He is most famous for being the exiled Crown Prince of Iran and declaring himself Reza Shah II after the 1979 Iranian Revolution overthrew his father's monarchy.

Reza Pahlavi was born on October 31, 1960, in Tehran, making him a Scorpio. He is the eldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of Iran, and was designated Crown Prince in 1967. Following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, he went into exile at age 18 and declared himself Reza Shah II in 1980. He is a political activist advocating for democracy in Iran and positioning himself as a potential transitional leader should the Islamic Republic fall. Reza Pahlavi is Muslim by birth and upbringing, identifying as a devout Shia Muslim while advocating for separation of religion and state.

Reza Pahlavi grew up in Tehran's royal palace, studying at a private school reserved for the imperial family. He trained as a pilot from age 11, earning his license at 12 and flying solo in the Imperial Iranian Air Force. In August 1978, he was sent to Reese Air Force Base in Texas for advanced pilot training as a cadet. The Iranian Revolution erupted while he was abroad, forcing him to leave training early in March 1979 at age 18. His younger brother Ali Reza Pahlavi was second in line to the throne until his death by suicide in 2011.

Reza Pahlavi lives in exile in the United States, reportedly in the Potomac, Maryland area. He married Yasmine Etemad-Amini and they have three daughters, with his eldest daughter Noor declared as his heir. He earned a B.S. in political science by correspondence from the University of Southern California in 1985 and is fluent in Persian, English, and French. When asked about his religion, he stated he is a devout Shia Muslim by education and faith, though he maintains this is a private matter. He plays multiple instruments including daf, tonbak, guitar, and drums, and was a passionate football fan in his youth, supporting Tehran's Esteghlal club.