Josh Kushner uses 'Lord of the Rings' to explain what being close to OpenAI taught him about perceived power
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Fortune Media
- Josh Kushner used a Tolkien reference when talking about OpenAI, saying Sam Altman and the company "have the ring."
- His VC firm Thrive, one of OpenAI's biggest backers, "immediately went to war" after Altman was briefly ousted.
- Kushner said his proximity to OpenAI taught him about how people react to OpenAI's perceived power and value.
The way one of OpenAI's biggest backers sees it, Sam Altman and his AI company are in possession of Tolkien's the One Ring — and that puts a target on their backs.
Josh Kushner's firm, Thrive Capital, is one of OpenAI's biggest investors. Backing the high-flying tech AI startup has given him a front-row seat to how people behave when power and value become concentrated in a single company.
In a recently published interview with Colossus Magazine, recorded in October, Kushner reflected on the chaos surrounding the temporary ouster of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in November 2023. The company's president, Greg Brockman, also briefly resigned during the incident.
"To use the Lord of the Rings analogy," Kushner said, "Sam, Greg, OpenAI have the Ring, and everyone is willing to do whatever they can to take it."
When asked whether he believes power corrupts, Kushner answered simply: "Yes."
Kushner did not specify who he was referring to. Thrive Capital declined to comment further when contacted by Business Insider.
But the investor has previously described the immediate aftermath of Altman's firing on November 17, 2023, saying Thrive "immediately went to war" after learning of the decision.
"There is so much perception of power and value associated with this company," he told Colossus, saying he was "very proud of how the company has handled itself, despite many people not acting in as appropriate ways."
Altman was reinstated days later following pressure from employees and investors, in one of the most dramatic governance crises in Silicon Valley.
"During that crazy week where I got fired and rehired, he just put his entire life on hold," OpenAI's CEO told the magazine about Kushner.
Kushner founded Thrive Capital in 2009. The firm has backed companies including Instagram, Stripe, Robinhood, Instacart, and OpenAI, and recently closed a $10 billion fund heavily focused on AI.
He is also the younger brother of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, and is married to supermodel Karlie Kloss. His estimated net worth sits at $5.2 billion, according to Forbes.