Nvidia founder Jensen Huang reportedly experienced an emotional decline in the days leading up to his resignation as chief executive, with insiders describing a dramatic change in his behaviour and attitude.
According to people familiar with the situation cited by Bloomberg, Huang became increasingly withdrawn and emotionally exhausted during the final week of his leadership.
The technology billionaire reportedly began responding to difficult situations with phrases such as “whatever” and “I don’t care”.
People who spoke with him also said he adopted an unusually self-critical attitude, at one point allegedly describing himself as a “piece of sh**”.
His reported emotional state deteriorated as allegations surrounding his personal relationships intensified, eventually leading to his departure from the company on Thursday.
Extramarital Affairs Trigger Internal Investigation
Huang’s resignation followed revelations about alleged extramarital relationships that prompted Nvidia’s board to initiate an internal investigation.
The 63-year-old executive, who has been married to his wife Lori for more than four decades, acknowledged an affair on Sunday involving Alice Huang, a former senior executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed.
The relationship reportedly attracted little attention from Nvidia’s board initially, until its romantic nature became known.
Concerns subsequently emerged over Alice Huang’s suspected connections to Chinese intelligence.
Huang emailed Nvidia employees on Sunday, acknowledging the affair, apologising to his family and promising to cooperate fully with the company’s investigation.
The situation escalated further on Wednesday when The New York Times reported another alleged relationship involving Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare.
Sources reportedly said Huang and Powell had been captured on video displaying affection at a hotel in San Jose, California, during an Nvidia conference in March.
Third Alleged Relationship Emerges After Resignation
Further allegations surfaced just hours after Huang stepped down, with reports claiming he had also been involved in an intimate relationship with another Nvidia employee whose identity has not been disclosed.
The successive revelations intensified scrutiny of the former chief executive and added to the pressure surrounding the company’s internal investigation.
According to insiders, the controversy had increasingly distracted Huang from his responsibilities, despite his reputation for maintaining close oversight of Nvidia’s operations.
He was previously known for responding to communications from approximately 60 senior executives at virtually any hour.
However, people familiar with his recent activities said his response times had noticeably increased in the days before his departure.
Late-Night Meeting Preceded Departure
The situation reached a critical point on Wednesday evening following the publication of reports about Huang’s alleged relationship with Powell.
Nvidia’s board subsequently convened a meeting with the chief executive that reportedly continued late into the night.
Huang announced his resignation the following day, bringing an end to his leadership of the technology company.
The board appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive.
In an email to employees, Kress acknowledged the difficult circumstances surrounding the leadership transition and expressed confidence in the company’s future.
“I believe deeply in this company and in its future,” she wrote.
Kress also thanked employees, customers and partners for their continued commitment, recognising their resilience and professionalism during the period of uncertainty.
US Senate Committee Summons Huang Over China Intelligence Concerns
Huang’s departure has also drawn the attention of American lawmakers, particularly because of allegations concerning his relationship with a businesswoman suspected of having links to Chinese intelligence.
Republican Senator Tim Scott, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, has summoned the former Nvidia chief executive to testify about the matter.
In a statement published on X on Thursday, Scott said recent reports had raised serious questions about national security and the protection of sensitive American technology.
He added that the American public deserved answers about the allegations.
The investigation comes amid growing competition between the United States and China for dominance in artificial intelligence, an industry considered strategically important to both countries.
Nvidia’s Market Valuation Suffers $550 Billion Loss
The controversy has reportedly wiped approximately $550 billion off Nvidia’s market valuation, raising concerns about the potential consequences for the wider technology and artificial intelligence industries.
Nvidia became one of the world’s most valuable companies following the explosion in artificial intelligence development after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022.
Its processors, originally developed primarily for video game graphics, became essential components for training and operating advanced AI systems.
Huang remains Nvidia’s largest individual shareholder, holding approximately 3.6 per cent of the company’s shares, according to company information.
The Taiwan-born businessman also maintained close informal ties with President Donald Trump, serving as an adviser on artificial intelligence matters.
For years, Huang had lobbied against restrictions on American sales of advanced AI processors to China, arguing against measures that could limit the company’s commercial opportunities.
Trump Reacts to Huang’s Departure and Suggests Tim Cook
President Donald Trump, who had supported Huang during the unfolding controversy, suggested that former Apple chief executive Tim Cook should take over the Nvidia leadership position.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Cook’s record at Apple, describing the potential leadership change as a situation where “A Legend replaces a Legend!”
Trump also addressed whether Huang should have resigned, saying his position would depend on whether the woman at the centre of the allegations was actually a spy.
“If the woman was a spy, yes. If the woman was not a spy, perhaps it would be different,” Trump said during an interview on Thursday.
Despite the controversy, Trump expressed confidence that Huang would recover from the situation.
He disclosed that he had spoken with the former chief executive the previous day and said Huang was going through an extremely difficult period.
Trump added that Huang was particularly distressed about the impact of the allegations on his wife and family.
White House Official Warns of Economic Consequences
The potential implications of Huang’s departure have raised concerns beyond Nvidia, given the company’s central position in the global artificial intelligence supply chain.
One senior Trump administration official offered a stark assessment of the possible consequences, telling the Daily Mail: “The world economy is f***ed.”
The allegations have placed Nvidia under scrutiny at a time when its technology remains critical to the development of artificial intelligence infrastructure worldwide.
With Huang’s resignation, an ongoing internal investigation and questions about possible Chinese intelligence connections, the company faces a period of uncertainty as American lawmakers examine the national security implications of the controversy.
