Nvidia Board Weighs Jensen Huang’s Future Amid Allegations of Two Extramarital Affairs: Report
The future of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has come under scrutiny following reports of two alleged extramarital relationships, one of which reportedly involved a woman suspected of having links to Chinese intelligence.
According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, Nvidia’s board of directors is preparing to consider Huang’s position as the company’s chief executive amid the growing controversy. Citing people familiar with the matter, the report said the board could meet as early as Wednesday to discuss his future.
Huang’s possible departure would mark a significant turning point for Nvidia, the technology giant he co-founded in 1993 and transformed into the world’s leading supplier of artificial intelligence chips. The company, valued at approximately $4 trillion, has become a central player in the global AI industry and the ongoing technological rivalry between the United States and China.
The controversy has also rattled investors. Nvidia shares reportedly fell around 8 per cent in after-hours trading. The company’s market capitalisation has declined by approximately $600 billion this week amid the developments surrounding the board’s investigation.
Analysts have raised concerns about the potential leadership vacuum should Huang be removed. Gil Luria, head of technology research at D.A. Davidson, said an immediate departure could pose significant challenges for Nvidia, particularly because the company does not appear to have a clear succession plan. He added that the board would likely take action if evidence emerged that Huang had broken the law or violated company policies.
The latest developments follow a separate report by The New York Times, which alleged that Huang had an extramarital relationship with a senior Nvidia executive who reported directly to him. The individual was identified as Kimberly Powell, the company’s vice president of healthcare. The newspaper cited five people who had worked at Nvidia.
When contacted by phone on Wednesday and questioned about his alleged relationship with Powell, Huang reportedly responded, “I don’t think you should be talking to me directly,” before ending the call, according to The New York Times.
Neither Nvidia nor Powell immediately responded to requests for comment. Reuters said it could not independently verify the allegations.
The controversy initially emerged following reports about Huang’s alleged relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman whom US intelligence officials have reportedly linked to efforts to facilitate shipments of Nvidia chips to Chinese companies.
In a memo circulated among employees on Sunday, Huang acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and accepted “full responsibility” for his actions. However, he did not disclose further details about the relationship.
On the same day, Nvidia’s board initiated an investigation into whether Huang had been targeted as part of a foreign intelligence operation. The investigation is being supervised by independent directors with the assistance of external legal counsel. At the time, the board publicly expressed confidence in Huang.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has voiced support for the Nvidia chief. Trump said he had not discussed the allegations with Huang but described him as “an honorable guy” who had “done an amazing job for our country.”
Huang could also face further scrutiny in Washington. He may receive a congressional subpoena if he fails to respond to a request for a closed-door briefing concerning his alleged close association with the Chinese businesswoman, who was reportedly involved in passing information to Beijing.
Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 alongside Curtis Priem and Chris Malachowsky. The company initially gained prominence for developing graphics processing chips used in computer gaming. Its subsequent development of CUDA software expanded the applications of its processors into general-purpose computing and eventually artificial intelligence, helping Nvidia become one of the most influential companies in the global technology industry.
As the controversy unfolds, questions remain over Huang’s leadership future, the outcome of the board’s investigation and the potential implications for the world’s most valuable AI chipmaker.
