Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s alleged affair with a former tech executive suspected by US intelligence officials of spying for Beijing could put his marriage — and a substantial portion of his estimated $150 billion fortune — at risk.
The Bay Area-based artificial intelligence executive recently acknowledged an affair with Alice Huang, a former technology executive whom US intelligence officials have reportedly suspected of espionage on behalf of China. Securities filings show that Jensen Huang has quietly placed roughly 740 million Nvidia shares into a network of family trusts and limited liability companies.
Even so, his wife of more than 40 years, Lori Huang, could potentially be entitled to at least 335 million shares — valued at approximately $60 billion — if she seeks a divorce, regardless of the alleged infidelity.
“In California, all property acquired by a spouse during marriage is community property,” Christopher Melcher, a Los Angeles attorney who specializes in high-net-worth divorces, told The Post. “She would be entitled to 50%.”
“We’re a no-fault state. So evidence of infidelity is inadmissible in court and has no impact on his rights.”
September securities filings indicate that Huang directly controls roughly 70 million shares. The couple’s living trust and six LLCs hold or involve about 600 million Nvidia shares — structures often used to manage family wealth and plan for inheritances.
Together, those holdings account for about 670 million shares. Lori could potentially claim half — approximately 335 million shares, worth around $60 billion — if the assets are determined to be community property and the couple did not sign a prenuptial agreement.
Another roughly 140 million shares are held in two irrevocable trusts. Depending on the language governing those trusts, the assets could be more difficult to access or divide in a divorce.
“The odds of them having a prenup are very low,” said Robert Farzad, another prominent California divorce attorney. “They met pretty young, in college, and he didn’t have anything when they met.”
The Huangs’ widely celebrated relationship began when they were teenagers taking an electrical engineering class at Oregon State University. Jensen has repeatedly credited Lori with being the best thing that ever happened to him.
The couple’s once-storybook romance produced two children, both of whom work at Nvidia. Huang has also frequently praised his wife publicly as a devoted partner who has largely remained behind the scenes.
“To my wife and family: I love you,” the disgraced executive said in an apology over the affair. “I know an apology cannot undo what I have done. I hope our family will heal and that, over time, I can earn back your trust.”
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If Lori chooses to divorce her husband, she is unlikely to face financial hardship. The bigger question is how much of the Nvidia fortune she could ultimately receive.
Any shares transferred to her by the company’s CEO would remain subject to federal regulations and insider-trading laws.
“How she can sell if she wants to sell, when she can sell — all of those things are governed very carefully by the law,” Farzad said.
“She could also ask for cash in exchange for it, but typically, when you’re dealing with values this high, it’s not practical. He’s not going to reach into his pocket and pull out billions,” the attorney said.
The couple may still try to preserve their marriage. Yet even counseling may not prevent a major separation of their assets.
“If they stay together, I have to imagine there’s going to be more than the apology he gave,” Melcher said. “There could be a financial divorce as a result of this, even if they stay together as a couple.”
Whatever happens, Farzad expects the matter to be handled largely in private.
“It’s very common in situations like this for the divorce to be kept out of a public forum,” Farzad said.
“These people have more money than they can spend in a thousand lifetimes. I don’t see fights in a courtroom. I don’t see a lot of public spectacle. Because who does that end up hurting if that ends up happening? It ends up hurting Nvidia. And both of their fortunes are tied up in Nvidia.”
Still, a potential divorce may not be entirely amicable, Melcher cautioned.
“When somebody’s been cheated on, she might think their whole marriage has been a lie. So someone might question whether money’s been hidden. She would be rightfully questioning all of the financial disclosures he would provide. … The trust is broken,” he said.
