Even if you don’t agree with Hasan Minhaj’s political views (or jokes), you must admit he’s funny. But did you know that the comedian/political correspondent has been married since 2015 to his college sweetheart?
Their relationship piqued my interest enough to warrant a full-fledged investigation!
So, here’s everything I came up with about Beena Patel’s background, professional career, and love story with Minhaj.
Beena Patel’s Childhood and Education
No one’s sure about Beena’s exact birth date, but it’s likely sometime in the mid-‘80s, just like her husband. And, similar to Hasan, she’s a second-generation American Indian, born to parents who immigrated to the U.S. from India.
But unlike her partner, she’s a Hindu of Gujarati descent, whereas Hasan Minhaj is a Muslim of Uttar Pradesh descent.
I’m not optimistic about where Beena Patel went to high school, but she did attend the University of California in Davis. During her college years, she studied neurobiology, physiology, and behavior.
She finally received a DrPH degree from UCLA and became a public health doctor.
Beena Patel’s Career Accomplishments
Beena Patel’s career kicked off right after she started practicing as a public health doctor. But she always wanted to do more to help people in need in the U.S. and other countries.
She worked on providing access to healthcare for homeless people, then became a management consultant for MedAmerica.
A few years later, her lifelong dream came true when she was appointed as the executive director of the Vituity Cares Foundation. The main goal of this foundation is to make healthcare available for everyone, especially communities in need in the U.S. and Tanzania.
Hasan Minhaj has consistently praised his wife’s work in Instagram posts. He takes every chance to express his pride for this inspiring woman and her tireless efforts to improve the world.
Beena received Jhpiego’s Visionary Award in 2022 for her work with Vituity Cares. Again, her husband took that opportunity to dedicate a heartfelt Instagram post to her, calling her a “VISIONARY AND ICON.”
Yup, in all caps!
Meeting Hasan Minhaj, Marriage, and Kids
I always have so much fun telling Beena and Hasan’s love story because it’s more of a fairytale than a real-life event.
Falling in Love During College
The couple met while still first-year students at the University of California, Davis.
According to Minhaj, he first laid eyes on her beside the UC Davis fountain, which inspired the design of the ring he had made for her in 2020.
The unique piece of jewelry also pays tribute to the UC Davis dome (look at the prongs that hold the diamond at the center!). That was where their relationship took a more severe turn.
Getting Married
After dating for around ten years, Hasan and Beena tied the knot in 2015.
One funny detail about the proposal is that Hasan spent all his money on the diamond and didn’t buy the ring holding it!
He just proposed to the diamond holder and thought the ring wasn’t too important.
But he made up for that hiccup when he had a ring custom-made for her by Zameer Kassam. The lovely ring has “and in this crazy life… you’re everything” hand-carved in Hasan’s handwriting inside the band.
The lyric is from the song “Everything” by Michael Bublé, their wedding song. You have to admit that his efforts are admirable!
Having Two Kids After Struggling to Conceive
Beena Patel and Hasan Minhaj have two kids as of 2024: a daughter born in 2018 and a son born in 2020.
But before they were blessed with their children, Minhaj had issues related to his fertility that required treatment.
He had to undergo a varicocele repair procedure, and then, finally, the couple managed to have two kids together.
Beena Patel’s Net Worth in 2024
There have been speculations that Beena Patel’s fortune amounts to $500,000 to $1 million. I wouldn’t be surprised if her wealth surpassed these numbers since she’s been a successful doctor and executive producer of Vituity Cares for years now.
While we’re at it, why don’t I also reveal Minhaj’s net worth?
According to several sources on the web, Hasan Minhaj has an estimated $4–5 million in 2024. Being a TV host, stand-up comedian, producer, and writer certainly pays off!
Some of his most notable TV and movie appearances include:
- The Daily Show
- Homecoming King
- Rough Night
- Most Likely to Murder
- The Spy Who Dumped Me
- The Final Table (guest judge)
- Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj
- Hasan Minhaj: The King’s Jester
He even made it to Time magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2019.
To Wrap It Up
There you have it: your one-stop introduction to Beena Patel.
After learning about her background, career success, and healthy relationship with her husband, I hope she receives the recognition she deserves.
I admire the lengths she goes to ensure people in need get medical help. At the same time, she excels at being a supportive wife and a loving mother.