5 tech and startup leaders whose personal scandals shook their careers

Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, recently found himself embroiled in controversy due to an extramarital affair. This revelation came alongside allegations of foreign intelligence activity, leading to an independent board investigation and a shareholder lawsuit. Despite these issues, Huang continues to lead Nvidia, with the allegations still unproven. His situation is one of several tech leaders whose personal scandals have impacted their careers.

Phaneesh Murthy, an Indian IT executive, was dismissed from iGate in 2013 following an investigation into his relationship with a subordinate employee. Murthy, who had previously helped build Infosys' international business, denied the allegations and was later appointed as a strategic advisor at Covasant.

Arunabh Kumar, the founder of digital entertainment company The Viral Fever (TVF), stepped down as CEO in 2017 due to sexual harassment allegations. Despite stepping down, Kumar remained associated with TVF and was later acquitted in a sexual harassment case in 2022.

Brian Krzanich, former CEO of Intel, resigned in 2018 after it was discovered he had been involved in a consensual relationship with an employee. The company did not find any evidence of sexual harassment, but Krzanich returned to a top executive role at Cerence in 2024.

Lastly, Andy Rubin, the creator of Android, left Google in 2014 following a sexual misconduct investigation. Google found the employee's allegations credible, and Rubin received a $90 million exit package. Despite the controversy, Rubin went on to found technology investment firm Playground Global and smartphone company Essential Products.