Josh Kushner has become one of the most talked-about names in business after the venture capitalist emerged at the center of a proposed record-setting deal for the Los Angeles Lakers. For anyone searching who is josh kushner, he is best known as the founder and CEO of Thrive Capital, a technology-focused investment firm that has backed companies including OpenAI, Stripe, Spotify and Instagram. In 2026, however, his growing involvement in professional sports has added another major dimension to his public profile.
The 41-year-old investor has built his career across venture capital, technology, health insurance and sports. Although he belongs to the prominent Kushner family, Josh has largely established his own professional identity outside politics, concentrating instead on startups, long-term investments and high-value businesses.
Who Is Josh Kushner?
Joshua Kushner is an American entrepreneur, venture capitalist and investor. He founded Thrive Capital, a New York-based investment firm that has become a significant player in the technology industry.
Kushner’s business interests extend beyond venture capital. He co-founded Oscar Health, a technology-driven health insurance company, and has developed an increasingly strong presence in professional sports.
His name became especially prominent on August 12, 2026, when reports emerged that Kushner and former Disney chief executive Bob Iger had reached an agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for approximately $12.5 billion.
The proposed transaction still requires the necessary NBA approval before the ownership change can be completed. If approved, it would mark a dramatic expansion of Kushner’s business profile and place him among the most prominent owners in American professional sports.
Josh Kushner’s Early Life and Family
Josh Kushner was born on June 12, 1985, in Livingston, New Jersey.
He is the son of real estate developer Charles Kushner and the younger brother of Jared Kushner. His family has long been involved in real estate, business and public affairs, which has naturally attracted attention to Josh’s career.
Jared Kushner became particularly well known for his real estate career and his work in the White House during Donald Trump’s presidency. Josh followed a different path, becoming primarily associated with technology investing and entrepreneurship.
While his family background has contributed to public interest in him, Kushner’s career has been built largely around venture capital and technology companies.
Education and Entrepreneurial Beginnings
Kushner attended Harvard University and earned a degree in government. He later attended Harvard Business School, where he earned an MBA.
His interest in technology developed before Thrive Capital became a major investment firm. Kushner was involved with Vostu, a social gaming company focused on Latin American markets, giving him early experience in the technology startup world.
Those experiences helped shape his understanding of rapidly growing internet businesses and emerging technologies.
Rather than following a traditional path into his family’s real estate business, Kushner moved toward entrepreneurship and venture investing. That decision eventually led to the creation of the company that became the foundation of his fortune.
How Josh Kushner Built Thrive Capital
Kushner founded Thrive Capital in 2009, initially focusing on investments in technology and internet companies.
The firm gradually developed a reputation for backing ambitious founders and taking meaningful positions in companies with substantial growth potential. Thrive’s investment portfolio eventually included some of the most recognizable names in technology.
Among the businesses associated with Thrive’s investment history are:
- OpenAI
- Stripe
- Spotify
- SpaceX
- Databricks
- A24
- Cursor
The firm’s success transformed Kushner from a relatively low-profile entrepreneur into one of the most influential venture capital investors in the United States.
Thrive has also become known for concentrating capital on a relatively small number of companies rather than spreading investments across an enormous portfolio.
Thrive Capital’s $10 Billion Fund
One of the biggest developments in Kushner’s investment career came in February 2026, when Thrive Capital raised more than $10 billion for its 10th fund.
The fund, known as Thrive X, was significantly larger than the firm’s previous fund and was reportedly oversubscribed.
A portion of the new capital is intended for early-stage investments, while the majority is aimed at later-stage opportunities. The firm’s investment interests include artificial intelligence, software, robotics, space and life sciences.
Artificial intelligence has become particularly important to Kushner’s investment philosophy. Thrive has significant exposure to companies operating in the AI ecosystem, including OpenAI.
Kushner has argued that the artificial intelligence transformation is still in its early stages and could have an enormous impact across different industries.
The size of Thrive’s latest fund demonstrates how much confidence investors have placed in Kushner’s strategy.
Josh Kushner and Oscar Health
Kushner is also a co-founder of Oscar Health, a company created to bring a technology-focused approach to health insurance.
Oscar was launched in 2012 and attempted to simplify the insurance experience through digital tools, online services and a more consumer-oriented approach.
The company eventually became publicly traded in 2021.
Kushner’s involvement with Oscar is significant because it demonstrates that his career has not been limited to investing. He has also participated directly in building companies designed to disrupt established industries.
He continues to be associated with Oscar as a co-founder and board leader.
Josh Kushner’s Move Into Sports
Professional sports have become increasingly important to Kushner’s investment strategy.
Thrive Capital’s traditional focus has been technology, but the firm began moving into businesses built around powerful brands, audiences and cultural institutions.
In 2026, Thrive launched a strategy known as Thrive Eternal, designed to pursue long-term investments in businesses and institutions that have enduring cultural value.
The approach represents a significant change from conventional venture capital, where investors typically look for companies capable of rapid growth and eventual exits.
Sports franchises can offer a very different investment proposition. Their value can be supported by media rights, sponsorships, merchandise, ticket sales, global audiences and brand loyalty.
For Kushner, sports therefore provide an opportunity to combine long-term ownership with his broader investment strategy.
Thrive Capital’s San Francisco Giants Investment
The San Francisco Giants became one of the first major examples of this new strategy in April 2026.
Thrive Capital took a minority, non-controlling stake in the MLB franchise. The investment was described as the first major sports investment associated with Thrive Eternal.
The Giants deal was significant because Thrive had historically been identified primarily with technology investments.
It also showed that Kushner was interested in sports as long-term cultural assets rather than simply as short-term financial opportunities.
The investment came only months before Kushner’s name became connected to the much larger Los Angeles Lakers transaction.
Josh Kushner and the Los Angeles Lakers
The biggest development in Kushner’s career came on August 12, 2026.
Kushner and Bob Iger reached an agreement to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers in a deal valued at approximately $12.5 billion. The agreement remains subject to approval from the NBA.
The proposed purchase would be one of the most expensive transactions involving a sports franchise and would establish a new benchmark for the value of an NBA team.
The development was particularly surprising because Kushner and Iger had previously been associated with efforts to pursue an NBA expansion opportunity in Las Vegas.
Instead of continuing solely with an expansion bid, the group turned its attention to an existing franchise with one of the strongest brands in global sports.
The Lakers are among the NBA’s most recognizable teams and have a long history of championships, iconic players and international popularity.
What the Lakers Deal Could Mean for Kushner
If the transaction receives NBA approval, ownership of the Lakers would represent a major expansion of Kushner’s business interests.
Until recently, he was best known in the financial world for venture capital and technology investments. Becoming a leading figure in Lakers ownership would give him a much larger public role.
The deal also creates an unusual combination of expertise.
Kushner brings experience in venture capital, technology and emerging businesses, while Iger brings decades of experience in entertainment, media and global branding.
That combination could become increasingly relevant as professional sports continue to expand into streaming, digital media, international markets and technology.
For now, the final structure and ownership percentages remain subject to the completion of the transaction and NBA approval.
Josh Kushner and Bob Iger
Kushner and Iger already have a professional relationship.
Iger has been connected with Thrive Capital and has advised the firm on its broader strategy. Their relationship eventually extended into sports, including interest in the possibility of bringing an NBA team to Las Vegas.
The Lakers agreement represents the most significant business development involving the two investors so far.
Their partnership also illustrates the growing overlap between technology investment and entertainment.
Modern sports franchises increasingly operate as entertainment companies, with their businesses extending far beyond what happens on the court. Media rights, streaming platforms, sponsorships, data, digital content and global fan engagement all contribute to franchise value.
Josh Kushner and Karlie Kloss
Kushner is married to model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss.
The couple married in 2018 after dating for several years. Kloss has established her own career in fashion, technology and entrepreneurship.
She is also known for founding Kode With Klossy, an organization focused on providing coding education opportunities to young women.
Josh Kushner and Karlie Kloss have three children.
Their relationship has attracted considerable media attention because both have prominent professional profiles. Nevertheless, Kushner generally maintains a more private public image than some other members of his extended family.
Josh Kushner’s Relationship to Jared Kushner
One of the most common reasons people search for Josh Kushner is his relationship with Jared Kushner.
Josh is Jared’s younger brother.
The two come from the same family but have developed substantially different careers. Josh is primarily associated with venture capital, technology startups and sports investments, while Jared has been more closely connected to real estate, government and political affairs.
Understanding this distinction is important because media coverage sometimes places the brothers in the same political context even though Josh’s professional activities have generally focused on business and investment.
Josh Kushner’s Net Worth
Josh Kushner is a billionaire, although precise estimates of his wealth can change as the value of private investments changes.
Forbes estimated his net worth at approximately $5.2 billion in 2026.
A substantial portion of his wealth is linked to his ownership in Thrive Capital. Because Thrive invests heavily in privately held companies, the value of Kushner’s holdings cannot always be measured in the same way as publicly traded stocks.
Private company valuations can rise or fall depending on investment rounds, market conditions and business performance.
For that reason, published estimates of Kushner’s net worth should be viewed as estimates rather than a fixed figure.
Why Josh Kushner Is Making Headlines in 2026
Several developments have pushed Kushner into the spotlight this year.
The most important include:
- Thrive Capital raising more than $10 billion through its latest fund.
- Continued investment in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
- Expansion of Thrive’s investment strategy beyond traditional venture capital.
- Thrive’s minority investment in the San Francisco Giants.
- Kushner’s growing involvement in professional sports.
- The proposed $12.5 billion purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers with Bob Iger.
These developments reveal a broader evolution in Kushner’s career.
He is no longer known only as the founder of a successful technology investment firm. His interests now cover technology, healthcare, sports, entertainment and long-term cultural assets.
The Business Strategy Behind His Expansion
Kushner’s recent activities suggest that he is interested in owning stakes in businesses that can remain valuable for decades.
Technology remains at the center of Thrive Capital’s investment approach, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to reshape the economy.
At the same time, sports franchises offer something different: deeply established brands, loyal audiences and assets that cannot easily be replicated.
That combination may explain why Kushner’s investment strategy has increasingly crossed the boundaries between venture capital, technology and sports.
The Lakers opportunity would take that strategy to an entirely new level.
What Comes Next for Josh Kushner?
The immediate focus is on the proposed Lakers transaction.
Because the agreement requires NBA approval, the deal should not be described as completely finalized until the league’s ownership process is completed.
If approved, Kushner would enter a new stage of his career as a major professional sports owner while continuing to oversee Thrive Capital’s technology investments.
His future business activities will likely remain closely watched, particularly as artificial intelligence, sports media and private investment continue to attract enormous amounts of capital.
Final Thoughts
Josh Kushner has built a distinctive career that combines entrepreneurship, venture capital and long-term investment. He founded Thrive Capital, helped launch Oscar Health and backed some of the most influential technology companies of the past decade.
In 2026, his growing involvement in sports has transformed his public profile. His stake in the San Francisco Giants was an important step, but the proposed acquisition of the Los Angeles Lakers with Bob Iger could become the defining business development of his career.
For readers wondering who is josh kushner, the answer goes well beyond his family connections. He is a prominent technology investor who has built a multibillion-dollar investment firm and is now expanding into one of the world’s most valuable sports and entertainment markets.
As the Lakers transaction moves through the NBA approval process, Kushner’s next chapter could prove just as significant as the venture capital career that made him famous.
What do you think about Josh Kushner’s business career and his potential new role with the Los Angeles Lakers? Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for the latest updates.