Joshua Kushner and the Lakers: Who He Is and What Happened

Joshua Kushner, a venture capitalist who founded Thrive Capital, has built a career by investing in technology and health companies; he also co‑founded Oscar Health and serves as its vice chair. Over the past decade his firm has backed companies that became household names, and his personal stake in health insurance and startups has been noted in public filings and profiles.

On August 12, 2026, Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger reached an agreement to buy the Los Angeles Lakers in a transaction valued at about $12.5 billion, a figure that surpasses the roughly $10 billion valuation attached to Mark Walter’s purchase last year. The reported deal, which will require league approval, was covered widely in the press and it highlights how ownership of major franchises can change rapidly when deep-pocketed investors pursue sports assets.

Thrive Eternal, a permanent capital vehicle linked to Kushner’s investment group, has moved into professional sports investment since early 2026, and that shift shows a broader trend in which venture capital resources are flowing into team ownership. Although ownership structures and voting arrangements vary by company, Kushner’s experience with both venture funding and corporate governance at Oscar Health is likely to shape how he approaches team management and long-term commercial strategy.

Consequently, the sale serves as a reminder that professional sports are now large financial enterprises, and when entrepreneurs with technology and media ties enter this space, teams can be managed with an emphasis on data, partnerships and new revenue streams; fans, meanwhile, may focus on continuity and the club’s culture as changes unfold.