Jensen Huang to forfeit $108 million in Nvidia equity after resignation

Nvidia co-founder and former chief executive Jensen Huang will forfeit roughly US$108 million (S$138.9 million) in unvested equity compensation after his departure from the firm. The forfeited restricted stock units represent about 0.08 % of his net worth, which Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates at US$138.4 billion.

Under Nvidia’s equity compensation policy, unvested RSUs are automatically forfeited when an executive ends continuous service. Huang holds approximately 346,000 RSUs and would have received around 310,000 shares under the company’s incentive plan if performance targets were met.

Unlike many technology CEOs, Huang’s wealth is derived almost entirely from his ownership of Nvidia common shares, which account for roughly 97 % of his fortune. He controls about a 3.5 % voting stake in the Santa Clara-based company and does not possess any special voting rights, as Nvidia has a single class of shares.

The 63-year-old co-founder stepped down after reports of two extramarital affairs. In the two years prior to his resignation, he received about US$7.5 million in cash compensation each year, a modest amount compared with his overall wealth, but his exit still triggered an immediate financial impact.