Who is Joshua Kushner? Billionaire at centre of FIFA's controversial investment plan

OpenAI backer, Oscar Health founder and Karlie Kloss husband has built career far beyond political family connections

Joshua Kushner has unexpectedly become one of the most talked about names surrounding FIFA, with the billionaire investor attracting worldwide attention after reports linked him to the governing body's controversial private investment proposal.

The latest debate began after FIFA President Gianni Infantino proposed selling minority stakes in the commercial rights of some of football's biggest competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, to outside investors. The proposal has reportedly drawn criticism from several football stakeholders, including UEFA, over concerns that increased private investment could place greater commercial pressure on the sport and influence future decision making. No agreement has been finalised, but the discussions have already generated significant debate across the sporting and business worlds.

Amid those reports, Thrive Capital, the venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, was identified by FIFA as leading the proposed investor group involved in the sales process. That revelation immediately shifted attention towards Kushner, a businessman who has largely avoided the public spotlight despite building one of the technology industry's most successful investment firms.

While many recognise the Kushner surname because of his older brother Jared Kushner's political profile, Joshua has spent most of his career establishing himself through entrepreneurship and venture capital rather than public office or politics.

After graduating from Harvard University, Kushner founded Thrive Capital in 2009 when he was only 24 years old. The firm has since grown into one of Silicon Valley's leading investment companies, managing billions of dollars in assets while backing some of the technology sector's biggest success stories.

Thrive Capital invested in companies including Instagram, Spotify and OpenAI, helping cement Joshua Kushner's reputation as an investor with a strong record of identifying high growth businesses before they became global household names. The firm's continued involvement in artificial intelligence has also increased its influence as AI becomes one of the world's fastest growing industries.

Kushner also founded Oscar Health in 2012, a technology focused health insurance company designed to modernise the healthcare experience through digital services. The company later became publicly traded and remains one of the businesses most closely associated with his career.

Outside business, Joshua Kushner is married to supermodel Karlie Kloss. The couple married in 2018 and have three children together. Although they regularly attend major events including the MET GALA and the Allen and Company conference in Sun Valley, they have generally kept their family life private.

Unlike Jared Kushner, who served as a senior adviser during President Donald Trump's administrations, Joshua has largely remained outside political debates. Even though their family connections frequently attract attention, his professional career has centred on investing rather than government.

Business publications have often described Joshua Kushner as a disciplined and understated executive. Former colleagues have noted that he prefers long term strategy over publicity, focusing on finding promising companies rather than chasing headlines.

Forbes estimates his personal fortune at several billion dollars, reflecting the rapid expansion of Thrive Capital and its investment portfolio. Despite that success, Joshua Kushner has rarely generated the level of public attention he is receiving now.

Whether FIFA ultimately proceeds with its proposed investment strategy remains uncertain.