Rumors

Some financial experts consider the Lakers a less risky investment than, say, OpenAI, into which Kushner invested more than $2.1 billion through his venture capital firm, Thrive Capital. That investment and others in the AI and tech sectors have paid off handsomely, but pivoting to a legacy NBA team with a locked-in elevated financial floor could be prudent. Iger just stepped down after two runs heading the Walt Disney Co.

Los Angeles Times

Stad is the 47-year-old founder of San Francisco-based Dragoneer Investment Group, an investment firm with over $35 billion in assets under management, according to its LinkedIn profile. The firm specializes in technology investments, with notable ventures into OpenAI, Anthropic, DoorDash, Spotify and Airbnb, among many others.

New York Times

Josh Kushner recently spun out Thrive Holdings and raised $2 billion to help push AI into new industries. OpenAI was part of that raise, meaning Thrive has invested in OpenAI and OpenAI has also backed Thrive. SpaceX recently announced a $60 billion acquisition of Cursor, another AI company already in the Thrive portfolio. Thrive’s fingerprints are all over the relatively small number of companies that are rapidly propelling AI forward, moving with more confidence and speed than many people probably want. According to most people who work in that world, few Americans are ready for the tectonic shifts that are coming over the next decade.

Sportico