IBNS-CMEDIA: Even as Nvidia grapples with one of the biggest controversies in its history, its outgoing CEO Jensen Huang appears to have the backing of some of the world’s most influential technology billionaires.
Among them is Elon Musk, who has publicly expressed interest in hiring Huang at one of his companies.
The exchange took place on Wednesday evening, hours before Huang’s reported departure became public.
It began when right-wing financial blog ZeroHedge posted on X, urging Musk to hire the Nvidia chief.
“Elon please hire Jensen,” the post read.
Musk responded with a brief but significant endorsement: “That would be an honor.”
The exchange came as speculation intensified over Huang’s future at Nvidia, the multitrillion-dollar technology company he co-founded. His reported exit has also raised questions about the future of the AI chipmaker, whose hardware has become central to the global artificial intelligence boom.
Why Jensen Huang is at the centre of a storm
Huang has faced mounting scrutiny following allegations surrounding his relationship with Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman and executive at Singapore-based cloud computing company Megaspeed.
According to the allegations, Alice Huang was linked to Chinese intelligence and may have used her company’s operations to facilitate the diversion of Nvidia’s AI chips to China.
The controversy intensified further after reports emerged of another alleged extramarital relationship involving a company executive.
The allegations have drawn attention from US authorities, with the FBI reportedly investigating the espionage claims. Nvidia has said it found no reason to suspect a breach of national security or the compromise of internal secrets.
Trump, Bill Ackman join the list of Huang’s defenders
Musk is not the only prominent figure to express support for Huang.
US President Donald Trump previously described the Nvidia chief as an “honorable guy” and said he believed Huang’s claim that he had no knowledge of the woman’s alleged intelligence links.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman also praised Huang, describing him as an “incredible human”.
Days before offering to hire Huang, Musk had also endorsed a post by Sequoia Capital partner Shaun Maguire, who described the Nvidia co-founder as “one of the greatest entrepreneurs of this generation” and “irreplaceable for America’s AI leadership”.
The public show of support highlights Huang’s standing among influential figures in the technology and investment industries, even as the allegations surrounding him continue to attract scrutiny.
Musk’s own controversial relationships
Musk’s defence of Huang has also drawn attention to the Tesla and SpaceX chief’s own history of relationships involving people in his professional and social circles.
Musk reportedly had a relationship with Nicole Shanahan, the former wife of Google co-founder Sergey Brin, an episode that contributed to tensions between the two billionaires and was followed by their divorce.
He also fathered children with Shivon Zilis, an executive at his brain-computer interface company Neuralink, who had served on its board.
These episodes have frequently attracted media attention, adding another dimension to the public discussion surrounding Musk’s support for Huang.
Tech billionaires rally around one of their own
The support for Huang from Musk, Trump and Ackman has brought the relationship between Silicon Valley’s most powerful figures into focus.
Nvidia’s chips have become indispensable to the development of advanced AI systems, making Huang one of the most influential figures in the technology industry.
His company’s hardware has helped power the current AI boom, while Nvidia’s financial performance has become closely watched by investors around the world.
The controversy now raises broader questions about accountability and the influence wielded by powerful technology executives, particularly as the industry positions artificial intelligence as a transformative force shaping the future of the global economy.
