For a billionaire and tech investor who also bears one of the most recognizable surnames in the United States, Josh Kushner has managed to remain remarkably absent from front-page headlines and broader public discourse.

This summer, however, has seen a significant shift in that respect, at least in those parts of the world where enthusiasm for sports is strong.

Kushner, 41, and his partner, former Disney CEO Bob Iger, secured a landmark agreement this week to acquire the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers from Mark Walter at a valuation of $12.5 billion—the highest ever recorded for a team sports sale.

The past two weeks have been turbulent for the 41-year-old Kushner, who, after abandoning his widely criticized plan to buy a share of future World Cup profits—a scheme devised by FIFA President Gianni Infantino—swiftly acquired the glamorous Lakers in a remarkably quick deal.

Until this month, few knew that Jared Kushner — President Donald Trump's son-in-law and his long-time deputy in government — had a younger brother who runs a successful business empire, is married to a supermodel, and is deeply passionate about basketball.

While Josh Kushner shuns the limelight and seldom gives interviews, the prosperity of his venture capital firm, Thrive Capital, has elevated him to the status of a magnate over recent years.

Forbes places Kushner’s net worth at approximately $5 billion.

Kushner's partner in this historic venture is hardly a secret to anyone, at least in Los Angeles, the entertainment industry, or the wider business world.

The 75-year-old Iger led The Walt Disney Co. for two separate terms over the past two decades, guiding the Hollywood giant into the streaming era before leaving the Mouse House earlier this year.

Los Angeles is still reeling from the shock of this deal: Just 10 months after Walter — the owner currently presiding over the renaissance of the back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers — formally took control of the Lakers, he essentially traded them for a potential multibillion-dollar profit to two new owners who have none of Walter's sports ownership experience or credibility among Southern California fans.

So who are the two men who have abruptly assumed command of the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise that has clinched the NBA championship 17 times?

The scion of a real estate magnate, Kushner established Thrive Capital in 2009 and the health insurance firm Oscar Health in 2012.

Thrive Capital expanded significantly through early investments in OpenAI and SpaceX, among other technology ventures.

He maintains a close relationship with OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman.

Kushner and Iger reportedly first crossed paths eight years ago, having been introduced by Iger’s wife, Willow Bay, and Kushner’s then-girlfriend, Karlie Kloss, whom he has since married.

What began as a cordial mentorship evolved into a business partnership shortly before Iger’s initial departure from Disney.

Iger joined Thrive Capital as a venture partner in 2022, where he connected Kushner to the broader business world while Kushner acquainted him with the tech landscape.

He departed just months later to return to Disney for another tenure, yet he maintained close ties with Kushner, and the two reunited this year.

Iger told the California Post on Wednesday that he had partnered with Kushner in their bid for an NBA expansion team in Las Vegas, but abruptly changed course last weekend upon learning that Walter might be considering selling the Lakers.

“We immediately concluded that, given the franchise’s considerable value and the team’s iconic status, pursuing it would be a highly astute move,” Iger remarked.

“The transaction was finalized within three days.

It’s as straightforward as that.”

Iger acknowledged that the deal had been concluded with such haste that neither he nor Kushner had had the opportunity to formulate any long-term strategies for the Lakers.

Kushner may be new to the Lakers, but he is no stranger to the NBA.

He previously held a minority stake in the Memphis Grizzlies, which he sold to acquire a share in the Miami Heat.

To finalize his purchase of the Lakers, he will need to divest that stake.

Kushner and Kloss have also been seen frequently at Knicks games.

Iger has long been a devoted basketball enthusiast — NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reportedly introduced him to Bay, a former NBA journalist, 30 years ago — but his particular background makes his ownership of the Lakers somewhat unusual.

Having grown up as a devoted Knicks fan, Iger found himself unable to support the rival Lakers after moving to Los Angeles; instead, he became one of the Clippers' most prominent fans, buying season tickets and developing a friendship with former point guard Chris Paul.

Thousands of Lakers fans in progressive Los Angeles raised a skeptical eyebrow upon learning the identity of their team's principal new owner on Wednesday, yet the situation is far more nuanced than it initially appears.

Kushner's surname is indeed among the most politically charged in the world, yet both Josh Kushner and Kloss have publicly stated that they do not share the conservative views currently advocated by his brother and their father, Charles Kushner.

Josh Kushner has consistently contributed to progressive political candidates, and he once remarked in an interview that “liberal values have guided my life.”

Kloss is a vocal advocate for reproductive rights and other progressive causes.

Iger has described himself as a political independent with progressive personal views.

He briefly served on a business advisory forum for Trump in 2017 before stepping down, citing his commitment to environmental conservation.