Jensen Huang: from Denny's dishwasher to AI chip billionaire

Nvidia's chips power the AI boom

Nvidia supplies the highly in-demand chips used by Big Tech giants and startups to train AI models. The AI arms race has been good business for the company and its founder.

Huang joins world's 10 wealthiest in 2024

As Nvidia's business boomed, founder and CEO Jensen Huang shot into Forbes' list of the world's ten wealthiest people. His net worth reached one hundred fifty five billion dollars by November twenty twenty-six.

Born in Taiwan, raised in America

Huang was born in Taiwan in nineteen sixty-three. His parents sent him and his brother to live with an uncle in Tacoma, Washington before the family settled in Oregon.

First job at fifteen, washing dishes

Huang got his first job at fifteen, washing dishes and bussing and waiting tables at a Denny's in Portland. He graduated high school at sixteen before studying electrical engineering.

Nvidia founded at a Denny's in 1993

Huang and co-founders Curtis Priem and Chris Malachowsky planted the seed for Nvidia at a Denny's in northern California in nineteen ninety-three. Today it is a household name in AI.

GeForce 256 launches as first GPU

In nineteen ninety-nine, Nvidia released the GeForce two hundred fifty-six, which it called the first graphics processing unit or GPU. The chip became foundational to the company's rise.

Nvidia hits trillion-dollar valuation

In twenty twenty-three, Nvidia joined a handful of companies with a trillion-dollar market cap, becoming one of the most valuable companies in the world. Interest in AI chips drove the surge.

Huang's demanding leadership style

Huang manages around sixty direct reports as CEO, skips one-on-one meetings, gives feedback publicly, and sends staff hundreds of emails daily. He logs fourteen-hour days and works on holidays.

Scandal emerges in November 2026

In November twenty twenty-six, Nvidia's board announced an independent investigation into whether Huang had been targeted by foreign intelligence.

Huang admits affair, seeks forgiveness

Without naming the woman involved, Huang admitted to employees he had an affair and asked for their forgiveness.He wrote, "My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust.

“My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility.”

Trump says Huang unaware of spy claims

President Donald Trump, who has grown close to Huang, told reporters that Huang was unaware of allegations that the woman involved might be a Chinese intelligence asset. Beijing strenuously denied such allegations.