Jensen Huang admits extramarital affair; talk of record divorce settlement if wife Lori files

Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, the world's largest chip-making company, is embroiled in a major controversy. He has admitted to an extramarital relationship with Alice Huang, a Singapore-based executive. Suspicion that Alice Huang is a Chinese spy has also been voiced, complicating the matter further. There is now talk that if his wife, Lori Huang, chooses divorce, alimony records could be broken.

Lori Huang has so far made no statement on the matter. She has not filed for divorce or taken any legal action. Even so, it is being said that if she went to court she could receive $75 billion or more. If that happened, it could become the costliest divorce settlement in the world so far.

Two earlier cases are being cited for comparison. When Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and Melinda divorced in 2021, the division of assets was about $76 billion. The 2019 divorce of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and MacKenzie Scott was valued at $38.3 billion.

As of November 9, 2026, Huang's net worth is estimated at about $155.2 billion. How much of it Lori Huang would receive depends entirely on California marriage and family law. The two married in the 1980s, while Huang founded Nvidia in 1993, so the company's entire growth came after the marriage. Under Section 760 of the California Family Code, property earned during a marriage is treated as community property, in which husband and wife each have an equal 50 per cent right.

California is a no-fault state. This means Lori Huang would legally receive no additional penalty or bonus because of Huang's extramarital relationship. The division would rest only on what was earned during the marriage. If there is no prenuptial agreement between the two, which experts consider more likely, Lori Huang could legally claim half of the total assets.

Consider the shares. Huang is reported to hold about 670 million Nvidia shares, directly or through his living trust. If half were to go to her, Lori Huang would have about 335 million shares. At Nvidia's current price of about $179 a share, this 50 per cent stake is worth about $60 billion.

In addition, about 140 million shares are held in two other irrevocable trusts. According to a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May 2026, Huang holds a total of 870.6 million shares, equal to 3.58 per cent of the company. The legal division of these shares could be complicated, but even the initial figure of $60 billion is historic.

Lori Huang's possible settlement hinges on how Nvidia performs in the stock market. After the recent decline, the company's market capitalisation has fallen about 27 per cent from its all-time high of October 2026, a loss of about $1.6 trillion in market value. Huang's personal wealth is also under pressure, as a large part of it is invested in Nvidia shares. If the stock rose 20 per cent, the value of Lori Huang's 335 million shares would rise from $60 billion to $72 billion. If it fell 20 per cent, the amount would drop to $48 billion.

Market analysts say a possible divorce would have no direct effect on Nvidia's day-to-day operations, leadership or competitive strength. The transfer of shares between spouses is a private legal process. Unless a court orders shares to be sold on the market, there is no adverse effect on the company's management. In such large and high-profile cases, the transfer of shares is usually completed off the market by mutual consent.