The question of who leads the company matters well beyond its headquarters. Nvidia, which Huang co-founded in 1993, is one of the most valuable companies in the world, with a market capitalisation of more than $4tn.
The board has said the company is investigating reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. It directed him to keep running Nvidia while that inquiry continues.
Huang has no obvious successor. He personally owns more than 870 million shares, about 3.6% of the company, a stake that Bloomberg says makes him the world’s 13th-richest person. His estimated net worth is $148bn.
Under Nvidia’s bylaws, Huang can be removed “with or without cause” by a majority vote of the directors. The board has 11 members and considers all but Huang independent.
Huang is seen as the ambitious and visionary leader of the chipmaker. Unlike many of his contemporaries at other large technology companies, he has dozens of direct reports, an unusual structure that concentrates control in his hands.
Dan Ives, a U.S. technology analyst, said the company “likely now has to move on without Jensen at the helm”.
Leading technology industry figures, including Elon Musk, have thrown their support behind Huang. Early on Thursday, Musk was asked on X whether he would hire Huang if he were out of a job.
Nvidia did not immediately return a request for comment.