Born on 11 December 1945 at Istana Jema'ah, Klang, as the first son of the Raja Muda (Crown Prince) of Selangor, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah and Raja Saidatul Ihsan Tengku Badar Shah.

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin began his education at Malay Primary School, Kuala Lumpur before attending St. John's Institution until 1959. He was then sent abroad to continue his education, attending the Hale School in Perth, Australia, from 1960 and later Langhurst College in Surrey, United Kingdom, from 1964.

After returning from the United Kingdom, he joined the government service and was attached to the Selangor State Secretariat under the administration of Menteri BesarHarun Idris. He served in the Kuala Lumpur District Office and police department.

DYMM Sultan Sharafuddin is known for being adventurous, having circumnavigated the world and scaled a mountain. At 30, he climbed Mount Kinabalu. Prior to becoming Sultan, he was an avid sailor. In 1995, he circumnavigated his yacht, SY Jugra, around the world. The journey took 22 months. The Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, a major annual sailing event, is named after him. He has also taken part in rallies and long-distance car races. In 1986, he drove a Proton Saga from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching, covering 1,111 km in two days.