Nvidia and Jensen Huang Sued Over Alleged Affair With Chinese Spy

Jensen Huang Affair

Jensen Huang faced a shareholder fraud lawsuit five minutes after the stock market closed following reports of his affair with an alleged Chinese spy.

The $4.3tn company saw its shares tumble 4.3% on Monday, wiping approximately $190bn from its market value, according to The Guardian. The issue is political: The midterms win by Democrats across the board prompts questions regarding whether regulation will become more complex under a divided government. The company is down around -3.5% on platforms that provide weekend prices, he added.

The legal action claims Nvidia and its chief executive failed to disclose that the relationship raised national security concerns, threatening the chipmaker’s business prospects. The New York Times reported last month that US authorities concluded Alice Huang operated as a Chinese intelligence asset.

Shareholder Lawsuit Files

Retail investor Mark Kistenmacher leads the shareholder group seeking unspecified damages from the defendants. The lawsuit accuses leadership of concealing risks tied to the espionage scandal, per The Guardian.

Nvidia shares fell more than 4% on Monday, knocking about $250bn off the company’s value, according to the BBC. CNBC reported that the stock edged 1.8% higher in premarket trading Tuesday as investors weighed the fallout.

Trump Confirms FBI Probe

President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the FBI is investigating the affair between the Nvidia boss and the alleged Chinese spy. Trump told reporters at a White House briefing that he spoke to Huang to check on him, noting, “I know the FBI is looking into it in terms of something else, and I think that he’ll be in good shape.”

Beijing rejected the allegations, calling them entirely groundless and intended to smear China, according to the BBC. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent a Washington memo in the spring warning that the Nvidia chief was in a close relationship with a Chinese operative, the BBC reported.

Internal Investigation Launched

Nvidia announced an independent investigation on Sunday into reports that Huang was targeted by foreign intelligence. Huang told employees in an open letter that he was unfaithful to his wife and committed to protecting the company and American national security.

A composite image with Donald Trump in a red tie on the left and Jensen Huang in a leather jacker on the right
Photo: BBC

The company stated it had no reason to believe secrets or national security were compromised. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Guardian, and the FBI declined to comment to the BBC. He said he had absolutely no idea that the person in question was a spy, Huang stated.

In an open letter posted on Nvidia’s website, Huang wrote: I support the investigation and will cooperate fully. I am committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security, and added in a press release on Sunday, You deserve better from me. Meanwhile, Huang’s former company, Megaspeed, is being investigated for allegedly smuggling Nvidia chips called GPUs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who filed the lawsuit against Nvidia and Jensen Huang?
Retail investor Mark Kistenmacher leads the group of shareholders filing the legal action over undisclosed national security risks.

How much market value did Nvidia lose?
The company’s shares fell 4.3% on Monday, reducing its market value by approximately $190bn according to The Guardian, while the BBC reported a loss of about $250bn.

Is Alice Huang related to Jensen Huang?
No, US intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, operated as a Beijing spy, and she shares no relation to the Nvidia chief.