Who is Josh Kushner the new Lakers owner and why he has money?

• Joshua Kushner spearheads a historic 12 billion dollar acquisition of Los Angeles Lakers alongside media executive Bob Iger.

• The 41 year old investor holds an estimated net worth of 5.2 billion dollars, primarily generated through his venture capital firm Thrive Capital.

• Kushner combines a high profile background, stemming from an influential real estate family and his marriage to Karlie Kloss with prior NBA governance experience.

The sports business landscape shifted dramatically following the announcement that American venture capitalist Joshua Kushner has joined forces with Bob Iger to acquire Los Angeles Lakers. The deal, reported on August 12, 2026, values the legendary NBA franchise at 12 billion dollars after purchasing the stake from Mark Walter. The transaction positions Kushner as a central figure in the future stewardship of the organization, transitioning from initial plans involving a Las Vegas expansion team toward leading one of the most celebrated brands in global sports.

 

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Personal background, family connections and media profile

Born June 12, 1985, in Livingston, New Jersey, Kushner was raised in a prominent Jewish real estate development family as the son of Charles Kushner and younger brother of Jared Kushner (former White House senior advisor). Unlike his family members tied to politics or traditional real estate, Joshua carved out his own career path in technology and finance after earning degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Business School. On a personal level, he married supermodel Karlie Kloss in 2018, with whom he has three children, while also collaborating on media projects such as reviving Life magazine.

Origins of the Kushner fortune and Thrive Capital

Forbes estimates Kushner net worth at 5.2 billion dollars, driven primarily by the success of Thrive Capital, the venture firm he founded in 2009. Thrive has raised over 7.3 billion dollars from institutional investors, achieving early renown as a key investor in Instagram ahead of its Facebook acquisition, as well as early positions in tech leaders like OpenAI, Spotify and Skims. Beyond venture capital, Kushner co-founded healthcare venture Oscar Health and real estate technology platform Cadre.

 

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Previous sports investments and NBA footprint

Kushner arrival at the helm of the Lakers builds on years of structured investment within professional basketball. In 2019, he acquired a 2.5 percent minority stake in the Memphis Grizzlies, which he later divested in 2024 to purchase a minority holding in the Miami Heat. These strategic steps provided direct operational insight into league governance, culminating in the decision with Iger to acquire the Los Angeles franchise and build upon the foundational legacy established over decades by the Buss family.

 

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Vision for the future of the Los Angeles Lakers

In a joint statement released following the acquisition agreement, Kushner and Iger expressed their long term commitment to the franchise and its global fanbase. “As lifelong NBA fans, we are deeply honored by the opportunity to become stewards of Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most iconic sports franchises in the world. We have immense respect for the leadership and vision of Jerry and Jeanie Buss. Our long term commitment is to build on that foundation, compete at the highest level and serve this extraordinary team, its fans and the city of Los Angeles”.