Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Jensen Huang

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Jensen Huang made an impact.

Jensen Huang is a Taiwanese-American business executive, electrical engineer, and philanthropist. He is the founder, president, and CEO of Nvidia, currently the world's largest company by market capitalization. With an estimated net worth of $179 billion in 2025, Huang ranks as the eighth-wealthiest person globally.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1978: Huang Begins Working at Denny's

In 1978, at the age of 15, Jensen Huang started his first job, working the graveyard shift at a local Denny's restaurant.

1983: Huang Ends Working at Denny's

In 1983, Jensen Huang ended his job, working the graveyard shift at a local Denny's restaurant.

1989: Huang Finalizes the GX Graphics Engine

In 1989, Jensen Huang, along with Malachowsky and Priem, finalized the GX graphics engine.

1990: Huang Resigns from Sun Microsystems

In 1990, Jensen Huang resigned from his job at Sun Microsystems, along with Priem and Malachowsky, to start a venture in making graphics chips for PC games.

1992: Huang and Partners Meet at Denny's to Formulate Business Plan

In 1992, Jensen Huang, along with Priem and Malachowsky, met frequently at a Denny's roadside diner in East San Jose to formulate a business plan for their new company, Nvidia.

April 5, 1993: Huang Signs Nvidia's Incorporation Articles

On April 5, 1993, Jensen Huang personally signed Nvidia's original articles of incorporation into effect.

1993: Huang Co-founds Nvidia

In 1993, Jensen Huang and his co-founders started Nvidia without fully understanding the challenges ahead.

1993: Nvidia Launched

In 1993, after earning his master's degree from Stanford University, Jensen Huang launched Nvidia from a Denny's restaurant at age 30.

August 1997: Release of RIVA 128

In August 1997, Nvidia released the RIVA 128, which saved the company from near bankruptcy.

1999: Nvidia Goes Public

In 1999, Nvidia's stock went public; Huang owns 3.6% of the stock.

2007: Establishment of the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation

In 2007, Jensen Huang and his wife, Lori Huang, established the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation with an initial donation of Nvidia stock valued at $300 million.

2007: Huang Earns US$24.6 Million as CEO

In 2007, Jensen Huang earned US$24.6 million as CEO, ranking him as the 61st highest paid U.S. CEO by Forbes.

2008: Nvidia Funds Classroom Construction in Beijing

In 2008, under Jensen Huang's leadership, Nvidia funded the construction of a classroom at the Beijing Haidian Foreign Language Shi Yan School to assist students affected by the Wenchuan earthquake.

2019: $2 Million Donation to Oneida Baptist Institute

In 2019, Jensen Huang donated $2 million to the Oneida Baptist Institute in Kentucky, where he studied as a young immigrant, to fund the construction of Jen-Hsun Huang Hall.

2022: $50 Million Donation to Oregon State University

In 2022, the Huangs donated $50 million to Oregon State University to establish the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Collaborative Innovation Complex, a research center dedicated to artificial intelligence, materials science, and robotics.

November 2024: Huang's Management Structure

As of November 2024, Jensen Huang maintains a relatively flat management structure at Nvidia, with around 60 direct reports.

December 2024: Nvidia Shares Valued at $2 Billion for Philanthropy

In December 2024, The New York Times reported that Nvidia shares donated by Jensen and Lori Huang to their foundation and other charitable vehicles were valued at approximately $2 billion, allowing significant tax benefits while committing these assets to philanthropic purposes.

2024: Huang's Tenure as Nvidia CEO

As of 2024, Jensen Huang has been Nvidia's chief executive for over three decades.

2024: Foundation Disburses $123 Million

In 2024, the Huang Foundation disbursed $123 million in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations for private foundations.

January 2025: Huang Delivers Keynote at Consumer Electronics Show

In January 2025, Jensen Huang delivered the keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, announcing a new gaming chip and chips for PCs and laptops.

May 2025: Huang Visits Taiwan for Computex and World Masters Games

In May 2025, Jensen Huang traveled to Taiwan to deliver the keynote address at Computex 2025 and attend the opening ceremony of the World Masters Games, experiencing a recurrence of "Jensanity."

June 2025: Additional Nvidia Stock Contribution to the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation

In June 2025, the Huangs contributed an additional $60 million in Nvidia stock to the Jen-Hsun & Lori Huang Foundation.

2025: Matching Donation to California College of the Arts

In early 2025, the Huang Foundation matched a $22.5 million fundraising effort by the California College of the Arts, to complete a $45 million campaign, addressing financial deficits and enrollment challenges.