Jensen Huang Faces New Allegations
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is reportedly under fresh scrutiny following a new report by The New York Times detailing an alleged extramarital relationship with Kimberly Powell, the company's Vice President of Healthcare. The report, published on November 11, 2026, cites five individuals who previously worked at Nvidia, asserting that Powell reported directly to Huang.
Both Huang, 63, and Powell, 48, are married to other individuals, adding to the complexity of the allegations. This development intensifies pressure on the AI chipmaker, bringing Huang's workplace conduct and Nvidia's corporate governance into sharp focus.
Hotel Incident and NDA Attempts
The New York Times report also describes an incident that allegedly occurred at a San Jose hotel in March 2026, during an Nvidia conference. Huang and Powell were reportedly filmed engaging in affectionate behavior. While the newspaper did not obtain the video, it spoke with individuals familiar with the event.
According to three people briefed on the episode, members of Huang's security team reportedly approached the person who recorded the interaction, attempting to have them sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). When contacted by The New York Times, Huang reportedly ended the call, stating, "I don't think you should be talking to me directly." Powell did not respond to requests for comment, and Nvidia has not yet issued a statement on this latest report.
Broader Context: Previous Admissions and Investigations
These new allegations follow Huang's November 8 message to Nvidia employees, where he admitted to being unfaithful to his wife and apologized to his family, colleagues, and shareholders. He acknowledged having "no excuse" for his actions and expressed a desire to rebuild trust.
This admission itself came amidst a separate controversy involving Alice Huang, a Chinese businesswoman linked to Singapore-based Megaspeed. US intelligence officials are reportedly investigating whether she was involved in efforts to acquire sensitive information and facilitate access to Nvidia chips for Chinese entities. Jensen Huang has denied any knowledge of alleged intelligence connections.
Board Scrutiny and Market Impact
Nvidia's board of directors has initiated an independent investigation into Huang's conduct, engaging outside legal counsel. The company has stated it has no reason to believe that its secrets or US national security information have been compromised.
Adding to the uncertainty, The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia's board was preparing to discuss Huang's future, potentially considering his removal as CEO. Reuters subsequently corroborated that the board was meeting to decide on the future of the company's co-founder, who has led Nvidia for over three decades.
Nvidia shares experienced a drop of more than 8% in after-hours trading on November 11 following these reports, sparking investor concerns about a potential leadership vacuum. Furthermore, US lawmakers have sought answers from Huang regarding the separate national security allegations, with the possibility of a congressional subpoena if he does not agree to a closed-door briefing.
With Nvidia scheduled to announce its quarterly earnings on November 17, the coming days are expected to be critical for the company as it navigates these significant questions surrounding its CEO, corporate governance, and investor confidence.