Following Nvidia boss Jensen Huang's admission of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, some $US500 billion ($738 billion) has been wiped from the value of his artificial-intelligence firm, and speculation is growing that his wife, Lori, may file for divorce, in which case she could be in line for a $75 billion payout that could make her one of the world's richest women.
The Economist magazine said the episode could go down as 'the most expensive shag in history'. Claims have also emerged that Huang had a second affair with a married employee.
MacKenzie Scott received an Amazon stake valued at $56 billion when she and Jeff Bezos divorced in 2019; it remains one of the largest divorce settlements in history.
Huang is not alone. A glance at history shows business leaders, politicians, sportsmen and kings have all learnt the hard way. In 2009, golfer Tiger Woods faced reports of an affair and claims from numerous other women; his subsequent divorce settlement was said to be worth hundreds of millions, while the scandal cost him vast amounts in cancelled sponsorship deals. Colorado senator Gary Hart withdrew from the presidential race after pictures showed him on a yacht with Donna Rice.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Investors in Nvidia have already lost half a trillion dollars in market value as the scandal erodes confidence in the company's leadership.
- A $75 billion divorce settlement would be one of the largest in history, reshaping personal fortunes and potentially affecting Nvidia's ownership structure.
- The involvement of a suspected Chinese spy raises national-security questions that could bring regulatory scrutiny.
Background
Jensen Huang is the co-founder and chief executive of Nvidia, the world's most valuable chip company and a dominant supplier of processors for artificial intelligence. He and his wife, Lori, have been married for decades. The affair was revealed in recent weeks, with reports linking Huang to a woman suspected of being a Chinese intelligence asset.
Key Perspectives
What to Watch
- Whether Lori Huang files for divorce in the coming months.
- Any further disclosure from investigators about the alleged Chinese spy connection.
- Nvidia's stock performance and any leadership changes if the scandal deepens.
Checked
10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedHuang’s wife may file for divorce after his admission of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy.WA Today - Latest News: “Following Nvidia boss Jensen Huang’s admission of an affair with a suspected Chinese spy, some $US500 billion ($738 billion) has been wiped from the value of his AI firm. Speculation is also growing that his wife, Lori, may file for divorce”
- SupportedHuang’s wife could receive a $75 billion payout if she files for divorce.WA Today - Latest News: “If she does so, she could be in line for a $75 billion payout – making her one of the world’s richest women”
- SupportedSome US$500 billion (A$738 billion) has been wiped from the value of Huang’s AI firm.WA Today - Latest News: “some $US500 billion ($738 billion) has been wiped from the value of his AI firm.”
- SupportedClaims have emerged that Huang had a second affair with a married employee.WA Today - Latest News: “Speculation is also growing that his wife, Lori, may file for divorce following claims he had a second affair with a married employee.”
- SupportedThe Economist said the episode could go down as “the most expensive shag in history”.WA Today - Latest News: “In the words of the normally sombre Economist magazine, it could go down as “the most expensive shag in history”.”
- SupportedMacKenzie Scott received Amazon stock valued at $56 billion when she and Jeff Bezos divorced in 2019.WA Today - Latest News: “Bezos and his wife, MacKenzie Scott, divorced six months later, with her receiving 4 per cent of Amazon stock, valued then at $56 billion.”
- SupportedScott’s settlement remains one of the largest divorce settlements in history.WA Today - Latest News: “It remains one of the largest divorce settlements in history.”
- SupportedTiger Woods’s subsequent divorce settlement was said to be worth hundreds of millions.WA Today - Latest News: “Numerous other women came forward claiming infidelity with the golfer, whose subsequent divorce settlement was said to be worth hundreds of millions.”
- SupportedThe Woods scandal cost him vast amounts in cancelled sponsorship deals.WA Today - Latest News: “The scandal also cost him vast amounts in cancelled sponsorship deals and affected his game.”
- SupportedColorado senator Gary Hart withdrew from the presidential race after pictures showed him on a yacht with Donna Rice.WA Today - Latest News: “in May that year the National Enquirer published pictures of Hart on a yacht with Donna Rice, a woman 20 years his junior, sitting on his lap. ... He then withdrew from the presidential race”
