Can love survive when politics, billion-dollar transactions, and the harsh glare of public opinion intersect? For Karlie Kloss and Josh Kushner, the response has been a resounding yes though it hasn’t been an easy ride. Their relationship is a fusion of high fashion and high finance against a backdrop of political nuance that few couples could manage with such equanimity.
Since they met in 2012, the supermodel and the venture capitalist have created a life that’s as much about shared values as it is shared business. From coding camps for girls to reviving an iconic mag, they’ve defined a partnership that’s equal parts private love and public reach. Here are the moments, moves, and milestones that define their unique bond.
1. A Love Story That Started Away From the Limelight
Karlie Kloss first encountered Josh Kushner in June 2012, and although the specifics are unknown, she’s referred to him as her “best friend” from the beginning. The relationship went public later in 2012 at a Victoria’s Secret after-party, but they’ve maintained most of their affair under wraps since then. Kloss has stated that she appreciates that Kushner is “so not in fashion,” enjoying the respite from the chaos on runways.
They’ve given us occasional peeks into their life together travel photos, anniversary remembrances but mostly avoided tedium. As Kloss once paraphrased Carolina Herrera, “A woman who’s an open book is dull. There’s no mystery anymore.” That middle ground of openness and reserve has been characteristic of their relationship.
2. Navigating Political Crosscurrents
Married to Jared Kushner’s younger brother, Karlie Kloss is thus linked to the Trump family through marriage, a situation which has been driven by public interest and vitriol. She and Josh both confirmed that they didn’t vote for Donald Trump during the 2016 elections, with Kloss having tweeted #ImWithHer in support of Hillary Clinton while Kushner assured Forbes that “liberal values have informed my life.”
Kloss has also spoken out during politically charged moments. Amid the January 6 Capitol attack, she tweeted, “Accepting the results of a legitimate democratic election is patriotic. Refusing to do so and inciting violence is anti-American,” later adding about her in-laws, “I’ve tried.” While she’s acknowledged the difficulty of political divides within family, she’s stood firm in her beliefs, even joining the Women’s March and advocating for causes like Planned Parenthood.
3. Thrive Capital’s Billion-Dollar Success
In 2009, Josh Kushner started Thrive Capital, and it has grown into a behemoth with around $25 billion in assets under its management. The company has invested in giants such as Instagram, Stripe, Instacart, Robinhood, and OpenAI, and even managed a $522 million return from an investment in Carvana.
Kushner has shifted his strategy beyond seed-stage tech, making forays into public markets and permanent capital vehicles to bring AI into traditional industries. Even with his family’s politics, Silicon Valley moguls such as Marc Andreessen have indicated they’ve never seen anyone refuse his money out of fear of them.
4. Karlie’s Mission to Diversify Tech
In 2015, Kloss started Kode With Klossy, a cost-free coding summer camp for adolescents who identify as female, gender-nonconforming, or trans. It has since grown international, with students from more than 100 nations tuning in virtually through the pandemic. Kloss says the aim is to “bridge barriers to entry” by paying for it and offering devices.
Her students’ projects frequently address social causes such as apps for sexual assault victims or apps for safer routes to run and a few have even taken home Apple’s Swift Student Challenge. For Kloss, it’s about proving that “creative industries and these technical skills are not mutually exclusive” and encouraging the next generation to envision themselves in technology.
5. A Double Dose of Wedding Magic
Six years of courtship led Kushner to propose on a romantic weekend getaway in upstate New York in 2018. Kloss, who converted to Judaism prior to engagement, referred to him as her “best friend and soulmate” in her statement. Their initial wedding that October was a small Jewish ceremony with fewer than 80 guests, including Jared and Ivanka Trump.
Eight months later, they threw a second party at Brush Creek Ranch in Wyoming, trading in formal attire for Western wear. The guest list resembled a who’s who of fashion and celebrity, with Diane von Furstenberg, Katy Perry, and Orlando Bloom on the list.
6. Standing Up for Social Causes
Outside of politics, Kloss and Kushner have also spoken out on topics such as gun control. They were present at the 2018 March for Our Lives march in Washington, D.C., and posted about the event on Instagram. Kushner also contributed $50,000 to an anti-gun-violence organization in 2018.
Their activism also carries over into philanthropy and the media. In 2024, each donated heavily to Democratic campaigns, with Kushner donating $250,000 to Growth Democrats and Kloss donating to several Senate and House races. These steps reflect their desire to use their influence in a way that reflects their values.
7. Reviving the Iconic Life Magazine
In 2024, Bedford Media owned by the couple bought the title of Life magazine from Dotdash Meredith with the intention of reviving it in print, online, and video forms. Kloss, who is now the CEO of Bedford, termed Life as “an uplifting and unifying voice in a chaotic media landscape,” while Kushner commented on its capacity to combine culture, news, and daily life.
It’s not their first foray into media Bedford also owns i-D Magazine. Their strategy is more about quality storytelling than mass reach, hinting at a vision for media that’s as thoughtful as it is culturally relevant.
8. Building a Family Amid the Headlines
Kloss and Kushner had their first son, Levi, in 2021, then Elijah in 2023, and their daughter Rae Florence in September of 2025. Although Kloss will sometimes post about family life on Instagram, she keeps the faces of their children private, citing a desire for a “more private life.”
In spite of the pressures of business, activism, and being in the public eye, Kloss has stated, “Family is everything to me.” She credits Kushner with reminding her not to lose herself as a mother, an encouragement that’s enabled them to evolve together through every new stage.
Karlie Kloss and Josh Kushner’s romance is a case study in contrasts fashion and finance, privacy and public life, personal beliefs and political nuance. And yet throughout, they’ve established a relationship based on common values, respect, and a desire to grow together. In a judgmental world, their tale teaches us that love, when cultivated with care, can flourish even amidst the highest-profile and highest-stress situations.
