Nvidia Hires US Law Firm to Probe CEO Spy Affair
Nvidia retains Wachtell to investigate CEO Jensen Huang's relationship with Alice Huang, amid a $500bn stock drop and increasing US political scrutiny.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Nvidia hires top US law firm Wachtell to investigate CEO affair
- Jensen Huang admits to a relationship with Alice Huang, linked to Beijing
- Nvidia market value drops by $500bn following the controversy
- US House Foreign Affairs Committee requests Huang for a briefing
Nvidia has retained Wachtell, one of the largest law firms in the United States, to conduct an independent investigation into the romantic relationship between its chief executive and a woman alleged to be a Chinese spy. The probe will be overseen by a committee of independent directors.
The investigation follows Jensen Huang's admission of an extramarital relationship with Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le. She was an executive at Singapore-based Megaspeed, an Nvidia customer previously suspected of helping divert AI chips to China—allegations that Nvidia maintained had been thoroughly investigated and debunked.
The corporate crisis coincides with a severe slump in Nvidia's share price, which has fallen near a yearly low. Approximately $500 billion (£375 billion) has been wiped off its stock market value since Friday, highlighting jittery investor sentiment around the core driving force of the global artificial intelligence boom.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Political pressure is also mounting behind the scenes. According to the New York Times, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a memo earlier this year warning top officials in Washington that Jensen Huang was closely linked to a Chinese spy. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he had spoken with the Nvidia boss, who claimed he had no idea she was an operative, and that he believed him.
Despite the executive's assertions, congressional scrutiny is intensifying. Leaders of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs have formally asked Huang to attend a closed-door briefing next week. Sources familiar with the matter noted that the committee holds subpoena power to force his attendance if necessary.
"intended to smear and malign China"
Chinese Foreign Ministry
Beijing has strongly rejected the allegations, with its foreign ministry dismissing the claims as an attempt to malign China. Wachtell, known for representing tech giants like OpenAI and Salesforce, has assigned former US Attorney Joon Kim to help lead the urgent inquiry, given how deeply Jensen Huang's public persona is tied to Nvidia's leadership in the AI sector.
Nvidia's decision to hire an elite legal firm underscores the immense geopolitical stakes surrounding advanced AI hardware. As the world's primary manufacturer of artificial intelligence chips, Nvidia's corporate governance and leadership stability are no longer just private business matters—they are directly intertwined with US national security and the broader technology race between global superpowers.
Source: BBC Business
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