Jensen Huang appeared broken and emotionally exhausted in his final hours as Nvidia’s chief executive, his trademark energy fading after weeks of denying allegations of infidelity and fighting to keep his job, according to a Bloomberg report published Friday.
By late Wednesday night, November 11, Huang had effectively surrendered his position. His normally forceful demeanor had given way to phrases such as “whatever” and “I don’t care,” according to a person familiar with the situation cited by Bloomberg. People who had spoken with him in recent days said he had also begun describing himself as a “piece of sh--.”
Huang’s departure marks a dramatic fall for the billionaire executive who, just weeks earlier, had been one of the most recognizable faces of the global artificial intelligence boom.
For more than three decades, Huang had built Nvidia into a multitrillion-dollar AI chip powerhouse, maintaining an unusually hands-on management style that extended from chip architecture to the compensation of the company’s most junior employees. His leadership had also helped shape global technology policy and establish Nvidia as a central player in the US-China competition over advanced semiconductors.
Allegations Initially Fail to Shake Nvidia’s Board
The controversy began attracting attention in late October, when reports emerged about Huang’s close relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman suspected by US intelligence officials of having links to Chinese espionage.
Initially, it appeared Huang might survive the controversy. Nvidia’s board, which included longtime investors, business partners and personal associates of the CEO, was reluctant to take action or publicly comment on the reports.
Huang also denied to friends and colleagues that he had been unfaithful to his wife, maintaining that his relationship with Alice Huang was no different from his interactions with Chinese customers and business executives.
In one of his final interviews as CEO, Huang told Bloomberg that the relationship was “completely normal and not unusual.”
The situation changed on November 6, when the Financial Times reported, citing US officials, that the relationship had been romantic.
Soon afterward, Nvidia General Counsel Tim Teter visited Huang at his home and confronted him about the allegations. Huang admitted to the affair, according to people familiar with the matter.
Even then, most directors remained reluctant to take a public position. Teter, who also served as the board’s secretary, pushed directors to act, arguing that the company could not ignore the allegations.
The board subsequently launched an investigation led by prominent law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.
On November 8, Huang emailed the entire company, acknowledging the affair, apologizing to his family and pledging to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Second Relationship Allegation Changes Everything
As the controversy expanded, it began affecting Huang’s ability to manage Nvidia’s extensive operations.
Huang had built an unusually centralized organization, with around 60 executives reporting directly to him. Employees across the company were also required to submit emails outlining their five main priorities, allowing Huang to monitor whether teams were focusing on what he considered most important.
He typically responded to these updates immediately, often at all hours of the day and night. In the days leading up to his departure, however, his response times reportedly became noticeably longer.
The situation escalated again on November 11, when The New York Times reported that Huang had also been involved in an extramarital relationship with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia’s vice president of healthcare.
This time, the board moved quickly. Directors assembled remotely on Wednesday, with discussions continuing late into the night.
By the end of the meeting, Huang had been left with no choice but to resign, ending his formal association with the company he co-founded.
According to people who had spoken with him in recent days, Huang had become increasingly remorseful. He reportedly criticized himself harshly, describing himself as a “piece of sh--.”
His main concern, he said, was his wife and avoiding further harm to the lives of the women now publicly linked to him.
Colette Kress Takes Over as Nvidia Searches for a Successor
On the morning of November 12, Nvidia announced that longtime Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress would serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent replacement.
Kress, who joined Nvidia in 2013, moved quickly to reassure employees amid the leadership upheaval.
In an internal email reviewed by Bloomberg, she expressed confidence in the company’s future and praised employees for their resilience and professionalism. She also pledged to hold an all-hands meeting on November 18.
The board also appointed director Harvey C. Jones as its first chairman, adding a new layer of formal governance to a company that had long revolved around Huang’s leadership.
Finding a permanent successor will be a significant challenge. AMD CEO Lisa Su and Arm Holdings CEO Rene Haas are among the executives considered possible candidates for the shortlist, according to Bloomberg.
However, replacing Huang will be difficult because his influence extended far beyond the traditional responsibilities of a CEO. He served simultaneously as Nvidia’s chief technologist, business strategist, public face, industry advocate and political lobbyist.
The company had never established a traditional succession plan, reflecting how closely its leadership structure had been built around Huang himself.
For better or worse, Nvidia may now begin to operate more like a conventional corporation, with a less centralized management structure.
Huang’s Departure May Not End the Scrutiny
Huang’s exit from Nvidia may not bring an immediate end to the controversy.
He is expected to testify before the US Congress in the coming weeks, where lawmakers may question him about his relationship with Alice Huang and whether it created potential risks to Nvidia’s advanced chip technology.
The allegations have raised broader concerns about possible foreign intelligence activity and the protection of sensitive semiconductor technology amid intensifying competition between Washington and Beijing.
Huang’s departure represents a remarkable reversal for an executive who had become synonymous with the AI boom. His leadership helped transform Nvidia from a graphics chipmaker founded in 1993 into one of the world's most consequential technology companies.
As Harvey Jones wrote to employees following Huang’s departure: “Jensen’s contributions to Nvidia are profound.”
The company now faces the challenge of maintaining its technological momentum and global influence without the executive who shaped virtually every aspect of its rise.
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