Sometimes the internet randomly reminds you how insanely different life could look if you were just a few years early to something huge.
One of the craziest examples is a Harvard student who placed a bet on Instagram before almost anyone else… and ended up building a multi-billion-dollar investing empire.
Follow @universalbasicknowledge for more entrepreneurial stories like this.
The Story Starts Before Instagram Became Instagram
The tech world looked completely different in 2010. Facebook was still growing fast, Instagram had barely launched, and most people weren’t thinking about startup investing at all.
That’s when a young Harvard Business School student named Josh Kushner started a tiny investment firm called Thrive Capital.
At the time, he wasn’t some legendary Silicon Valley billionaire. He didn’t have decades of investing experience or a giant reputation behind him yet. But apparently, he had really good instincts and even better timing.
One Random Conversation that Changed Everything
According to the story, one of the biggest turning points happened during a random happy hour. A well-known investor named Andy Golden noticed Josh standing alone and started talking to him. That one conversation reportedly led to Josh getting access to millions in investment capital.
And then came the opportunity that changed everything. Through mutual connections, Josh eventually met Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom. Ironically, Kevin reportedly only agreed to the meeting at first because he mistakenly thought Josh was Brazilian like Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger.
But the meeting worked. Not because of some giant corporate presentation or flashy pitch deck, but mostly because they connected personally. That relationship eventually led to Thrive Capital investing in Instagram early.
Then Facebook Bought Instagram
And this is where the story gets kind of wild.
In 2012, Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion. At the time, people thought that number sounded absolutely ridiculous for a photo-sharing app. Now it looks like one of the smartest tech acquisitions ever.
The deal helped put Thrive Capital on the map and turned Josh Kushner into one of the most recognizable names in startup investing. Today, Thrive manages billions in assets and has invested in some massive tech companies over the years.
How Much Would That Investment Be Worth Today?
This is the part people love thinking about. Instagram eventually became one of the most valuable social media platforms in the world. If you compare its growth to what Meta is worth today, early investments in Instagram would likely be worth staggering amounts now.
A lot of startup investing basically comes down to this: Someone gives money to a very early company before it becomes huge. The risk is high because most startups fail. But if even one investment explodes in value, the payoff can be enormous.
That’s why early investments in companies like Instagram ended up creating massive fortunes.
The Real Lesson From the Story
What’s interesting is that this story isn’t just about money. It’s also about relationships. And the biggest opportunity reportedly started from one genuine connection.
Honestly, that’s probably why stories like this keep spreading online. People love hearing about accidental billionaires, early internet moments, and the tiny decisions that completely changed someone’s future.
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Post expires at 8:34am on Sunday June 28th, 2026
