Jared Kushner is an American businessman, investor, government official and politician. Through his marriage to Ivanka Trump, he is the son-in-law of Donald Trump. He worked as a real estate investor in New York City, mainly through the family business Kushner Companies, which he took over in 2005. Kushner held official and informal roles in both Trump administrations, where he was involved in Middle East peace efforts, criminal justice reform and trade negotiations.
Early life
Kushner was born in Livingston, New Jersey, into a Modern Orthodox Jewish family. His paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors who came to the United States in 1949. He graduated from Harvard University in 2003 with honors and later earned a joint law and business degree from New York University in 2007. His father's donation to Harvard was reported shortly before Kushner was admitted.
Business career
After his father was convicted on criminal charges in 2005, Kushner took a larger role in the family real estate business. He acquired large amounts of property, much of it in New York City. In 2007 the company bought the office building at 666 Fifth Avenue for a record price, and the following financial crash forced it to bring in partners. Kushner also co-founded an online real estate investment platform and later founded Affinity Partners, a private equity firm.
Government roles
In 2017 Kushner became a senior advisor to Trump and director of the Office of American Innovation, positions he held until 2021. His appointment raised concerns about nepotism. He led efforts on a criminal justice reform law and was the main administration figure in Middle East diplomacy, which led to the Abraham Accords. He returned to an informal advisory role in the second Trump administration in 2025.