Nvidia co-founder Jensen Huang’s estimated personal fortune declined by $23.8 billion over four trading days as shares of the artificial intelligence chipmaker came under heavy selling pressure following reports about his alleged personal relationships and mounting questions about the company’s leadership. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Huang’s net worth fell from approximately $162.2 billion before the US market opened on Monday, November 9, to $138.4 billion by Thursday, November 12, 2026.
The decline coincided with a sharp fall in Nvidia’s market valuation. The company lost nearly $490 billion in market capitalisation between the previous Friday’s close and Thursday’s trading session, with its valuation falling from approximately $4.50 trillion to $4.01 trillion. The controversy intensified after Huang resigned as Nvidia’s CEO and president on November 12, while the company’s board appointed CFO Colette Kress as interim chief executive.
Jensen Huang’s Net Worth Falls to $138.4 Billion
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Huang’s estimated wealth declined by approximately 14.7% in four trading days.
His position among the world’s wealthiest individuals also changed during the period. Huang moved from eighth place at the beginning of the week to 13th place by Thursday.
The decline largely reflected the fall in Nvidia’s share price because a substantial portion of Huang’s wealth is tied to his ownership of the chipmaker.
The daily movements in his estimated fortune were as follows:
| Trading day | Estimated change in wealth |
|---|---|
| Monday, November 9 | -$7.4 billion |
| Tuesday, November 10 | -$8.4 billion |
| Wednesday, November 11 | +$5.9 billion |
| Thursday, November 12 | -$8.2 billion |
| Total change | -$18.1 billion |
There is an important difference between the daily figures above and the overall $23.8 billion decline reported by Fortune India using the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The daily changes listed in other wealth-tracking reports use different measurement points and estimates. Bloomberg’s reported beginning and ending figures imply a $23.8 billion reduction over the four-day period.
Huang’s estimated wealth is not equivalent to cash withdrawn from his bank accounts. Much of it is linked to Nvidia shares, meaning changes in the company’s stock price can significantly affect his paper net worth without requiring him to sell any holdings.
Nvidia Loses Nearly $490 Billion in Market Capitalisation
Nvidia’s market value also experienced a substantial decline during the same period.
The company’s market capitalisation stood at approximately $4.50 trillion at the end of the previous trading week. By Thursday, November 12, it had fallen to around $4.01 trillion.
This represented an erosion of nearly $490 billion in market value.
Nvidia shares experienced particularly heavy volatility on Thursday. The stock fell as much as 14% during the trading session before recovering some of its losses. It eventually closed at $166.19, down 4.3% for the day.
The decline pushed Nvidia’s valuation below the $4.1 trillion level and added to an ongoing correction in technology stocks.
| Nvidia market indicator | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Market capitalisation before the four-day decline | Approximately $4.50 trillion |
| Market capitalisation on November 12 | Approximately $4.01 trillion |
| Market value erased | Approximately $490 billion |
| Thursday closing share price | $166.19 |
| Thursday share-price decline | 4.3% |
The latest decline also came after Nvidia had reached a market valuation of approximately $5.75 trillion in early October. This means the company had already experienced a significant correction before the latest controversy intensified.
Controversy Surrounding Jensen Huang Adds to Investor Concerns
The market pressure followed reports about Huang’s alleged personal relationships, including claims involving a technology executive linked to Singapore-based Megaspeed International.
The allegations attracted additional attention after reports raised questions about the executive’s possible connections to Chinese intelligence. Those claims have not been independently established as proven facts.
Huang reportedly addressed Nvidia employees on November 8 and acknowledged an extramarital relationship. Subsequent media reports raised allegations about other relationships involving Nvidia employees.
The controversy became a corporate governance issue because of Huang’s position as the company’s co-founder, CEO and a central figure in its strategic decision-making.
The company’s board faced questions about leadership oversight, potential conflicts of interest and the possible implications of the allegations.
The developments also prompted attention from US lawmakers because of the national security concerns raised in reports involving the alleged Chinese connection.
It is important to distinguish between allegations reported by media organisations and facts independently established through an investigation. The reports do not, by themselves, establish that Huang engaged in espionage or that Nvidia’s technology was compromised.
Jensen Huang Resigns as Nvidia CEO
On November 12, Nvidia announced that Huang had resigned as the company’s president, chief executive officer and board member, effective immediately.
The board appointed Colette Kress, Nvidia’s executive vice president and chief financial officer, as interim CEO while it begins the search for a permanent successor.
Kress has served as Nvidia’s CFO since 2013 and has been involved in managing the company’s finances during its expansion into AI computing and data centre infrastructure.
The company has not publicly provided a detailed explanation for Huang’s departure in its regulatory filing.
The resignation marked a major leadership change for Nvidia, which Huang co-founded in 1993. He led the company’s transformation from a graphics processing chipmaker into a major supplier of processors and computing systems used to develop and operate artificial intelligence models.
The timing of the resignation, amid the controversy and sharp share-price movements, added uncertainty for investors assessing Nvidia’s future leadership.
Nvidia’s Market Decline Began Before the Latest Controversy
Although the reports involving Huang contributed to investor uncertainty, Nvidia’s share-price correction had begun before the controversy emerged.
The company’s market capitalisation peaked at approximately $5.75 trillion in early October 2026. By November 12, it had fallen to around $4 trillion.
This represented a decline of approximately $1.75 trillion from its peak.
Several factors had already been weighing on technology stocks and investor sentiment towards artificial intelligence companies.
These included concerns about elevated AI valuations, the scale of spending on data centres and uncertainty about how quickly investments in AI infrastructure would generate sustainable returns.
Nvidia also faces increasing competition from semiconductor manufacturers and technology companies developing their own AI chips.
The leadership controversy added another source of uncertainty to an existing market correction. Therefore, the entire decline from Nvidia’s October peak should not be attributed exclusively to the allegations involving Huang.
Huang to Forfeit $108 Million in Unvested Nvidia Stock Awards
Huang’s departure also has implications for his compensation arrangements.
According to Fortune India’s report, he is expected to forfeit approximately $108 million in unvested Nvidia equity awards following the end of his service with the company.
The amount represents a small portion of his estimated $138.4 billion fortune.
The awards include restricted stock units that were subject to vesting conditions. Once Huang’s service ended, the unvested portion became ineligible for future vesting under the applicable compensation arrangements.
Although the forfeiture represents a financial consequence of his departure, it is considerably smaller than the estimated reduction in his wealth caused by Nvidia’s falling share price.
The Bigger Picture
The developments surrounding Huang demonstrate how leadership uncertainty can affect investor confidence in companies whose valuations depend heavily on future growth expectations. Nvidia has become a central supplier of AI computing infrastructure, making its business performance important to cloud providers, technology companies and investors worldwide.
The controversy also highlights the governance challenges faced by founder-led technology companies. Huang played a significant role in Nvidia’s product strategy, corporate culture and relationships with major customers. A leadership transition therefore raises questions about how the company will maintain strategic continuity while addressing investor concerns.
At the same time, Nvidia’s broader stock-market correction reflects concerns that extend beyond its leadership. High AI-related valuations, substantial infrastructure spending and competition in advanced semiconductor technology remain important factors influencing investor expectations.
Looking Ahead
Nvidia’s immediate challenge is to maintain operational stability under interim CEO Colette Kress while its board searches for a permanent successor. Investors will be watching for further disclosures about the leadership transition, the board’s response to the controversy and any developments from ongoing scrutiny. Huang’s estimated fortune may continue to fluctuate with Nvidia’s share price, although the reported $23.8 billion decline represents a change in estimated wealth rather than a confirmed cash loss.
For Nvidia, the longer-term question is whether the company can maintain its position in the AI chip market while rebuilding investor confidence. Its product pipeline, relationships with major technology customers and ability to sustain demand for AI infrastructure will remain central to its valuation. The leadership change adds uncertainty, but the company’s future performance will ultimately depend on its business results, competitive position and governance arrangements.
Get the day’s top stories in your inbox
One concise email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
