Ashraf Ghani is married to Rula Saade,[69] who was born into a Lebanese Christian family.[70] The couple married after they met during their studies at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon during the 1970s.[71] They eventually settled in the United States and obtained U.S. citizenship. However, **Ghani renounced his U.S. citizenship in 2009 so he could run in Afghan elections.[2]** Ashraf and Rula Ghani have two children, a daughter, Mariam, a Brooklyn-based visual artist,[72] and a son, Tarek who was a National Security and Foreign Policy advisor to 2020 presidential candidate, Pete Buttigieg[73]. Both were born in the United States and carry U.S. citizenship and passports. In an unusual move for a politician in Afghanistan, Ghani at his presidential inauguration in 2014 publicly thanked his wife, acknowledging her with an Afghan name, Bibi Gul.[71] "I want to thank my partner, Bibi Gul, for supporting me and Afghanistan," he said. "She has always supported Afghan women and I hope she continues to do so."[74] Ashraf Ghani also owns 200 acres of land in Surkhab area of Logar province. Abdul Baqi Ahmadzai, who is close to Ashraf Ghani, claims that Ashraf Ghani inherited a lot of land from his father. However, Ashraf Ghani bought this 200 acres of land separately in Logar province.[75] Ghani lost most of his stomach after suffering from cancer in the 1990s. It is said that Ghani wakes up every morning before five, and reads for two to three hours.[76] He is the older brother of Hashmat Ghani Ahmadzai, an Afghan politician who is the Grand Council Chieftain of the Kuchis.[77]