Early Life
Jared Corey Kushner was born on January 10, 1981, in Livingston, New Jersey. He is the son of Charles Kushner, a real estate developer, and Seryl Kushner. His paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors. Kushner was raised in a Modern Orthodox Jewish family and attended the Frisch School. In 1999, he enrolled at Harvard University, graduating in 2003 with a degree in government. He then pursued a dual JD/MBA degree at New York University, earning both degrees in 2007.
Rise to Success
Kushner's career took a significant turn when he took a more prominent role in the family's real estate business, Kushner Companies, after his father faced legal issues in 2005. He acquired and expanded the company's real estate portfolio. A key move was the 2007 purchase of 666 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan for a then-record price of $1.8 billion. Kushner also purchased The New York Observer in 2006, delving into the publishing industry. He served as the CEO of Kushner Companies from 2008 to 2017. More recently, he founded the private equity firm Affinity Partners in 2021.
Key Business Strategies
Kushner's business strategies have focused on real estate development and strategic investments. He has expanded Kushner Companies and made significant investments in the New York City real estate market. His more recent focus through Affinity Partners involves identifying growing companies and deploying capital across various sectors, including finance, energy, and technology. Affinity Partners has raised significant funds from Middle Eastern backers, facilitating investments in the U.S., U.K., Israel, Germany, and Brazil. In January 2025, Kushner's firm also invested in Phoenix Financial.
Philanthropy
Kushner has been involved in philanthropic activities, primarily through the Charles and Seryl Kushner Family Foundation. While specific amounts vary, the foundation has supported various causes, including Jewish organizations, schools, and Israeli institutions, and the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces.