Jensen Huang quits Nvidia, exposing $145 billion split and China questions

Jensen Huang resigned as Nvidia's chief executive on Thursday, 12 November, four days after telling employees he had been unfaithful to his wife of 41 years. Two separate organisations confirmed the resignation.

That admission followed reports of a relationship with businesswoman Alice Huang, who is unrelated to him and whom US intelligence officials suspect of spying for China. It was the first of several disclosures in one week, ending with the resignation of the head of the company at the centre of the AI boom.

On Wednesday, the New York Times reported that Huang's relationship with Kimberly Powell, an Nvidia executive who answered to him directly, was also disclosed.

Hours after his resignation on Thursday, Reuters reported that he had an "intimate relationship" with another Nvidia employee.

Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993, 33 years before he quit. The company is now looking for a permanent chief executive for the first time.

The hosts said on the Vergecast that the bigger story still to unfold concerns Nvidia's dealings in China and the willingness of the US government to overlook a great deal to protect a powerful ally.

Forbes estimated Huang's net worth at about $145 billion on 12 November, ranking him the thirteenth-richest man in the world.

When a judge finalised MacKenzie Scott's divorce from Jeff Bezos, her Amazon stake was worth $38.3 billion. In October that year, Forbes placed her third among America's richest women.

A September SEC filing showed Jensen and Lori Huang were trustees of three trusts that held nearly 669 million Nvidia shares directly in March; by September, their direct holdings were about 608 million shares. Their living trust owned companies that held more stock.

Nvidia said the Huangs could jointly control the votes and investment decisions for those shares. Whether the Huangs signed a prenup or postnup is unclear. In California, courts usually split community property evenly unless spouses agree otherwise.

Family ties at the company

Both of the couple's children, Madison and Spencer, work at Nvidia. Lori Huang hasn't said anything publicly about her husband's resignation.

Huang told The New Yorker in 2023 that he and his future wife were partners in a lab during an electrical engineering course at Oregon State University. She earned more than he did in their first Silicon Valley jobs, then left the workforce to raise their children before he co-founded the company.

At the end of 2024, the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation, led by Lori Huang, reported net assets of $9.1 billion. The couple donated $50 million to Oregon State for a research centre bearing both their names. It has also purchased graphics processor time and donated it to universities and nonprofits for research.

1. Four days beforeMessage to staff

   Huang tells employees he has been unfaithful to his wife of 41 years.

2. WednesdayNew York Times report

   The paper reports a relationship with Nvidia executive Kimberly Powell, who reported to him.

3. Thursday, 12 NovemberResignation

   Huang quits as chief executive.

4. ThursdayReuters report

   Reuters reports an intimate relationship with another Nvidia employee, hours after the resignation.

5. 13 NovemberVergecast episode

   Published at 2:47 PM UTC, hosted by David Pierce and Nilay Patel.

The Vergecast episode was published on 13 November 2026 at 2:47 PM UTC, hosted by David Pierce and Nilay Patel.