Nvidia CEO addresses affair with staff as board hires outside counsel to investigate

What happened this week

Jensen Huang walked into Nvidia's Santa Clara, California, offices on Monday and ran his usual morning huddle with top leaders, according to people familiar with the gathering who spoke to CNBC anonymously. They said he began by acknowledging his infidelity, offered an apology, took no questions, and then moved straight to the day's priorities.

He had informed employees the prior day about the affair, which shifted internal sentiment toward the 63-year-old CEO. In his email, he did not identify the other person and wrote, "I know an apology cannot undo what I have done" and "I hope our family will heal and that, over time, I can earn back your trust." As of press time, Nvidia had not replied to a request for comment.

Investigation and company mood

The board has launched an investigation and, on Tuesday, retained Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz to conduct it. People inside the AI chipmaker said Huang tried to keep things "business as usual" even as the probe advanced into his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy. According to the Financial Times, he was romantically involved with Alice Huang, who previously held an executive role at Megaspeed.

Employees described the mood as "sad," with one saying they were shocked by the revelations. Several people said longtime staff had seen Huang as an almost untouchable figure and a guiding light, and many are struggling with the news. On Tuesday, the CEO spent the day on-site in meetings, with the company's quarterly earnings report due in one week.

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Context on Nvidia and China ties

In 1993, Huang helped launch Nvidia with the goal of making graphics processors for video-game imagery. More recently, Nvidia has become shorthand for the AI surge, supplying the processors that run large language models and fueling the rapid buildout of data centers.

He remains an influential figure in Washington and traveled with President Donald Trump to China in May. Photos from the White House state dinner in September showed Huang and his wife seated with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Coverage of the affair has intensified scrutiny of his continued support for expanding AI chip sales to China.

Why it matters for your portfolio

Leadership turbulence can shift perception, but the operational cadence matters next. Huang has kept meetings on schedule and earnings arrive in a week, which puts any board findings and employee sentiment under a brighter light. Watch for commentary on China, data center demand, and whether "business as usual" holds through the print.

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