Sir Nasser David Khalili KCSS (Persian: ناصر داوود خلیلی, born 18 December 1945) is a British scholar, collector, and philanthropist based in London.

Born in Iran and educated at Queens College, City University of New York and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, he is a naturalised British citizen.

Since then his wealth has grown substantially, which he stated in an interview was due to "dealing in art, commodities and real estate".

Through his philanthropic organisation, the Khalili Foundation, he supports a range of activities to promote mutual understanding and dialogue between Abrahamic religions.

His work for intercultural dialogue and peace has been recognised with honorary degrees from five universities and awards from the French National Assembly and the High Sheriff of Greater London.

When asked about his collections, Khalili stated that he "found things that belonged to a great heritage that was just sitting there unnoticed.

[5] Khalili was born in 1945 in the city of Isfahan, Iran, the fourth of five children, to a Jewish family of art dealers and traders of artefacts.

[6] He studied computer science and earned a bachelor's degree in the subject at Queens College, City University of New York, graduating in 1974.

[6] Khalili took the opportunity to expand his collection,[10][1] acquiring works that would be valued much more highly with the later growth of international interest in Islamic art.

[11] People close to Khalili stated that he invested wisely and often discreetly, buying items that later appreciated to one hundred times the price he paid.

When asked directly how he had gathered his wealth during the 1970s and 1980s, Khalili stated it was from sugar and coffee trading, the options market, property investments and works of art.

[1] In 1992, Khalili offered to lend his Islamic art collection to the British government for a period of 15 years and on condition it would be publicly displayed in a "museum building in central London".

[16] The building was bought by businessman Bernie Ecclestone in 2001 for £50 million, making it the most expensive private home in the country.

[18][19] Since 2010 the project had been a partnership between Khalili's property company Favermead and AXA Real Estate Investment Managers.

[21] In 2014 the building became one of the 13 winners in the Urban Land Institute's Global Awards for Excellence, citing the blending of modern and historic architectural elements.

[24][25] The funds were used for the establishment of the Khalili Research Centre for the Art and Material Culture of the Middle East, which was opened by the Chancellor of Oxford University, Lord Patten, in July 2005.

[10] In 2011, he gave an endowment to Queens College, New York, where he earned his undergraduate degree, to create the Nasser D. Khalili Chair of Islamic Studies.

[1][12] One project of Khalili's Foundation is the Maimonidies Interfaith Initiative,[30] originally founded in 1995 to promote "understanding, cooperation and peace between Jews, Christians and Muslims internationally through art, culture and education".

[5] Its activities include the Maimonides Interfaith Explorers, a UNESCO-supported online educational resource for children aged 10 to 11.

The coalition was founded in 2016 and gives annual awards to political leaders and "everyday heroes" who combat extremism and intolerance.

[54] In early 2016 he was awarded the rank of Officier in the Legion of Honour by President François Hollande in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace.

[56] In 2012, Khalili was honoured by UNESCO as a Goodwill Ambassador for his work in the pursuit of peace among nations via education and culture.