"I'm Just a Bastard": Jensen Huang's Final Moments Stepping Down as NVIDIA CEO

Authors: Drake Bennett, Ian King, Bloomberg

Compiled by: TechFlow

TechFlow Summary: After weeks of battling allegations of an extramarital affair and leaks, Jensen Huang, who has led NVIDIA for over three decades, unconditionally stepped down and resigned late Wednesday night. Under the heavy pressure of the board of directors and investigations, the tech mogul who single-handedly helped shape the global AI boom appeared weary and exhausted.

From initial allegations of inappropriate ties with a suspected spy to subsequent reports of an extramarital relationship with an internal executive, this scandal brought Huang's downfall at a remarkable speed. With Interim CEO Colette Kress taking the helm, NVIDIA faces not only a restructuring of power but also stringent questioning by Congress.

In the final moments, Jensen Huang appeared completely drained and mentally broken, his once legendary vitality entirely spent. After weeks of denying allegations of infidelity and struggling desperately to retain his position as NVIDIA's chief executive, he chose to unconditionally give up late Wednesday night.

According to a person familiar with the matter, Huang's usual aura of commanding the overall situation and executing decisively had long dissipated; he even began frequently saying things like "it doesn't matter" and "I don't care."

Over the decades that transformed NVIDIA into a trillion-dollar AI chip giant, Huang was renowned for his extreme attention to detail, personally overseeing everything from underlying chip architectures to compensation plans for frontline employees. Yet, according to those present at the time, he had completely given up resisting.

According to individuals who recently spoke with Huang, he has fallen into deep regret, even berating himself as "just a jerk."

For this billionaire and tech titan, the fall came with astonishing swiftness. Just two weeks ago, he was a globally recognized synonym for AI. Thanks to his straightforward approach and boundless energy, he had earned the admiration of U.S. President Donald Trump, played a key role in shaping global tech policy, and sparked fervent adoration during worldwide trips reminiscent of papal tours.

It is hard to imagine whether the current AI boom would have happened without Huang, NVIDIA, and its chips; equally difficult to predict how the landscape of the entire AI industry will look after his conspicuous departure.

As NVIDIA Board Chairman Harvey Jones wrote in an email to employees after Huang's departure: "Jensen Huang's contributions to NVIDIA are profound and exceptional. NVIDIA is also one of the most influential technology companies in the world today."

There was no immediate response available from Huang regarding these comments.

The Future of AI Without Jensen Huang

In late October, when reports first emerged about Huang's close association with a woman suspected of espionage activities, many initially believed he could weather the storm. The NVIDIA board consists primarily of Huang's long-term investors, business partners, and longtime friends, who were reluctant to take action based on media reports and even refused to make public statements at the time.

At that time, most news reports used extremely cautious language when describing the specific nature of the relationship between the CEO and suspect Alice Huang. Huang firmly denied being unfaithful to his wife to friends and colleagues. In fact, since facing internal inquiries late in 2025, he has consistently denied the allegations.

In his last few interviews as CEO with Bloomberg, Huang maintained that his interactions with Alice Huang were merely typical business relationships with Chinese clients and executives. He stated at the time: "Everything is completely normal, with nothing unusual about it."

Figure: NVIDIA headquarters in Santa Clara, California

The turning point arrived last Friday (November 6). At that time, the Financial Times cited U.S. officials to reveal that the two were actually in an extramarital affair. Shortly after the report was published, NVIDIA General Counsel Tim Teter went directly to Huang's residence to confront him face-to-face, after which Huang admitted to the facts.

Even at that stage, most directors remained unwilling to publicly state their positions, but Teter, serving as secretary of the board, bluntly said they had to take action. The board subsequently announced an investigation into the allegations and hired the prominent law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to lead the inquiry.

Sunday, Huang sent an internal email to the entire company, publicly acknowledging the extramarital affair, apologizing to his family, and promising to "fully cooperate" with the board's investigation.

What Huang's Departure Means for NVIDIA

As the scandal continued to escalate, numerous signs indicated that Huang's focus was inevitably being heavily distracted, making it difficult for him to concentrate on managing the company's complex daily operations.

Under NVIDIA's unique organizational structure, approximately 60 executives reported directly to Huang, a number that essentially amounts to a small army by standard management metrics. All employees are required to regularly submit their top five priorities via email, a method Huang uses to ensure everyone is advancing what he considers the most critical work.

Previously, Huang almost always replied to these emails instantly, day or night. However, in recent days, his response delays have noticeably lengthened.

By Wednesday, The New York Times broke another major story claiming that Huang was also having an affair with Kimberly Powell, NVIDIA's Vice President responsible for healthcare. This time, the board's reaction was extremely swift.

Board members held an emergency remote meeting on Wednesday that lasted late into the night. Ultimately, Huang had no choice but to tender his resignation, completely losing all formal roles in the company he co-founded.

The following morning, the board officially appointed Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as interim chief executive officer. Kress quickly moved to calm anxious internal staff.

Internal emails reviewed by Bloomberg show Kress writing in her message: "I have immense confidence in this company and its future. Most importantly, I believe in each of you, our customers and partners, and above all, in the vital role we play every day in the global economy."

Kress added in the email: "The board, the entire leadership team, and I fully recognize that this is an incredibly difficult period, and I sincerely appreciate the resilience, professionalism, and unwavering dedication each of you has demonstrated."

Figure: Cartoon image of Jensen Huang displayed at NVIDIA AI Day event in Seoul, South Korea

Kress promised to hold an all-hands meeting on November 18. The day before, NVIDIA is set to release its latest earnings report, with Wall Street analysts broadly predicting that quarterly sales will nearly double year-over-year.

Currently, the board must squarely face the formidable challenge of finding Huang's successor. Executives rumored to be in contention include Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), and Rene Haas, CEO of Arm Holdings.

But in reality, it is hard to imagine anyone who can fully step into all the roles Huang leaves behind: he was not only a technical visionary, but also a top manager, elite salesman, policy lobbyist, and the spiritual icon of NVIDIA. Furthermore, NVIDIA has never seriously developed a traditional succession plan in the past. Regardless of the outcome, NVIDIA will begin transforming into a conventional enterprise, operating under more standardized and routine management practices.

For Huang personally, even if he wishes to step away, he is destined not to easily fade from public view. Over the coming weeks, he is expected to testify before the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers will rigorously question his deeper connections with Alice Huang and whether these entanglements could jeopardize the core secrets of NVIDIA's most advanced chips.

According to individuals who recently spoke with Huang, he claims he no longer cares about his personal fate. He stated that his primary concern right now is his wife, and he is striving to avoid "ruining the lives of several women," who have now been thrust into the public spotlight amid intense media scrutiny.