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'''Jensen Huang''' (born '''Huang Jen-Hsun''', {{zh|c=黃仁勳|p=Huáng Rénxūn}}; February 17, 1963) is a Taiwanese-born American business executive, electrical engineer, and philanthropist who co-founded [[Nvidia]] in 1993 and has served as its president and chief executive officer since the company's inception. Born in Taipei, Huang spent portions of his childhood in Taiwan and Thailand before emigrating to the United States, where he grew up in Kentucky and Oregon. The story of Nvidia's founding — hatched over coffee and pancakes at a [[Denny's]] restaurant in [[Silicon Valley]] — has become one of the most frequently cited origin tales in American technology lore.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-23 |title=While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> Under Huang's leadership, Nvidia grew from a small graphics chip startup that nearly went bankrupt in its early years to the world's largest company by market capitalization, surpassing $5 trillion in October 2025. The company's trajectory has been shaped by Huang's early and sustained bets on [[graphics processing unit]]s (GPUs), [[high-performance computing]], and [[artificial intelligence]] (AI). Huang has been recognized by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine in its Time 100 list of the most influential people in 2021 and 2024, and was named one of the "Architects of AI" for ''Time'''s Person of the Year in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jensen Huang Named to TIME 100 |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/jensen-huang-time-100 |publisher=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
'''Jensen Huang''' (born '''Huang Jen-Hsun''', {{zh|c=黃仁勳|p=Huáng Rénxūn}}; February 17, 1963) is a Taiwanese-American business executive, electrical engineer, and philanthropist who co-founded [[Nvidia]] in 1993 and has served as its president and chief executive officer since the company's inception. Born in [[Taipei]], Taiwan, Huang spent parts of his childhood in Taiwan and Thailand before immigrating to the United States, where he was educated in Kentucky and Oregon before earning a master's degree from [[Stanford University]]. In what has become one of Silicon Valley's most recounted founding stories, Huang launched Nvidia at the age of 30 alongside co-founders Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, with early planning sessions held at a [[Denny's]] restaurant in [[San Jose, California]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-23 |title=While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He guided Nvidia through near-bankruptcy in its early years and subsequently oversaw its transformation into a dominant force in graphics processing units (GPUs), high-performance computing, and [[artificial intelligence]] (AI). Under Huang's leadership, Nvidia became the first company to reach a market capitalization exceeding $5 trillion, in October 2025. [[Time (magazine)|Time]] magazine included Huang in its [[Time 100]] list of the most influential people in both 2021 and 2024, and in 2025 he was named one of the "Architects of AI" as part of the magazine's [[Time Person of the Year|Person of the Year]] designation.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jensen Huang |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/jensen-huang-time-100 |publisher=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Early Life ==
== Early Life ==


Jensen Huang was born on February 17, 1963, in [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]], to a family of Taiwanese heritage. His father was a chemical engineer and his mother a schoolteacher. The family relocated to [[Thailand]] during Huang's early childhood before his parents sent him and his brother to the United States to pursue educational opportunities. Huang has recalled that his mother attempted to teach him English before the move, selecting roughly ten random words at a time from a dictionary — an unconventional method that left gaps in his vocabulary upon arrival in America.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2018-05-06 |title=Nvidia CEO: My mom taught me English a random 10 words at a time |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/06/nvidia-ceo-my-mom-taught-me-english-a-random-10-words-at-a-time.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Jensen Huang was born on February 17, 1963, in [[Taipei]], Taiwan, to a family of Taiwanese heritage. He spent his early childhood years in Taiwan and Thailand before his family relocated to the United States. Huang's transition to life in America was shaped by unconventional circumstances. In a 2018 interview with [[CNBC]], Huang recounted that his mother taught him English using a method of learning ten random words at a time, an approach that reflected the family's resourceful adaptation to their new country.<ref>{{cite news |date=2018-05-06 |title=Nvidia CEO: My mom taught me English a random 10 words at a time |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/06/nvidia-ceo-my-mom-taught-me-english-a-random-10-words-at-a-time.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Upon arriving in the United States, Huang and his brother were enrolled at a boarding school in [[Oneida, Kentucky]]. The institution, which Huang has described in interviews, served as his introduction to American life and education. He later moved to [[Oregon]], where he attended high school. During his teenage years in Oregon, Huang demonstrated an aptitude for both academics and athletics; he was a competitive [[table tennis]] player who ranked among the top junior players in the state. These formative experiences — adjusting to a new country, learning a new language, and navigating the American educational system as an immigrant — would later inform Huang's perspective as a business leader and his emphasis on resilience and perseverance.
After arriving in the United States, Huang attended school in Kentucky and later in Oregon. The details of his childhood in the American South and Pacific Northwest have been sparsely documented, though Huang has spoken publicly about the formative experiences of his youth, including the challenges of being a young immigrant adjusting to American culture and educational institutions.


The transition from Taiwan and Thailand to rural Kentucky and then Oregon shaped Huang's worldview in significant ways. He has spoken publicly about the culture shock of his early years in the United States and the discipline he developed through those experiences. These biographical details have become part of the public narrative surrounding Nvidia's founding, frequently cited in profiles and interviews to illustrate the improbable path from immigrant student to technology executive.
Huang's early interest in technology and engineering developed during his formative years in Oregon, setting the stage for his later academic and professional pursuits in electrical engineering. These experiences—spanning three countries and multiple American states before he reached adulthood—contributed to what would become a career defined by adaptability and technical ambition.


== Education ==
== Education ==


Huang pursued his undergraduate education at [[Oregon State University]], where he studied [[electrical engineering]]. He earned his bachelor's degree from the institution.<ref>{{cite web |title=OSU to Award 4,680 Degrees at Week of Commencements in Corvallis, Bend |url=https://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2009/jun/osu-award-4680-degrees-week-commencements-corvallis-bend |publisher=Oregon State University |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> He subsequently enrolled at [[Stanford University]], where he completed a [[Master of Science]] degree in electrical engineering. His graduate studies at Stanford placed him in close proximity to the burgeoning semiconductor and computing industries of Silicon Valley during the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period of rapid innovation in microprocessor design and personal computing.
Huang pursued his undergraduate studies at [[Oregon State University]], where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. Oregon State University later recognized his accomplishments; the university's records indicate Huang among its notable alumni.<ref>{{cite web |title=OSU to award 4,680 degrees at week of commencements in Corvallis, Bend |url=https://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2009/jun/osu-award-4680-degrees-week-commencements-corvallis-bend |publisher=Oregon State University |date=2009-06 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Before founding Nvidia, Huang gained professional experience in the semiconductor industry. He worked at [[LSI Logic]] and [[Advanced Micro Devices]] (AMD), where he developed expertise in chip design and microprocessor architecture. These positions provided Huang with both technical knowledge and industry connections that would prove instrumental in launching his own company.
Huang subsequently enrolled at [[Stanford University]], where he completed a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering. His graduate studies at Stanford provided both the technical expertise and the professional network that would prove instrumental in the founding of Nvidia. It was through connections made during his engineering career following Stanford that Huang would meet Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, the two colleagues with whom he would launch the company in 1993.


== Career ==
== Career ==


=== Founding of Nvidia ===
=== Early Career ===


In 1993, at the age of 30, Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia alongside Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. The three engineers, who had become friends through their work in the semiconductor industry, conceived the idea for the company during meetings at a [[Denny's]] restaurant in [[San Jose, California]].<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-23 |title=While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> The co-founders identified an opportunity in the market for specialized graphics processors, betting that demand for visually rich computing experiences — particularly in gaming and multimedia — would grow substantially. Huang assumed the role of president and CEO from the company's founding, a position he has held continuously for more than three decades.
After completing his graduate studies at Stanford University, Huang worked in the semiconductor industry during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His professional experience during this period included positions at [[LSI Logic]] and [[Advanced Micro Devices]] (AMD), where he gained expertise in chip design and the broader semiconductor business. These roles provided Huang with an understanding of both the technical and commercial dimensions of the microprocessor industry, knowledge that informed his later decision to found a company focused on visual computing hardware.


The early years of Nvidia were precarious. The company's first product, the NV1 multimedia card released in 1995, was a commercial disappointment. The NV1 utilized a proprietary architecture based on quadratic texture mapping rather than the polygon-based rendering approach that was becoming the industry standard. This technical miscalculation put Nvidia at a disadvantage against competitors and brought the company close to bankruptcy. Huang has acknowledged in interviews that this period represented a critical juncture; Nvidia had to pivot its technical strategy or face dissolution.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=The Geometry Engine: Nvidia's $10 Billion Baby |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.07/Nvidia.html |work=Wired |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== Founding of Nvidia ===
 
Huang made the decision to abandon the NV1 architecture and reorient the company toward industry-standard polygon rendering. This pivot, executed under severe financial pressure, required laying off a significant portion of the company's workforce. The subsequent product, the RIVA 128, launched in 1997 and proved far more successful, establishing Nvidia as a credible player in the graphics chip market. The company's survival through this near-death experience became a defining chapter in its corporate history and a touchstone in Huang's leadership narrative.


=== Rise of the GPU ===
In January 1993, Huang, then 30 years old, co-founded Nvidia alongside Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. The three engineers, who had met through their work in the semiconductor industry, held their early planning meetings at a [[Denny's]] restaurant in [[San Jose, California]]. The founding story has become a fixture of Silicon Valley lore, with the Denny's location later recognized by Nvidia itself as the birthplace of the company.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-23 |title=While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 1999, Nvidia introduced the [[GeForce 256]], which the company marketed as the world's first [[graphics processing unit]] (GPU). The term "GPU" itself was coined by Nvidia to describe a processor capable of handling the complex mathematical calculations required for real-time 3D graphics rendering. The GeForce 256 integrated transform and lighting calculations onto the graphics chip, offloading work that had previously been handled by the [[central processing unit]] (CPU). This architectural innovation marked a significant step in the evolution of computer graphics hardware and positioned Nvidia as the leading company in the discrete graphics processor market.
Nvidia was established with the goal of creating graphics processing technology for the computing and gaming markets. The company's early years were marked by significant technical and financial challenges. Nvidia's first product, the NV1 multimedia card released in 1995, was a commercial failure that brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. The NV1 used a quadratic texture mapping approach that was incompatible with the industry-standard polygon rendering methods being adopted by competitors and by [[Microsoft]]'s [[Direct3D]] API. The resulting market rejection forced Nvidia to lay off much of its staff and pivot its product strategy.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=The Architect |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.07/Nvidia.html |work=Wired |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Under Huang's direction, Nvidia continued to release successive generations of GeForce GPUs throughout the early 2000s, each offering substantial performance improvements over its predecessor. The company's products became the standard choice for PC gaming enthusiasts and were adopted by professional markets including [[computer-aided design]] (CAD), digital content creation, and scientific visualization. Nvidia also secured contracts to provide graphics technology for gaming consoles, including the original [[Xbox]] for [[Microsoft]].
Huang's decision to shift Nvidia's technical direction toward industry-standard polygon-based rendering proved to be the pivotal turning point for the company. Nvidia released the RIVA 128 in 1997, which was a commercial success and established the company as a competitive player in the 3D graphics card market. This recovery from near-collapse under Huang's leadership became one of the defining narratives of his career.


In 2006, Nvidia released [[CUDA]] (Compute Unified Device Architecture), a parallel computing platform and programming model that allowed developers to use Nvidia GPUs for general-purpose computing tasks beyond graphics rendering. CUDA enabled researchers and engineers to harness the massively parallel architecture of GPUs for applications in physics simulation, molecular modeling, financial analysis, and other computationally intensive domains. This strategic decision — to transform the GPU from a specialized graphics processor into a general-purpose computing platform — would prove to be one of the most consequential moves in Nvidia's history, laying the groundwork for the company's later dominance in artificial intelligence computing.
=== GPU Revolution and Expansion ===


=== Expansion into AI and Data Centers ===
In 1999, Nvidia introduced the [[GeForce 256]], which the company marketed as "the world's first GPU." The product launch marked a turning point not only for Nvidia but for the broader computing industry, as the concept of a dedicated graphics processing unit became a standard component of personal computing architecture. That same year, Huang was recognized as the Northern California Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern California's 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804150724/https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/1999-05-20/northern-california-s-1999-ernst-young-entrepreneur-of-the-yea |publisher=Bloomberg |date=1999-05-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Huang recognized early that the parallel processing capabilities of GPUs were well-suited to the training and inference workloads required by [[deep learning]] and [[artificial neural network]]s. As the field of AI research accelerated in the 2010s, driven by breakthroughs in deep learning architectures and the availability of large datasets, demand for GPU-accelerated computing grew rapidly. Nvidia's data center business expanded as major technology companies, cloud computing providers, and research institutions adopted Nvidia GPUs for AI workloads.
Throughout the 2000s, Nvidia expanded beyond consumer graphics cards into professional visualization, mobile computing, and high-performance computing. The company's GPU technology found applications in scientific research, weather modeling, energy exploration, and other computationally intensive fields. Huang oversaw this diversification strategy, positioning Nvidia's parallel processing architecture as a general-purpose computing platform through initiatives such as [[CUDA]], the company's parallel computing platform and programming model introduced in 2006.


Nvidia developed specialized hardware for the data center market, including the Tesla (later rebranded) and [[Nvidia A100]] GPU accelerators, which were designed specifically for AI training and high-performance computing applications. The company also invested in software frameworks and developer tools to support AI researchers, building an ecosystem around its hardware that created significant switching costs for customers.
The CUDA platform enabled researchers and developers to harness the parallel processing capabilities of Nvidia GPUs for tasks beyond graphics rendering, including scientific simulations, data analytics, and, eventually, machine learning. This strategic decision—investing heavily in a software ecosystem that would make Nvidia GPUs programmable for general-purpose tasks—was made years before the explosion of AI workloads that would later drive the company's extraordinary growth.


The emergence of large language models and generative AI applications beginning in the early 2020s further accelerated demand for Nvidia's data center products. Companies developing and deploying models such as [[ChatGPT]] and other generative AI systems required enormous quantities of GPU computing power, and Nvidia was the dominant supplier. This surge in demand drove extraordinary revenue growth and propelled Nvidia's stock price and market capitalization to historic levels.
=== Automotive and Autonomous Vehicles ===


By 2025, Nvidia's data center segment had become the company's largest revenue contributor, surpassing its traditional gaming business. In October 2025, Nvidia became the first company in history to reach a market capitalization exceeding $5 trillion, a milestone that reflected both the scale of the AI computing market and Nvidia's dominant position within it.
Nvidia under Huang's leadership also entered the automotive computing market, developing platforms for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicle development. The company's DRIVE platform was adopted by numerous automakers and autonomous vehicle developers. Huang's vision of AI-powered transportation was recognized by automotive industry observers; in 2020, he received the Eurostars award from [[Automotive News Europe]] for his contributions to automotive technology.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Eurostars: Jensen Huang |url=https://europe.autonews.com/awards/2020-eurostars-jensen-huang?ncid=so-twit-36184&sfdcid=VT03#cid=av06_so-twit_en-gb |publisher=Automotive News Europe |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In early 2026, Huang publicly discussed the ongoing demand pressures facing the company's supply chain, stating that [[TSMC]], Nvidia's primary chip manufacturing partner, would need to "work very hard" to meet AI-related demand and that Nvidia's requirements alone could necessitate a doubling of TSMC's capacity over the following decade.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02 |title=Jensen Huang warns TSMC needs to 'work very hard' to meet AI demand — Nvidia CEO says its demand alone may force doubling its capacity over the next decade |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/jensen-huang-warns-tsmc-needs-to-work-very-hard-to-meet-ai-demand-nvidia-ceo-says-its-demand-alone-may-force-doubling-its-capacity-over-the-next-decade |work=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
=== The AI Boom and Nvidia's Ascent ===


=== Autonomous Vehicles and Other Ventures ===
The emergence of [[deep learning]] and large-scale [[artificial intelligence]] models in the 2010s created enormous demand for the parallel processing capabilities of Nvidia's GPUs. Huang had positioned the company to capitalize on this shift through years of investment in CUDA and its broader software ecosystem. As AI research accelerated—fueled by breakthroughs in [[neural network]]s, [[natural language processing]], and [[generative AI]]—Nvidia's data center business grew rapidly, eventually surpassing its gaming division as the company's primary revenue driver.


Under Huang, Nvidia expanded beyond graphics and data center computing into several adjacent technology markets. The company developed the Nvidia DRIVE platform for [[autonomous vehicle]]s, providing the computing hardware and software stack for self-driving car systems. Nvidia's automotive technology was adopted by numerous automakers and autonomous vehicle developers. Huang was recognized for this work by ''Automotive News Europe'', which included him among its 2020 EuroStars honorees for contributions to the automotive industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 EuroStars: Jensen Huang |url=https://europe.autonews.com/awards/2020-eurostars-jensen-huang?ncid=so-twit-36184&sfdcid=VT03#cid=av06_so-twit_en-gb |publisher=Automotive News Europe |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Nvidia's A100 and subsequently its H100 GPUs became the standard hardware for training and deploying large AI models, including those developed by companies such as [[OpenAI]], [[Google]], [[Meta Platforms|Meta]], and others. The concentration of demand for these chips propelled Nvidia into one of the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world. In October 2025, Nvidia became the first company in history to reach a market capitalization of over $5 trillion.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=2017-11-16 |title=Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang |url=http://fortune.com/2017/11/16/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Nvidia also entered the professional visualization market with its Quadro (later RTX) line of workstation GPUs, the networking market through its acquisition of [[Mellanox Technologies]] in 2020, and the [[edge computing]] market. Huang was recognized as one of the world's top 50 edge computing influencers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Edge 50 – The World's First Top 50 Edge Computing Influencers |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115212213/https://www.broad-group.com/data/news/documents/b1m2y1yp7ss9g0/edge-50--the-world-s-first-top-50-edge-computing-influencers |publisher=Broad Group |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
In a 2019 ranking published by the [[Harvard Business Review]], Huang was named among the world's best-performing CEOs, a recognition based on long-term financial returns and market value creation during his tenure at Nvidia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Business Review Publishes 2019 Ranking of the World's Best-Performing CEOs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-10-22/harvard-business-review-publishes-2019-ranking-of-the-world-s-best-performing-ceos |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2019-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 2020, Nvidia announced plans to acquire [[Arm Ltd.]] from [[SoftBank Group]] for approximately $40 billion, which would have been one of the largest semiconductor acquisitions in history. The deal, however, faced regulatory opposition from multiple governments and competition authorities and was ultimately abandoned in 2022.
Huang has spoken publicly about the supply chain demands created by AI. In early 2026, he stated that Nvidia's demand alone could force its primary manufacturing partner, [[TSMC]], to double its capacity over the next decade, underscoring the scale of compute infrastructure being built to support AI development.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02 |title=Jensen Huang warns TSMC needs to 'work very hard' to meet AI demand — Nvidia CEO says its demand alone may force doubling its capacity over the next decade |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/jensen-huang-warns-tsmc-needs-to-work-very-hard-to-meet-ai-demand-nvidia-ceo-says-its-demand-alone-may-force-doubling-its-capacity-over-the-next-decade |work=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


=== Leadership Style and Public Profile ===
In February 2026, Huang addressed rumors regarding a potential Nvidia investment in OpenAI, telling CNBC that "there's no drama" and clarifying the company's strategic position with respect to AI software companies.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-03 |title=Nvidia's Jensen Huang denies OpenAI deal rumors: 'There's no drama' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/nvidias-jensen-huang-denies-openai-deal-rumors-theres-no-drama.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Huang's leadership style has been the subject of extensive media coverage and industry analysis. He is known for his technical fluency, his direct involvement in product strategy and engineering decisions, and his habit of wearing a black leather jacket at public appearances, which has become something of a personal trademark. Huang has remained in the CEO role at Nvidia for over three decades, making him one of the longest-serving chief executives at a major technology company.
=== Leadership Style ===


''Harvard Business Review'' ranked Huang among the world's best-performing CEOs in its 2019 ranking, citing Nvidia's sustained shareholder returns and strategic positioning under his leadership.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Business Review Publishes 2019 Ranking of the World's Best-Performing CEOs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-10-22/harvard-business-review-publishes-2019-ranking-of-the-world-s-best-performing-ceos |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2019-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> ''CEO Today Magazine'' also featured Huang in its coverage of prominent technology executives.<ref>{{cite web |title=CEO Today Magazine – January 2020 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202004950/https://www.ceotodaymagazine.com/issues/2020/01/24/ |publisher=CEO Today Magazine |date=2020-01-24 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang is known for his direct, hands-on leadership approach at Nvidia. He has served continuously as president and CEO since the company's founding in 1993—a tenure of more than three decades, making him one of the longest-serving CEOs among major technology companies. He is frequently seen wearing a black leather jacket, which has become a signature element of his public persona, particularly during Nvidia's product launch keynotes and at industry conferences such as the [[Consumer Electronics Show]] (CES) and Nvidia's own GTC (GPU Technology Conference).


In February 2026, Huang denied rumors regarding a potential investment deal between Nvidia and [[OpenAI]], telling reporters, "There's no drama."<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-03 |title=Nvidia's Jensen Huang denies OpenAI deal rumors: 'There's no drama' |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/nvidias-jensen-huang-denies-openai-deal-rumors-theres-no-drama.html |work=CNBC |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang has been named to the CEO Today Global Awards, further acknowledging his leadership in the technology sector.<ref>{{cite web |title=CEO Today Global Awards |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202004950/https://www.ceotodaymagazine.com/issues/2020/01/24/ |publisher=CEO Today Magazine |date=2020-01-24 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Personal Life ==
== Personal Life ==


Jensen Huang holds both Taiwanese and American citizenship. He is married to Lori Huang, whom he met during his time at Oregon State University; Lori Huang is also a graduate of the university. The couple has two children.
Jensen Huang is married to Lori Huang. The couple met while both were students at Oregon State University. They have two children.


Huang turned 63 on February 17, 2026. His birthday celebration at Nvidia's offices drew public attention when it was reported that the cake served was a strawberry cake from [[Paris Baguette]], a Korean bakery chain, prompting media coverage and a marketing boost for the brand.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-22 |title=You can't cop Jensen Huang's GPUs but you can eat the same cake he got for his birthday at work |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-birthday-cake-nvidia-gpus-paris-baguette-strawberry-2026-2 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-22 |title=Paris Baguette cake grabs spotlight at Nvidia CEO's birthday |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20260222/paris-baguette-cake-grabs-spotlight-at-nvidia-ceos-birthday |work=The Korea Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang holds dual [[Taiwanese Americans|Taiwanese-American]] nationality. He has maintained connections to Taiwan throughout his career, a connection underscored by Nvidia's deep manufacturing relationship with TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor foundry that fabricates Nvidia's chips.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4903356 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Huang has maintained a connection to Taiwan throughout his career. Taiwan's media and public have closely followed Nvidia's rise, and Huang has made numerous visits and public appearances in the country. In 2022, ''Taiwan News'' reported on Huang's connections to the island and his continued engagement with Taiwanese institutions and industry.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jensen Huang profile |url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4903356 |publisher=Taiwan News |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang celebrated his 63rd birthday on February 17, 2026, at Nvidia's offices, where he was presented with a strawberry cake from [[Paris Baguette]], a detail that attracted media attention in both the United States and South Korea.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-22 |title=Paris Baguette cake grabs spotlight at Nvidia CEO's birthday |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20260222/paris-baguette-cake-grabs-spotlight-at-nvidia-ceos-birthday |work=The Korea Times |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-22 |title=You can't cop Jensen Huang's GPUs but you can eat the same cake he got for his birthday at work |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-birthday-cake-nvidia-gpus-paris-baguette-strawberry-2026-2 |work=Business Insider |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


Huang is also known for his philanthropic activities. He and his wife have made significant donations to educational institutions, including Stanford University and Oregon State University.
Huang is also a philanthropist, though the specific details of his charitable activities are not comprehensively documented in the available sources.


== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==


Jensen Huang has received numerous awards and honors over the course of his career, reflecting both his personal contributions and Nvidia's growth under his leadership.
Jensen Huang has received numerous honors and awards over the course of his career, reflecting his influence in the technology and semiconductor industries.
 
In 1999, Huang was named Northern California's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, recognizing his role in building Nvidia from a startup into a major technology company.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern California's 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804150724/https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/1999-05-20/northern-california-s-1999-ernst-young-entrepreneur-of-the-yea |publisher=Bloomberg |date=1999-05-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 1999, Huang was named Northern California's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern California's 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804150724/https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/1999-05-20/northern-california-s-1999-ernst-young-entrepreneur-of-the-yea |publisher=Bloomberg |date=1999-05-20 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> This recognition came during a pivotal period for Nvidia, as the company was establishing itself as a leader in the graphics processor market.
In 2019, the [[Harvard Business Review]] included Huang in its annual ranking of the world's best-performing CEOs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Business Review Publishes 2019 Ranking of the World's Best-Performing CEOs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-10-22/harvard-business-review-publishes-2019-ranking-of-the-world-s-best-performing-ceos |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2019-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 2021, ''Time'' magazine named Huang to its [[Time 100]] list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He was again included in the Time 100 in 2024, reflecting Nvidia's growing significance during the AI era.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jensen Huang Named to TIME 100 |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/jensen-huang-time-100 |publisher=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2025, ''Time'' named Huang one of the "Architects of AI" as part of its Person of the Year recognition, acknowledging his role in building the computing infrastructure that underpins modern artificial intelligence.
In 2020, Huang received the Eurostars award from Automotive News Europe for his contributions to automotive technology through Nvidia's DRIVE platform.<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Eurostars: Jensen Huang |url=https://europe.autonews.com/awards/2020-eurostars-jensen-huang?ncid=so-twit-36184&sfdcid=VT03#cid=av06_so-twit_en-gb |publisher=Automotive News Europe |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 2024, the [[Semiconductor Industry Association]] announced that Huang would receive the Robert N. Noyce Award, the semiconductor industry's highest honor, named after the co-inventor of the integrated circuit. The award recognized Huang's contributions to the semiconductor industry and his role in expanding the applications of GPU computing.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nvidia Founder and CEO Jensen Huang to Receive Semiconductor Industry's Top Honor |url=https://www.semiconductors.org/nvidia-founder-and-ceo-jensen-huang-to-receive-semiconductor-industrys-top-honor/ |publisher=Semiconductor Industry Association |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang was included in the [[Time 100]] list of the most influential people in the world in both 2021 and 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jensen Huang |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/news/jensen-huang-time-100 |publisher=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref> In 2025, [[Time (magazine)|Time]] named him one of the "Architects of AI" as part of its Person of the Year recognition, acknowledging his role in building the computing infrastructure underlying the AI industry.


Huang has also been recognized by the [[Global Semiconductor Alliance]] (GSA) with the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award, named after the founder of TSMC.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award |url=https://www.gsaglobal.org/gsa-awards/dr-morris-chang-exemplary-leadership-award-nomination-form/ |publisher=Global Semiconductor Alliance |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
The [[Semiconductor Industry Association]] announced that Huang would receive the Robert N. Noyce Award, the semiconductor industry's highest honor, recognizing his contributions to the field.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nvidia Founder and CEO Jensen Huang to Receive Semiconductor Industry's Top Honor |url=https://www.semiconductors.org/nvidia-founder-and-ceo-jensen-huang-to-receive-semiconductor-industrys-top-honor/ |publisher=Semiconductor Industry Association |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


In 2019, ''Harvard Business Review'' included Huang in its ranking of the world's best-performing CEOs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harvard Business Review Publishes 2019 Ranking of the World's Best-Performing CEOs |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-10-22/harvard-business-review-publishes-2019-ranking-of-the-world-s-best-performing-ceos |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2019-10-22 |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang was also recognized through the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award from the [[Global Semiconductor Alliance]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award |url=https://www.gsaglobal.org/gsa-awards/dr-morris-chang-exemplary-leadership-award-nomination-form/ |publisher=Global Semiconductor Alliance |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
 
He was named to the Edge 50 list as one of the world's top 50 edge computing influencers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Edge 50 — The World's First Top 50 Edge Computing Influencers |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115212213/https://www.broad-group.com/data/news/documents/b1m2y1yp7ss9g0/edge-50--the-world-s-first-top-50-edge-computing-influencers |publisher=Broad Group |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== Legacy ==
== Legacy ==


Jensen Huang's influence on the technology industry is closely tied to the strategic decisions he made in positioning Nvidia at the center of several major computing transitions. His early insistence on the importance of the GPU as a general-purpose computing device, rather than a niche graphics processor, anticipated by years the industry's shift toward parallel computing and accelerated workloads. The introduction of CUDA in 2006 and Nvidia's subsequent cultivation of a developer ecosystem around GPU computing created the foundation upon which much of modern AI research and deployment has been built.
Jensen Huang's career is closely intertwined with the development of GPU computing and its application to artificial intelligence. His decision in the early 2000s to invest in general-purpose GPU computing through the CUDA platform positioned Nvidia as the primary hardware provider for the AI revolution that accelerated in the 2010s and 2020s. The company's GPUs became essential infrastructure for training the large language models and generative AI systems that reshaped industries ranging from technology and healthcare to finance and entertainment.
 
Nvidia's role as the primary supplier of hardware for AI training and inference has given Huang a central position in discussions about the future of artificial intelligence, data center infrastructure, and computing architecture. The company's ascent to become the world's most valuable company by market capitalization — the first to exceed $5 trillion — occurred under Huang's continuous leadership, a feat that distinguishes him among technology executives for both longevity and scale of impact.


Huang's biography as a Taiwanese immigrant who arrived in the United States as a child and went on to build one of the world's most valuable companies has made him a prominent figure in discussions about immigration, entrepreneurship, and the American technology industry. His connection to Taiwan, home to TSMC and a critical node in the global semiconductor supply chain, has added geopolitical dimensions to his public profile.
Huang's tenure at Nvidia—spanning more than three decades as of 2026—represents one of the longest continuous leadership periods among founders of major technology companies. His ability to guide the company through its early near-bankruptcy, the competitive graphics card wars of the late 1990s and 2000s, and the transition to AI-centric computing has been cited as a case study in long-term strategic leadership in the technology sector.


The founding story of Nvidia — three engineers meeting at a Denny's restaurant to plan a company that would eventually reshape the computing industry — has become an enduring narrative in Silicon Valley history. Huang's three-decade tenure as CEO, spanning near-bankruptcy, the rise of GPU computing, and the AI revolution, represents one of the longest and most consequential leadership runs in the history of the technology industry.
The founding story of Nvidia at a Denny's restaurant has entered Silicon Valley mythology, representing the modest and unpredictable beginnings of what became one of the world's most valuable companies. The narrative of three engineers meeting over coffee and pancakes to plan a chip company has been recounted in numerous profiles and business publications.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02-23 |title=While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion |url=https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


''Fortune'' magazine profiled Huang extensively, noting his central role in the AI computing ecosystem.<ref>{{cite news |date=2017-11-16 |title=Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang |url=http://fortune.com/2017/11/16/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang/ |work=Fortune |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>
Huang's influence extends beyond Nvidia's corporate performance. His public visibility during the AI boom—particularly through his keynote presentations, which have drawn large audiences both in-person and online—has made him one of the most recognizable figures in the technology industry. His role in shaping the semiconductor supply chain, particularly through Nvidia's relationship with TSMC, has had implications for global technology manufacturing and geopolitical discussions about semiconductor supply security.<ref>{{cite news |date=2026-02 |title=Jensen Huang warns TSMC needs to 'work very hard' to meet AI demand |url=https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/jensen-huang-warns-tsmc-needs-to-work-very-hard-to-meet-ai-demand-nvidia-ceo-says-its-demand-alone-may-force-doubling-its-capacity-over-the-next-decade |work=Tom's Hardware |access-date=2026-02-23}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
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Revision as of 00:39, 24 February 2026



Jensen Huang
BornHuang Jen-Hsun (黃仁勳)
17 2, 1963
BirthplaceTaipei, Taiwan
NationalityAmerican, Taiwanese
OccupationTemplate:Plainlist
Known forCo-founder, president, and CEO of Nvidia
EducationStanford University (M.S.)
AwardsTemplate:Plainlist
Website[[nvidia.com nvidia.com] Official site]

Jensen Huang (born Huang Jen-Hsun, Template:Zh; February 17, 1963) is a Taiwanese-American business executive, electrical engineer, and philanthropist who co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has served as its president and chief executive officer since the company's inception. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Huang spent parts of his childhood in Taiwan and Thailand before immigrating to the United States, where he was educated in Kentucky and Oregon before earning a master's degree from Stanford University. In what has become one of Silicon Valley's most recounted founding stories, Huang launched Nvidia at the age of 30 alongside co-founders Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, with early planning sessions held at a Denny's restaurant in San Jose, California.[1] He guided Nvidia through near-bankruptcy in its early years and subsequently oversaw its transformation into a dominant force in graphics processing units (GPUs), high-performance computing, and artificial intelligence (AI). Under Huang's leadership, Nvidia became the first company to reach a market capitalization exceeding $5 trillion, in October 2025. Time magazine included Huang in its Time 100 list of the most influential people in both 2021 and 2024, and in 2025 he was named one of the "Architects of AI" as part of the magazine's Person of the Year designation.[2]

Early Life

Jensen Huang was born on February 17, 1963, in Taipei, Taiwan, to a family of Taiwanese heritage. He spent his early childhood years in Taiwan and Thailand before his family relocated to the United States. Huang's transition to life in America was shaped by unconventional circumstances. In a 2018 interview with CNBC, Huang recounted that his mother taught him English using a method of learning ten random words at a time, an approach that reflected the family's resourceful adaptation to their new country.[3]

After arriving in the United States, Huang attended school in Kentucky and later in Oregon. The details of his childhood in the American South and Pacific Northwest have been sparsely documented, though Huang has spoken publicly about the formative experiences of his youth, including the challenges of being a young immigrant adjusting to American culture and educational institutions.

Huang's early interest in technology and engineering developed during his formative years in Oregon, setting the stage for his later academic and professional pursuits in electrical engineering. These experiences—spanning three countries and multiple American states before he reached adulthood—contributed to what would become a career defined by adaptability and technical ambition.

Education

Huang pursued his undergraduate studies at Oregon State University, where he earned a degree in electrical engineering. Oregon State University later recognized his accomplishments; the university's records indicate Huang among its notable alumni.[4]

Huang subsequently enrolled at Stanford University, where he completed a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering. His graduate studies at Stanford provided both the technical expertise and the professional network that would prove instrumental in the founding of Nvidia. It was through connections made during his engineering career following Stanford that Huang would meet Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem, the two colleagues with whom he would launch the company in 1993.

Career

Early Career

After completing his graduate studies at Stanford University, Huang worked in the semiconductor industry during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His professional experience during this period included positions at LSI Logic and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), where he gained expertise in chip design and the broader semiconductor business. These roles provided Huang with an understanding of both the technical and commercial dimensions of the microprocessor industry, knowledge that informed his later decision to found a company focused on visual computing hardware.

Founding of Nvidia

In January 1993, Huang, then 30 years old, co-founded Nvidia alongside Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. The three engineers, who had met through their work in the semiconductor industry, held their early planning meetings at a Denny's restaurant in San Jose, California. The founding story has become a fixture of Silicon Valley lore, with the Denny's location later recognized by Nvidia itself as the birthplace of the company.[5]

Nvidia was established with the goal of creating graphics processing technology for the computing and gaming markets. The company's early years were marked by significant technical and financial challenges. Nvidia's first product, the NV1 multimedia card released in 1995, was a commercial failure that brought the company to the brink of bankruptcy. The NV1 used a quadratic texture mapping approach that was incompatible with the industry-standard polygon rendering methods being adopted by competitors and by Microsoft's Direct3D API. The resulting market rejection forced Nvidia to lay off much of its staff and pivot its product strategy.[6]

Huang's decision to shift Nvidia's technical direction toward industry-standard polygon-based rendering proved to be the pivotal turning point for the company. Nvidia released the RIVA 128 in 1997, which was a commercial success and established the company as a competitive player in the 3D graphics card market. This recovery from near-collapse under Huang's leadership became one of the defining narratives of his career.

GPU Revolution and Expansion

In 1999, Nvidia introduced the GeForce 256, which the company marketed as "the world's first GPU." The product launch marked a turning point not only for Nvidia but for the broader computing industry, as the concept of a dedicated graphics processing unit became a standard component of personal computing architecture. That same year, Huang was recognized as the Northern California Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.[7]

Throughout the 2000s, Nvidia expanded beyond consumer graphics cards into professional visualization, mobile computing, and high-performance computing. The company's GPU technology found applications in scientific research, weather modeling, energy exploration, and other computationally intensive fields. Huang oversaw this diversification strategy, positioning Nvidia's parallel processing architecture as a general-purpose computing platform through initiatives such as CUDA, the company's parallel computing platform and programming model introduced in 2006.

The CUDA platform enabled researchers and developers to harness the parallel processing capabilities of Nvidia GPUs for tasks beyond graphics rendering, including scientific simulations, data analytics, and, eventually, machine learning. This strategic decision—investing heavily in a software ecosystem that would make Nvidia GPUs programmable for general-purpose tasks—was made years before the explosion of AI workloads that would later drive the company's extraordinary growth.

Automotive and Autonomous Vehicles

Nvidia under Huang's leadership also entered the automotive computing market, developing platforms for advanced driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicle development. The company's DRIVE platform was adopted by numerous automakers and autonomous vehicle developers. Huang's vision of AI-powered transportation was recognized by automotive industry observers; in 2020, he received the Eurostars award from Automotive News Europe for his contributions to automotive technology.[8]

The AI Boom and Nvidia's Ascent

The emergence of deep learning and large-scale artificial intelligence models in the 2010s created enormous demand for the parallel processing capabilities of Nvidia's GPUs. Huang had positioned the company to capitalize on this shift through years of investment in CUDA and its broader software ecosystem. As AI research accelerated—fueled by breakthroughs in neural networks, natural language processing, and generative AI—Nvidia's data center business grew rapidly, eventually surpassing its gaming division as the company's primary revenue driver.

Nvidia's A100 and subsequently its H100 GPUs became the standard hardware for training and deploying large AI models, including those developed by companies such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, and others. The concentration of demand for these chips propelled Nvidia into one of the most valuable publicly traded companies in the world. In October 2025, Nvidia became the first company in history to reach a market capitalization of over $5 trillion.[9]

In a 2019 ranking published by the Harvard Business Review, Huang was named among the world's best-performing CEOs, a recognition based on long-term financial returns and market value creation during his tenure at Nvidia.[10]

Huang has spoken publicly about the supply chain demands created by AI. In early 2026, he stated that Nvidia's demand alone could force its primary manufacturing partner, TSMC, to double its capacity over the next decade, underscoring the scale of compute infrastructure being built to support AI development.[11]

In February 2026, Huang addressed rumors regarding a potential Nvidia investment in OpenAI, telling CNBC that "there's no drama" and clarifying the company's strategic position with respect to AI software companies.[12]

Leadership Style

Huang is known for his direct, hands-on leadership approach at Nvidia. He has served continuously as president and CEO since the company's founding in 1993—a tenure of more than three decades, making him one of the longest-serving CEOs among major technology companies. He is frequently seen wearing a black leather jacket, which has become a signature element of his public persona, particularly during Nvidia's product launch keynotes and at industry conferences such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Nvidia's own GTC (GPU Technology Conference).

Huang has been named to the CEO Today Global Awards, further acknowledging his leadership in the technology sector.[13]

Personal Life

Jensen Huang is married to Lori Huang. The couple met while both were students at Oregon State University. They have two children.

Huang holds dual Taiwanese-American nationality. He has maintained connections to Taiwan throughout his career, a connection underscored by Nvidia's deep manufacturing relationship with TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor foundry that fabricates Nvidia's chips.[14]

Huang celebrated his 63rd birthday on February 17, 2026, at Nvidia's offices, where he was presented with a strawberry cake from Paris Baguette, a detail that attracted media attention in both the United States and South Korea.[15][16]

Huang is also a philanthropist, though the specific details of his charitable activities are not comprehensively documented in the available sources.

Recognition

Jensen Huang has received numerous honors and awards over the course of his career, reflecting his influence in the technology and semiconductor industries.

In 1999, Huang was named Northern California's Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, recognizing his role in building Nvidia from a startup into a major technology company.[17]

In 2019, the Harvard Business Review included Huang in its annual ranking of the world's best-performing CEOs.[18]

In 2020, Huang received the Eurostars award from Automotive News Europe for his contributions to automotive technology through Nvidia's DRIVE platform.[19]

Huang was included in the Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in both 2021 and 2024.[20] In 2025, Time named him one of the "Architects of AI" as part of its Person of the Year recognition, acknowledging his role in building the computing infrastructure underlying the AI industry.

The Semiconductor Industry Association announced that Huang would receive the Robert N. Noyce Award, the semiconductor industry's highest honor, recognizing his contributions to the field.[21]

Huang was also recognized through the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award from the Global Semiconductor Alliance.[22]

He was named to the Edge 50 list as one of the world's top 50 edge computing influencers.[23]

Legacy

Jensen Huang's career is closely intertwined with the development of GPU computing and its application to artificial intelligence. His decision in the early 2000s to invest in general-purpose GPU computing through the CUDA platform positioned Nvidia as the primary hardware provider for the AI revolution that accelerated in the 2010s and 2020s. The company's GPUs became essential infrastructure for training the large language models and generative AI systems that reshaped industries ranging from technology and healthcare to finance and entertainment.

Huang's tenure at Nvidia—spanning more than three decades as of 2026—represents one of the longest continuous leadership periods among founders of major technology companies. His ability to guide the company through its early near-bankruptcy, the competitive graphics card wars of the late 1990s and 2000s, and the transition to AI-centric computing has been cited as a case study in long-term strategic leadership in the technology sector.

The founding story of Nvidia at a Denny's restaurant has entered Silicon Valley mythology, representing the modest and unpredictable beginnings of what became one of the world's most valuable companies. The narrative of three engineers meeting over coffee and pancakes to plan a chip company has been recounted in numerous profiles and business publications.[24]

Huang's influence extends beyond Nvidia's corporate performance. His public visibility during the AI boom—particularly through his keynote presentations, which have drawn large audiences both in-person and online—has made him one of the most recognizable figures in the technology industry. His role in shaping the semiconductor supply chain, particularly through Nvidia's relationship with TSMC, has had implications for global technology manufacturing and geopolitical discussions about semiconductor supply security.[25]

References

  1. ↑ "While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion".Fortune.2026-02-23.https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  2. ↑ "Jensen Huang".Tom's Hardware.https://www.tomshardware.com/news/jensen-huang-time-100.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  3. ↑ "Nvidia CEO: My mom taught me English a random 10 words at a time".CNBC.2018-05-06.https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/06/nvidia-ceo-my-mom-taught-me-english-a-random-10-words-at-a-time.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  4. ↑ "OSU to award 4,680 degrees at week of commencements in Corvallis, Bend".Oregon State University.2009-06.https://today.oregonstate.edu/archives/2009/jun/osu-award-4680-degrees-week-commencements-corvallis-bend.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  5. ↑ "While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion".Fortune.2026-02-23.https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  6. ↑ "The Architect".Wired.https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/10.07/Nvidia.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  7. ↑ "Northern California's 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year".Bloomberg.1999-05-20.https://web.archive.org/web/20210804150724/https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/1999-05-20/northern-california-s-1999-ernst-young-entrepreneur-of-the-yea.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  8. ↑ "2020 Eurostars: Jensen Huang".Automotive News Europe.https://europe.autonews.com/awards/2020-eurostars-jensen-huang?ncid=so-twit-36184&sfdcid=VT03#cid=av06_so-twit_en-gb.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  9. ↑ "Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang".Fortune.2017-11-16.http://fortune.com/2017/11/16/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  10. ↑ "Harvard Business Review Publishes 2019 Ranking of the World's Best-Performing CEOs".Bloomberg.2019-10-22.https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-10-22/harvard-business-review-publishes-2019-ranking-of-the-world-s-best-performing-ceos.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  11. ↑ "Jensen Huang warns TSMC needs to 'work very hard' to meet AI demand — Nvidia CEO says its demand alone may force doubling its capacity over the next decade".Tom's Hardware.2026-02.https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/jensen-huang-warns-tsmc-needs-to-work-very-hard-to-meet-ai-demand-nvidia-ceo-says-its-demand-alone-may-force-doubling-its-capacity-over-the-next-decade.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  12. ↑ "Nvidia's Jensen Huang denies OpenAI deal rumors: 'There's no drama'".CNBC.2026-02-03.https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/nvidias-jensen-huang-denies-openai-deal-rumors-theres-no-drama.html.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  13. ↑ "CEO Today Global Awards".CEO Today Magazine.2020-01-24.https://web.archive.org/web/20210202004950/https://www.ceotodaymagazine.com/issues/2020/01/24/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  14. ↑ "Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang".Taiwan News.https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/4903356.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  15. ↑ "Paris Baguette cake grabs spotlight at Nvidia CEO's birthday".The Korea Times.2026-02-22.https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/companies/20260222/paris-baguette-cake-grabs-spotlight-at-nvidia-ceos-birthday.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  16. ↑ "You can't cop Jensen Huang's GPUs but you can eat the same cake he got for his birthday at work".Business Insider.2026-02-22.https://www.businessinsider.com/jensen-huang-birthday-cake-nvidia-gpus-paris-baguette-strawberry-2026-2.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  17. ↑ "Northern California's 1999 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year".Bloomberg.1999-05-20.https://web.archive.org/web/20210804150724/https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/1999-05-20/northern-california-s-1999-ernst-young-entrepreneur-of-the-yea.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  18. ↑ "Harvard Business Review Publishes 2019 Ranking of the World's Best-Performing CEOs".Bloomberg.2019-10-22.https://www.bloomberg.com/press-releases/2019-10-22/harvard-business-review-publishes-2019-ranking-of-the-world-s-best-performing-ceos.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  19. ↑ "2020 Eurostars: Jensen Huang".Automotive News Europe.https://europe.autonews.com/awards/2020-eurostars-jensen-huang?ncid=so-twit-36184&sfdcid=VT03#cid=av06_so-twit_en-gb.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  20. ↑ "Jensen Huang".Tom's Hardware.https://www.tomshardware.com/news/jensen-huang-time-100.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  21. ↑ "Nvidia Founder and CEO Jensen Huang to Receive Semiconductor Industry's Top Honor".Semiconductor Industry Association.https://www.semiconductors.org/nvidia-founder-and-ceo-jensen-huang-to-receive-semiconductor-industrys-top-honor/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  22. ↑ "Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award".Global Semiconductor Alliance.https://www.gsaglobal.org/gsa-awards/dr-morris-chang-exemplary-leadership-award-nomination-form/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  23. ↑ "Edge 50 — The World's First Top 50 Edge Computing Influencers".Broad Group.https://web.archive.org/web/20211115212213/https://www.broad-group.com/data/news/documents/b1m2y1yp7ss9g0/edge-50--the-world-s-first-top-50-edge-computing-influencers.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  24. ↑ "While Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang enjoys an over $150 billion net worth, his fellow cofounder Curtis Priem sold out in 2006—and missed out on $600 billion".Fortune.2026-02-23.https://fortune.com/2026/02/23/nvidia-cofounder-curtis-priem-sold-13-percent-stake-early-could-be-worth-600-billion-missed-opportunity/.Retrieved 2026-02-23.
  25. ↑ "Jensen Huang warns TSMC needs to 'work very hard' to meet AI demand".Tom's Hardware.2026-02.https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/jensen-huang-warns-tsmc-needs-to-work-very-hard-to-meet-ai-demand-nvidia-ceo-says-its-demand-alone-may-force-doubling-its-capacity-over-the-next-decade.Retrieved 2026-02-23.

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