Josh Kushner and Jared Kushner Family Relationship Bonds Explained: Full Brothers Story

The August 2026 announcement that Josh Kushner and former Disney chief Bob Iger will lead a group purchasing the Los Angeles Lakers at a reported $12.5 billion valuation has drawn fresh attention to a family whose profile already stretched across venture capital, real estate, fashion, and American politics. Josh Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and former senior White House adviser.

Yet despite public perception, the two brothers have lived very different professional and political lives while continuing to describe their personal relationship as close. This article gives the definitive breakdown of the Kushner brothers’ family story: how they grew up, what their careers have looked like separately, what business they have done together, how they handle their political differences, and why their bond has held despite the intense public scrutiny surrounding their family.

The Kushner Family at a Glance

Before understanding the relationship between Josh and Jared, it helps to see the wider family they come from. The Kushners are one of the most publicly recognisable American families of the past two decades, largely because of Jared’s marriage to Ivanka Trump and his political role.

Quick Fact Box: The Immediate Kushner Family

The four Kushner siblings grew up in Livingston, New Jersey, in an Orthodox Jewish household. Their upbringing centred on family, faith, and the growing real estate business their father was building. That business would eventually become Kushner Companies, one of the most prominent real estate developers in the Northeast.

Who Is Jared Kushner? A Snapshot

Jared Corey Kushner is the eldest son of Charles and Seryl Kushner. He is best known publicly for two roles: taking over Kushner Companies after his father was sentenced to federal prison in 2005, and later serving as senior adviser to his father-in-law, President Donald Trump. During the first Trump administration, he was involved in Middle East policy, trade negotiations, and other high-profile initiatives. He is married to Ivanka Trump and the couple have three children.

On the business side, Jared engineered the sale of the Kushner family’s New Jersey real estate holdings for approximately $1.9 billion and led the family’s $1.8 billion acquisition of 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In 2006, he acquired the New York Observer newspaper for $10 million, later renamed Observer Media.

Who Is Josh Kushner? A Snapshot

Joshua Kushner was born on June 12, 1985. He is a technology and venture capital investor who founded Thrive Capital in 2009 and co-founded Oscar Health in 2012. Thrive has become one of the more influential venture capital firms in the world through early bets on companies including Instagram, Spotify, and OpenAI. Forbes lists his net worth at approximately $5.2 billion as of 2026, and he became the first member of the Kushner family to appear on the Forbes billionaires list in 2022.

He married supermodel and coding advocate Karlie Kloss in October 2018, followed by a Western-themed second ceremony in June 2019. The couple have three children, Levi, Elijah, and Rae, and welcomed their third child in September 2025. In August 2026, Josh Kushner emerged in one of the most talked-about sports business stories of the year, teaming with Bob Iger to lead the purchase of the Los Angeles Lakers at a record valuation.

The Brothers’ Relationship: What They Have Said Publicly

Despite the very different worlds Josh and Jared operate in, both have publicly maintained that their bond is close. In an April 2017 Forbes interview, Josh said he and Jared spoke every day. According to a follow-up Business Insider report, that description of the relationship has continued, with Josh describing them as getting along well despite their political differences.

Josh has generally kept the details of his family life private. When Esquire published a profile of Jared in 2016, Josh declined to comment out of respect for his brother. He has similarly refrained from publicly commenting on Jared’s political roles or the wider Trump family, even when directly pressed.

Business Ties: Where the Brothers Have Worked Together

Josh and Jared have collaborated on select business ventures over the years, most notably:

• Cadre. A real estate technology platform co-founded with Ryan Williams that connects institutional investors with real estate opportunities. Both brothers were early principals.
• Shared management holdings. Reports have noted joint interests in a management company tied to elements of the family’s real estate portfolio.

These collaborations show that the brothers have been able to keep some business overlap even as their primary careers moved in different directions. Josh’s flagship vehicle is Thrive Capital, a technology-focused venture firm entirely separate from Kushner Companies, while Jared has remained more closely associated with the traditional real estate business and, for a period, public service.

Political Differences: How Josh and Jared Diverge

The clearest daylight between the brothers has been political. Jared is best known for his four years as a senior adviser to President Trump during his first term, focused on issues including Middle East diplomacy. Josh has publicly identified with more liberal political values.

In 2017, Josh told Forbes that liberal values had guided his life and that he had supported political leaders with similar views. According to widely republished reporting, both Josh and Karlie Kloss have said they did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. The couple have largely stayed out of the political spotlight around the Trump family.

Both brothers have publicly framed those differences as compatible with family loyalty. According to Business Insider’s reporting, they have maintained regular contact and family gatherings despite the political gap.

Comparison Snapshot

Timeline: The Kushner Brothers Story

Why This Bond Matters: Reading the Family Story on Multiple Levels

Beyond curiosity about a wealthy American family, the Kushner brothers’ relationship carries several layers of significance.

A modern case study in family loyalty across political lines. In an era when American political divisions frequently strain family relationships, Josh and Jared have publicly modelled a way to hold different political views while maintaining regular family contact.

A signal about generational business transition. Jared has focused on legacy real estate and government service, Josh on venture capital and now professional sports. Together they demonstrate how a single family can extend into very different corners of the economy within one generation.

A study in privacy management for public families. Josh has managed to build one of the most powerful venture capital firms in the world while remaining relatively low-profile, in part by declining to comment on his brother’s political work. That discipline is unusual in modern American public life.

Business Comparison: Thrive Capital vs. Kushner Companies

Understanding the two brothers’ primary business homes gives a clearer picture of how independent their day-to-day work has become.

Thrive Capital (Josh Kushner). A venture capital firm founded in 2009. Known for early or growth-stage investments in Instagram, Spotify, and OpenAI, among others. Focuses on internet, software, and healthcare technology.

Kushner Companies (Jared Kushner and family). A traditional real estate development, ownership, and management firm founded by Charles Kushner. Focuses on residential and commercial real estate primarily in the Northeast United States. Jared led it from 2005 until his move to the White House in 2016.

These are entirely separate businesses with different investors, mandates, and cultures. The overlap has come primarily through Cadre and select family holdings.

The Josh Kushner Lakers Deal and the Kushner Story

The August 2026 news of Josh Kushner joining Bob Iger to acquire the Los Angeles Lakers at a reported $12.5 billion valuation is one of the largest sports transactions in American history. It also placed Josh into the top tier of American sports ownership and drew renewed public attention to the wider Kushner family. Josh already owned a minority stake in the Miami Heat, so the Lakers deal represents a meaningful step-up in his sports portfolio. It also comes as the Lakers enter a new era, following LeBron James’s departure to the Philadelphia 76ers after eight seasons.

Neither Josh nor the wider Kushner family has publicly commented on how, or whether, Jared is involved in any advisory capacity on the Lakers deal.

Interesting Facts You May Not Know

• Josh Kushner became the first member of the Kushner family to appear on the Forbes billionaires list in 2022.
• Josh and Karlie Kloss had two weddings, one traditional in October 2018 and a second Western-themed celebration in June 2019.
• Cadre, the real estate technology firm the brothers co-founded, was launched in 2015 with Ryan Williams.
• Josh and Jared’s brother-in-law Joseph Meyer has led Observer Media since 2013.
• Josh’s third child with Karlie, daughter Rae, was born in September 2025.

Historical Comparison: Sibling Bonds in High-Profile Families

The Kushner brothers’ dynamic invites comparison to other American families where siblings have followed different paths within the same generation, including the Bush, Emanuel, and Trump families themselves. What sets Josh and Jared apart is the combination of divergent political views, divergent professional sectors, and a still-active shared family business.

Historically, most public sibling pairs have either aligned publicly or created firm walls between their careers. The Kushners have done neither, opting instead for what they have described as a private but consistent personal relationship.

Future Outlook: Where Josh and Jared Go From Here

Josh Kushner’s near-term future is largely defined by two big projects: continuing to grow Thrive Capital, especially through the ongoing surge in artificial intelligence investment led by companies like OpenAI, and helping steer the Los Angeles Lakers through a rebuilding era alongside Bob Iger. His public profile is set to grow further as a result.

Jared Kushner’s post-White House work continues to centre on his investment firm, Affinity Partners, and on advisory work in international markets. He has not held a formal role in the second Trump administration and has largely stayed away from public political activity.

Whether the brothers pursue further joint ventures beyond Cadre remains to be seen. What is clear is that they have built lives that can co-exist without depending on each other’s daily work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Josh Kushner related to Jared Kushner?

Yes. Josh Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner. Both are sons of Charles and Seryl Kushner and grew up in Livingston, New Jersey.

How many Kushner siblings are there?

Four. Josh and Jared have two sisters, Nicole Kushner Meyer and Dara Kushner.

Are Josh and Jared Kushner close?

Yes, according to their own public statements. Josh has said he and Jared speak regularly and get along well, despite their political differences.

Do Josh and Jared Kushner work together?

They have collaborated on select ventures, most notably the real estate technology firm Cadre and elements of their family’s shared management holdings. Their main firms, however, are separate.

Who is Josh Kushner married to?

Josh is married to supermodel Karlie Kloss. They married in October 2018 and have three children.

Who is Jared Kushner married to?

Jared is married to Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald Trump.

Do Josh and Jared Kushner share the same politics?

No. Josh has publicly identified as liberal and did not vote for Donald Trump in 2016. Jared served as senior adviser to President Trump during his first administration.

What is Josh Kushner’s net worth?

Forbes reports his net worth at approximately $5.2 billion as of 2026, largely built through Thrive Capital.

Is Josh Kushner buying the Los Angeles Lakers?

In August 2026, Josh Kushner and Bob Iger were announced as leading a group purchasing the Los Angeles Lakers at a reported $12.5 billion valuation. The deal is subject to standard NBA approvals.

Also Read | Karoline Leavitt Steps Down as White House Press Secretary to Prioritize Family Life

Last Updated on August 13, 2026 by 247 News Around The World