NEW YORK, November 10, 2026: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang lost an estimated $7.4 billion in personal wealth during the first 30 minutes of US stock market trading on Monday, November 9, as the chipmaker's shares declined following the announcement of an independent investigation involving its chief executive.
The sharp movement reduced Huang's estimated net worth to $154.7 billion and pushed him from eighth to 10th place on Forbes' real-time billionaire rankings.
The decline came amid concerns about Nvidia's leadership, corporate governance and reports of a possible foreign intelligence operation involving the company's CEO.
Jensen Huang's Net Worth Drops by $7.4 Billion
According to Forbes, Jensen Huang entered Monday's trading session with an estimated fortune of approximately $162.2 billion.
Within the first half-hour, his wealth had declined by an estimated $7.4 billion to $154.7 billion.
The movement placed him behind Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison in the global billionaire rankings.
Huang briefly dropped outside the world's 10 richest individuals when Nvidia shares opened more than 7% lower, temporarily reducing his estimated wealth by approximately $10.3 billion.
By November 10, Forbes' real-time rankings placed Huang in 10th position, with his fortune estimated at approximately $155.4 billion.
These estimates fluctuate with stock prices and do not represent money directly withdrawn from Huang's accounts.
Why Did Nvidia Stock Fall on November 9?
Nvidia shares came under selling pressure following the company's announcement of an investigation into reports concerning Jensen Huang's personal relationship with a business executive.
The stock declined as much as 7% during premarket trading.
By 1:30 pm Eastern Time on Monday, Nvidia shares were trading approximately 5.5% lower, according to Forbes.
The company's market capitalisation fell from approximately $4.5 trillion at Friday's close to around $4.24 trillion during Monday afternoon trading.
Nvidia eventually closed the session 4.3% lower, erasing approximately $190 billion in market value, Reuters reported.
The figures indicate a significant reaction to the leadership controversy, although daily stock movements can also reflect broader market conditions and investor positioning.
What Is Nvidia's Board Investigating?
On November 8, Nvidia announced that its board of directors had initiated an independent investigation following reports suggesting that Huang may have been targeted by a foreign intelligence effort.
The investigation followed reporting by The New York Times about Huang's alleged relationship with Alice Huang, a former executive associated with Singapore-based AI computing company Megaspeed International.
According to the newspaper, US intelligence authorities suspected Alice Huang of collecting information for Beijing.
Those allegations have not been established as proven facts.
Separately, Jensen Huang acknowledged that he had been unfaithful to his wife and apologised to his family and colleagues.
Nvidia said a committee of independent directors, supported by external legal counsel, would examine the available information.
Importantly, the company stated that it had no reason to believe national security or Nvidia's confidential information had been compromised.
The board also expressed confidence in Huang's leadership and said he would cooperate with the investigation.
Shareholder Lawsuit Adds to Nvidia's Challenges
The controversy has also reached US federal courts.
On November 9, a proposed shareholder class-action lawsuit was filed against Nvidia and Jensen Huang in San Jose, California.
According to Reuters, the complaint accused the company and its CEO of failing to disclose information about Huang's alleged relationship and potential national security concerns.
The lawsuit alleges that investors were misled about risks that could affect Nvidia's reputation and business interests.
These claims remain allegations. The filing of a lawsuit does not establish wrongdoing or liability.
The legal development adds another issue for investors to monitor as Nvidia navigates the board investigation.
Why Jensen Huang's Leadership Matters to Investors
Jensen Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has remained central to its development into a leading supplier of graphics processors and artificial intelligence infrastructure.
Nvidia's technology powers AI training, data centres and computing systems used by major technology companies worldwide.
The business has experienced substantial growth during the global expansion
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