Joshua Kushner: The Truth About Jared's Brother

In March 2020, Dr. Kurt Kloss, the father of supermodel Karlie Kloss, posted about the coronavirus in a "Facebook group of emergency room doctors," per The New York Times. The outlet reported that he wrote: "If you were in charge of the Federal response to the Pandemic what would your recommendations be?" He also mentioned that he has a "direct channel ... to [the] person now in charge at White House and have been asked for recommendations." The person he referenced is Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and top advisor of President Donald Trump. Dr. Kloss has that "direct line" to Jared because his daughter, Karlie, is married to Jared's brother, Joshua Kushner.

Joshua is a Harvard graduate turned venture capitalist who started a health insurance start-up called Oscar Health in 2012. In addition to allegedly reaching out to Dr. Kloss for coronavirus insight to pass along to his brother, Joshua has contributed in other ways to the fight against the coronavirus. In fact, Oscar Health launched a page with the first coronavirus testing center locator. On that same page is a risk assessment survey for users to input their symptoms. 

While it appears that the Kushner brothers are collaborating in their efforts to combat the virus, these two do not align politically. 

Joshua Kushner declined to comment on the record for an August 2016 Esquire profile on his brother, Jared Kushner. However, he did convey a message through a spokesperson, saying that "he loved his brother and did not want to say anything that might embarrass him." Josh's representative also mentioned that he's "a lifelong Democrat and will not be voting for Donald Trump in November [2016]."

While Josh is a proud Democrat, Jared was registered as an independent voter up until 2018. CNN reported that Jared registered as a Republican right before the 2018 midterm elections. Although the brothers are affiliated with different political parties, Josh posted an Instagram photo with Jared standing in front of a  portrait of John F. Kennedy at the White House on Jan. 22, 2017. Interestingly enough, the Washingtonian reported that Josh had attended the Women's March on Washington the day before. 

While the Kushner brothers have different political views, the same can't be said for Josh and his wife, Karlie Kloss. In November 2016, the Project Runway host posted a photo of herself filling out an absentee ballot. She included "I'm With Her," Hillary Clinton's campaign slogan, in her caption.

After six years of dating, Joshua Kushner and Karlie Kloss got engaged in July 2018 — after she converted to his religion, Judaism. The couple tied the knot with a small ceremony in October 2018 in upstate New York. There are mixed reports about Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump's attendance at the event. However, CBS News correspondent Errol Barnett did tweet that the couple was on his flight to New York that weekend. 

Ivanka quoted Kloss' tweet celebrating her nuptials and congratulated the couple. However, she never shared any pictures with herself and the newlyweds, which would confirm her presence. Eight months later, the couple had a big reception in Wyoming.  Several outlets, including Jezebel, speculated that Jared and Trump "faked" their attendance, claiming that they were in town for the wedding weekend, but avoided the actual wedding festivities. 

In a September 2018 Vogue interview, Kloss discussed her familial ties to the Trumps, telling the magazine "I've chosen to be with the man I love despite the complications." She also confirmed, "Josh and I share a lot of the same liberal values that guide our lives and the things we stand for." Nevertheless, Kloss is typically tight-lipped about their relationship. When she was questioned about her famous family in Porter's Summer 2018 issue, she declared, "I just really like having a more private private life." 

That's next to impossible considering that she is a celebrity married to a well-known man, but they've both managed to steer the spotlight toward their careers.

Joshua Kushner started a venture capital firm called Thrive Capital in 2009. According to Forbes, the company invested in Instagram early on. After Facebook acquired the social media app, "Thrive had doubled its money in about 72 hours," which was surely a big deal for Thrive Capital and Joshua, individually. Thrive isn't the businessman's only success though. In March 2018, CNBC reported that his company Oscar Health's valuation was at $3 million. Fast Company even included Oscar Health in its 2019 list of the World's Most Innovative Companies. 

Along with his companies that have received public accolades, Josh has been recognized individually as as an entrepreneur. In 2013, Forbes included him in its annual 30 under 30 list for his successes in finance. In 2014, Inc put him on a list titled 35 Under 35 Coolest Entrepreneurs. 

While Josh has a super famous wife and a brother working in the White House, he's undeniably successful in his own right.