Josh Kushner: Lakers Deal and Business Empire
Updated: August 12, 2026
Josh Kushner is making headlines around the world after joining former Disney chief executive Bob Iger in an agreement to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for a reported $12.5 billion. If completed, the transaction would become the most expensive sale of a professional sports franchise in history. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
The proposed Lakers acquisition represents another major step in Kushner's increasingly prominent career as a technology investor, entrepreneur and sports investor. He is best known as the founder and chief executive of Thrive Capital, a venture capital firm that has backed several influential technology companies.
Who Is Josh Kushner?
Joshua Kushner is an American businessman and venture capitalist who founded Thrive Capital and co-founded Oscar Health. He was born in 1985 and studied government at Harvard College before earning an MBA from Harvard Business School. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Unlike his older brother Jared Kushner, who became widely known through his political career and marriage to Ivanka Trump, Josh Kushner built much of his professional reputation in venture capital, technology and healthcare.
His investment career has made him one of the most influential younger figures in America's technology and startup ecosystem.
Josh Kushner's Thrive Capital
Kushner founded Thrive Capital in the late 2000s and developed it into a major venture capital firm focused on technology and internet businesses.
Thrive has invested in companies including Instagram, Spotify, Stripe and OpenAI. Forbes reported in 2026 that Thrive manages approximately $25 billion in assets and that Kushner owns a substantial stake in the firm. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
The firm's investment strategy has helped Kushner build a fortune that Forbes estimated at approximately $5.2 billion in July 2026. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Oscar Health and Healthcare
Kushner is also one of the co-founders of Oscar Health, a technology-focused health insurance company established in 2012.
According to Oscar Health's corporate biography, Kushner co-founded the company in October 2012 and has served on its board since December of that year. He became vice chair of the board in February 2021. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Oscar was created with the goal of using technology to make health insurance easier for consumers to understand and use. The company later became a publicly traded business.
Why Is Josh Kushner in the News Now?
Kushner's latest and most significant headline comes from the world of professional basketball.
On August 12, 2026, reports emerged that Kushner and Bob Iger had agreed to purchase the Los Angeles Lakers for approximately $12.5 billion. The deal would establish a new record for the highest price ever paid for a sports franchise. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
The agreement is not yet completely finalized. The transaction still requires approval from the NBA's Board of Governors before the ownership transfer can be completed. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
Who Is Buying the Lakers?
The proposed ownership group is being led by Josh Kushner and Bob Iger.
Iger is one of the most recognizable executives in the entertainment industry, having served as chief executive of Disney. Kushner brings a different background, centered on venture capital, technology and startup investing.
Their partnership combines experience in technology, finance, entertainment and sports. Both have also been longtime basketball fans. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
How Much Is the Lakers Deal Worth?
The reported purchase price is $12.5 billion.
That figure would make the Lakers transaction the most expensive sports franchise sale ever recorded, surpassing the approximately $10 billion valuation associated with Mark Walter's acquisition of a controlling stake in the team only about a year earlier. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Team | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Reported purchase price | $12.5 billion |
| Lead buyers | Josh Kushner and Bob Iger |
| Previous reported valuation | Approximately $10 billion |
| NBA approval | Still required |
| Significance | Potential record for a sports franchise sale |
Why the Lakers Are So Valuable
The Lakers are among the most recognizable sports franchises in the world. Their history includes legendary players such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.
The team's global brand, enormous fan base, media exposure, sponsorship opportunities and premium Los Angeles market make the franchise particularly attractive to investors.
The record valuation also reflects the broader increase in the value of elite American sports franchises, driven by media rights, sponsorships and the scarcity of major professional teams. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
Josh Kushner's Experience in Sports
The Lakers would not be Kushner's first connection to professional basketball.
He has previously held a minority stake in the Miami Heat and has also been associated with investments involving other professional sports organizations. Reports indicate that NBA ownership rules will require him to sell his existing Miami Heat minority interest if the Lakers transaction proceeds. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
His previous experience gives him familiarity with the business side of professional basketball, even though the Lakers would represent a dramatically larger investment.
Thrive Eternal and Sports Investments
Kushner has recently expanded his interest in sports through Thrive Eternal, an investment vehicle focused on assets with long-term value.
His recent involvement in potential sports-related transactions, including interest connected to global soccer and major American sports, suggests that professional sports are becoming an increasingly important part of his investment strategy.
Earlier in 2026, Kushner also attracted attention over a proposed investment connected to FIFA's commercial operations. Reports said FIFA was considering selling a minority stake in a new subsidiary, with a potential valuation reaching billions of dollars. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Josh Kushner and His Family
Josh Kushner belongs to the prominent Kushner family. His father is real estate developer Charles Kushner, while his older brother Jared Kushner served as a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump.
Josh's professional path has been substantially different from Jared's. While Jared became prominent in politics and government, Josh concentrated on venture capital, technology, healthcare and entrepreneurship.
That distinction has made Josh an interesting figure in American business, particularly because of his family's political connections and his own career in Silicon Valley and New York's investment community.
Josh Kushner and Karlie Kloss
Kushner is married to model and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss. The couple has also attracted significant public attention through their involvement in technology, fashion and business.
Their relationship has frequently placed Kushner in the intersection of celebrity culture, technology investment and the broader Kushner family network.
What the Lakers Deal Could Mean
If approved, the Lakers acquisition would transform Kushner from a major venture capitalist with minority sports investments into one of the most powerful owners in American professional sports.
It would also give him direct influence over one of the NBA's most valuable and recognizable organizations.
For the Lakers, the new ownership group would inherit a franchise with enormous commercial potential but also enormous expectations. Lakers fans traditionally expect championship-level performance, meaning the financial strength of the ownership group will inevitably be judged alongside its basketball decisions.
What Happens Next?
The most important immediate step is approval from the NBA Board of Governors.
Until that process is completed, the reported transaction should be described as an agreement to purchase rather than a fully completed ownership transfer. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}
If the transaction receives approval, the ownership group led by Kushner and Iger would begin one of the most closely watched new chapters in Lakers history.
Josh Kushner at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Kushner |
| Born | June 12, 1985 |
| Profession | Businessman and venture capitalist |
| Major firm | Thrive Capital |
| Healthcare company | Oscar Health |
| Education | Harvard College and Harvard Business School |
| Reported 2026 net worth | Approximately $5.2 billion |
| Latest major deal | Proposed $12.5 billion Lakers acquisition |
Final Thoughts
Josh Kushner has built a career that extends well beyond the famous Kushner family name. Through Thrive Capital, he became a major technology investor, while his role at Oscar Health established him as an entrepreneur in healthcare.
His proposed acquisition of the Los Angeles Lakers with Bob Iger represents a dramatically different scale of investment. At a reported $12.5 billion, the deal would set a new record for a professional sports franchise if completed. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}
The transaction still requires NBA approval, so the final ownership structure could change before completion. But even before the deal closes, the announcement has firmly established Josh Kushner as one of the most closely watched investors in the global sports business.
Editorial note: This article was updated on August 12, 2026. The Lakers transaction remains subject to the required NBA approval. Reported valuations and ownership details may change as the transaction progresses.
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