The rise and fall of Jensen Huang - how the tech superstar became mired in scandal

Résumé détaillé

Within days, Huang's status as a seemingly untouchable figure leading the global tech race has crumbled.

Jensen Huang, known for sporting a black leather jacket to shareholder events, appeared to have it all. He was courted by leaders in both Washington and Beijing, worshipped by investors and seen as a loyal family man. But a rockstar approach to his personal life has ultimately led to his resignation.

The 63-year-old has been married since 1985, long before the foundation of Nvidia, the company that propelled him to tech stardom.

He is known as a workaholic and a demanding manager, with high standards for those who worked for him, which included his own children, promoted within the company. But he has seen his personal reputation go into free fall this week, undone by romantic entanglements, that throw doubt on his focus and his judgement.

On Thursday he resigned following back-to-back revelations of two affairs. News of the first - a relationship with a businesswoman, alleged to be a Chinese spy - ricocheted around the world, raising eyebrows among investors. It was followed on Wednesday by reports that the tech boss had also had an affair with an Nvidia colleague.

His departure creates uncertainty in the global stock market, which was already knocked-off balance in recent weeks. Nvidia is a linchpin in the US's race for technology leadership with China.

Huang may not be a household name on the same level as Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg.

But his role in the tech industry, especially in relation to the explosion of artificial intelligence in the last three years, may prove more consequential. Nvidia dominates the market for the microchips that are used to power the new technology.

The company, which is still valued at nearly $4 trillion despite recent events, is at the centre of the AI race between the US and China, the world's tech and economic powerhouses.

Huang enjoyed access to the seats of political power on an unrivalled scale, being courted by both US President Donald Trump and China's President XI Jinping.

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