Joshua Kushner, the Billionaire Drawn Into the Debate Over FIFA World Cup Commercial Rights

Reports of a multibillion-dollar deal involving the purchase of a stake in FIFA’s commercial rights, primarily those related to the World Cup, have placed American investor Joshua Kushner in the international spotlight.

Thrive Eternal, the fund he founded, has been named as the main investor in the plan presented by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The project aims to establish a new commercial entity that would be entrusted with managing the organization’s most lucrative rights.

Although not all the published details have been officially confirmed and the proposal has sparked widespread debate in world football, attention has turned to Kushner, who is regarded as one of the best-known figures in venture capital in the United States.

Joshua Kushner is 41 years old and founded the investment firm Thrive Capital in 2009, when he was just 25. He is also the brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

In just over ten years, Kushner built Thrive Capital into one of the leading technology investment funds. The company manages assets worth more than $60 billion.

His career has been based largely on financing technology companies with strong growth prospects. Thrive Capital was among Instagram’s earliest investors, shortly before the platform was acquired by Facebook in 2012.

The fund later invested in major technology companies including OpenAI, Stripe and Spotify. Joshua Kushner was also one of the co-founders of health insurance company Oscar Health.

His portfolio also includes Skims, the clothing brand founded by Kim Kardashian, which has been ranked among the most valuable companies in the fashion sector.

Seeking to expand his activities beyond technology, Kushner established Thrive Eternal. This long-term investment fund aims to acquire stakes in major companies and organizations operating in sports, media and entertainment. Thrive Eternal is the fund cited in reports about FIFA’s proposed project.

Kushner is the younger brother of Jared Kushner, who served as a senior adviser during Donald Trump’s first administration and is married to Ivanka Trump. However, Joshua Kushner has chosen a different political and public profile from that of his brother.

He is registered as a Democratic voter and, over the years, has funded Democratic Party candidates and initiatives, as well as various progressive causes in the United States. For this reason, Thrive Capital representatives have denied claims that his involvement in the reported FIFA project is linked to the Trump administration or to political influence.

In his personal life, Joshua Kushner is married to supermodel and entrepreneur Karlie Kloss. They have two children and have long been known as one of the most prominent couples in American business and fashion industry circles.

Kushner became part of the international debate following claims that his fund would lead the investment in a new entity called FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). According to reports, this entity would take over the management of World Cup television rights, sponsorships, licensing, ticket sales and other commercial activities, while FIFA would retain a majority stake.

The plan has faced strong opposition from European football officials. They have raised concerns that the entry of private capital into the management of commercial rights could transform the way international football operates and increase pressure to generate more profits, undermining sporting interests.

As discussions continue, Joshua Kushner remains one of the most influential names in American venture capital, with considerable influence in technology and investment. The possibility of his involvement in a FIFA-related project has once again brought his profile, career and investments into the public spotlight.