From WIRED · Lauren Goode · · 1m 50s
Nvidia CEO hired crisis PR firm a year before affair admission
Jensen Huang began working with a scandal-focused communications firm in October 2025, months before publicly acknowledging a romantic relationship with a woman US intelligence says is a Chinese spy.
In brief
Jensen Huang began working with a scandal-focused communications firm in October 2025, months before publicly acknowledging a romantic relationship with a woman US intelligence says is a Chinese spy. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hired crisis communications firm Heller in October 2025, a year before admitting to an affair…
Crisis firm hired a year early
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang began working with Heller, a crisis communications firm known for handling sex scandals, in October 2025. This was a year before he admitted to an extramarital affair.
Heller's track record with scandals
Risa Heller, the firm's founder, built her reputation handling powerful men facing sexual misconduct allegations. Her past clients include former congressman Anthony Weiner, chef Mario Batali, and writer Jeffrey Toobin.
Initial work focused on philanthropy
Heller's consultants were initially believed hired for matters related to Huang's personal life, including his family's philanthropic endeavors. The firm frequently communicated with Huang and his daughter Madison, a product marketing director at Nvidia.
The woman at the centre of the scandal
In 2024, Huang began appearing publicly with Alice Huang, a former executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based chip buyer. Megaspeed was created when it split from a Chinese gaming and cloud computing firm in 2023.
Public exposure and board response
In early October 2025, the New York Times reported on Huang's business dealings with Megaspeed and Alice. US intelligence determined Alice is a Chinese spy. Nvidia's board announced an independent investigation into Huang's activities.
Huang admits to the affair
On Sunday, Huang acknowledged his relationship with Alice was romantic.In an email to staff, he wrote: "I was unfaithful to my wife.My actions hurt her and our children.There is no excuse for what I did.
“I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”
At a glance
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hired crisis communications firm Heller in October 2025, a year before admitting to an affair with a woman suspected by US intelligence of being a Chinese spy.
