 1977, becoming the first Asian woman to serve as President of the Oxford Union.

Her ethnicity was a mix of Sindhi, Persian, and Kurdish descent, and she was raised as a Sunni Muslim.

Career

Benazir Bhutto, a visionary politician, returned to Pakistan in 1977, shortly before her father’s government was overthrown in a military coup by General Zia-ul-Haq.

After Zulfikar’s execution in 1979, she became the titular head of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), enduring frequent house arrests and solitary confinement from 1979 to 1984.

Exiled to London from 1984 to 1986, she led the PPP’s pro-democracy movement, returning to Pakistan to a hero’s welcome.

In 1988, at age 35, she was elected Prime Minister, becoming the first woman to lead a Muslim-majority nation.

Her first term (1988–1990) focused on economic reforms, women’s empowerment, and improving relations with India, but was cut short due to corruption allegations.

Re-elected in 1993, her second term (1993–1996) saw advancements in education and healthcare, although it faced similar accusations and ultimately came to an end.

From 1999 to 2007, Bhutto lived in self-imposed exile in London and Dubai, directing the PPP from a distance.

She returned to Pakistan in October 2007 after receiving amnesty from President Pervez Musharraf, surviving an assassination attempt that killed 136 supporters.

Campaigning for the 2008 elections, she remained a symbol of democratic resilience until her tragic assassination in December 2007.

Social Media

She does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

Benazir Bhutto, a dedicated politician, married Asif Ali Zardari, a wealthy landowner, in an arranged marriage on December 18, 1987, in Karachi.

Despite initial reservations about arranged marriages, their union was happy, producing three children: Bilawal (born 1988), Bakhtawar (born 1990), and Aseefa (born 1993).

In 1990, Bhutto made history as the first elected head of government to give birth while in office, delivering Bakhtawar via cesarean section and resuming work the next day.

Her marriage faced scrutiny due to corruption allegations against Zardari, who was imprisoned from 1996 to 2004, though Bhutto maintained their innocence.

Living apart at times due to his legal troubles, she visited him monthly in New York. Bhutto faced profound personal losses, including the execution of her father in 1979, the mysterious death of her brother Shahnawaz in 1985, and the killing of her brother Murtaza in 1996.

Known for her resilience, she remained committed to her vision of a democratic Pakistan until her assassination on December 27, 2007, in Rawalpindi, where a suicide bomber killed her after a campaign rally.

Net Worth

Benazir Bhutto, a prominent politician, had an estimated net worth of USD 850 million at the time of her death in 2007, although estimates vary widely due to allegations of corruption.

Her wealth stemmed from her family’s aristocratic landholdings in Sindh, political influence, and reported investments.

Accusations of receiving kickbacks, including $15 million from Swiss firms SGS and Cotecna, as well as $200 million from Dassault for a fighter jet deal, contributed to her financial profile, although she denied these claims.