Josh Kushner, a 41-year-old venture capitalist with deep family ties to Donald Trump, has emerged as the new co-owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. He is partnering with former Disney CEO Bob Iger to acquire the team from Dodgers owner Mark Walter, who faces a federal fraud investigation. The purchase values the Lakers at $12.5 billion and awaits the NBA board’s approval. Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law), has previously held minority stakes in other NBA franchises such as the Miami Heat and Memphis Grizzlies, as well as investments in the San Francisco Giants through his holding company Thrive Eternal.

Kushner’s professional background extends far beyond sports. He co-founded Thrive Capital, a venture firm heavily invested in tech companies including OpenAI and Stripe, and co-founded Oscar Health, a tech-focused health insurer. Thrive Capital recently created Thrive Holdings, an AI-focused company now valued at $12 billion. Earlier in his career, as a Harvard undergraduate, Kushner launched the Brazilian social network Vostu, which later pivoted into gaming with over 100 million users. Beyond tech, he has involvement in the family real estate business, though some associated property management operations have faced legal scrutiny for violations.

Despite Kushner’s close family connection to Trump, he identifies as a Democrat and has supported Democratic political causes, donating to President Obama’s campaign in 2012 and to the Growth Democrats PAC in 2024. His wife, supermodel Karlie Kloss, also aligns with liberal values and has been involved in women-centric business ventures and nonprofits like Kode with Klossy. Their household now owns stakes in multiple professional basketball teams, including the New York Liberty of the WNBA through Kloss’s investment group. The couple owns several luxury properties, including a $29.5 million Malibu beachfront home.

Kushner briefly gained negative attention earlier this year after his company’s involvement in a controversial, ultimately shelved FIFA deal seeking $4.2 billion in outside investment for the World Cup. The secretive negotiations and financial proposal sparked alarm among global soccer leaders and led to resignations from FIFA’s advisory ranks. Nonetheless, Kushner and Iger have a history of collaborating on NBA ventures, including an aborted Las Vegas expansion effort. Now, Kushner’s entrance as a Lakers owner solidifies his position as a major player in both the sports and tech business arenas.