Asgaroladi was born to a wealthy merchant family in Damavand. His ancestors were
Jews who converted to
Shia Islam. Asgaroladi was a senior member of Iran's
Expediency Council. He spent many years at the forefront of the Iranian cabinet and as First Vice President, serving as both Secretary of State for Social Security, Minister for Economy, Trade and Commerce as well as heading the Homeland Security Agency and intelligence services in Iran. He ran in the 1981 and 1985 Presidential elections. Asgaroladi was a prominent member of
Khomeini's inner circle and returned to Iran from
Neuphle-le-Chateau with Araghi & Beheshti. Since the
Islamic Revolution of 1979, he was chosen by Khomeini to be the founding father of the Khomeini Relief Foundation, the largest social welfare branch of the government in Iran. Some unofficial reports include him among the wealthiest individuals in Iran with a net worth of several billion dollars. Several members of the Asgaroladi family have been featured in the
Fortune 500 ("Millionaire Mullahs" article), with Asadollah Asgaroladi possessing an estimated wealth of over US$9 billion. The Asgaroladis are now amongst the wealthiest families in Iran with commercial interests in real estate, banking, healthcare and exports of dried fruits, nuts, caviar and saffron. Asgaroladi published his autobiography in 2012 and was presented with an award by
Ali Larijani, speaker of the Iranian Parliament. He died on 5 November 2013 in
Tehran's Dey Hospital after being hospitalized for more than two months. His funeral was attended by the Supreme Leader Khamenei, President
Hassan Rouhani, Mohsen Rafiqdoost, Ali Larijani and many other senior government officials. == See also ==