Speculation over a possible divorce between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and his wife, Lori Huang, has intensified following his admission of an extramarital affair, with his wife potentially entitled to half of his estimated US$155.2 billion fortune.
However, it remains unclear whether the couple will divorce or how much Lori Huang could receive if their marriage ends.
According to Forbes, Huang was valued at approximately US$155.2 billion as of 4pm EST on Monday, briefly slipping out of the world’s 10 richest people as Nvidia shares declined.
California divorce laws could put billions at stake
Huang admitted in a statement to Nvidia employees on Sunday that he had been unfaithful to his wife, following reports of an alleged affair with Alice Huang, a Chinese citizen whom US authorities reportedly believe could be an asset of the Chinese government.
Jensen and Lori Huang have been married since the mid-1980s after meeting as students at Oregon State University, long before he co-founded Nvidia.
It remains unknown whether they signed a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement specifying how their assets would be divided in the event of a divorce.
California is a community property state, meaning assets acquired during a marriage, including company shares and income, are generally divided equally in a divorce unless they are established as separate property.
Under these laws, Lori Huang could potentially receive half of her husband’s fortune, amounting to at least US$75 billion, depending on Nvidia’s share performance and the couple’s financial arrangements.
However, the final settlement would depend on any agreements they had signed and whether certain assets could be established as Jensen Huang’s separate property.
No indication of possible divorce
Forbes said it remained unclear whether a divorce would take place.
In his statement to employees, Jensen Huang apologised to his wife for the affair, acknowledging that his actions had hurt her and their children.
He said he took full responsibility for his actions and the pain he had caused, adding that he hoped the family could heal and that he could regain their trust over time.
Lori Huang has not publicly commented on her husband’s admission or indicated whether she intends to remain married to him.
The Wall Street Journal also reported that Huang had recently told colleagues his wife had handled many aspects of his personal and financial affairs, including signing documents and managing their finances.
He reportedly joked that he did not know his own address or pay any of his bills, potentially suggesting that many of their assets could be jointly held.
Potential settlement could exceed other billionaire divorces
Jensen Huang owns more than 3.5% of Nvidia, making him the company’s largest shareholder. His stake could become part of any potential divorce settlement, depending on how the assets are legally classified.
If Lori Huang received half of her husband’s fortune, the settlement could exceed those of other high-profile billionaire divorces.
Jeff Bezos’ former wife, MacKenzie Scott, received an Amazon stake worth approximately US$36 billion when the couple divorced.
The financial details of Bill Gates’ 2021 divorce from Melinda French Gates remain unclear. However, she received billions of dollars from her former husband, including at least US$12.5 billion for her personal philanthropic initiatives.
Under California law, community property generally covers assets and debts accumulated during a marriage. These can include shares, property, income, retirement accounts, business interests and personal belongings.
Assets acquired before marriage, after separation, or through inheritance and gifts may be treated as separate property. Prenuptial or postnuptial agreements can also specify which assets should be excluded from an equal division.
