Nvidia's shares slide as chip giant probes CEO over spy claims

Nvidia's shares experienced a decline on Monday following an internal investigation into whether CEO Jensen Huang had been the target of a foreign intelligence effort, casting doubt on his future at the AI chipmaker. The probe came after a media report suggesting Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman allegedly passing information to Beijing.

During a meeting with Nvidia's employees, Huang revealed he had been unfaithful to his wife, though he did not provide details about the nature of the relationship. The investigation, announced on Sunday, has brought attention to the future of 63-year-old Huang, given Nvidia's status as the world's most valuable chipmaker and his pivotal role as the most influential salesman of the AI boom.

Known for his leather-jacketed appearance and rock-star status worldwide, particularly in Asia, Huang frequently interacts with fans, taking selfies and signing autographs. As the fifth-largest shareholder with a roughly 3.6 percent stake, Huang maintains a firm grip on the company through an unusual flat organizational structure, with dozens of executives reporting directly to him.