NVIDIA is preparing to launch its GeForce RTX 5070 Ti on February 20, 2025, followed by the RTX 5070 on March 5, 2025. These upcoming releases continue the company’s expansion beyond gaming, as it pushes further into AI computing, medicine, and generative AI for PCs.
At the center of this growth is Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s co-founder and CEO, who celebrates his 62nd birthday today. His journey from washing dishes at Denny’s to leading the AI revolution has made him one of the most influential figures in technology. Here are 10 key facts about his life and impact:
Born in Taiwan, raised in the US
Huang was born in Taiwan and spent part of his childhood in Thailand before moving to the United States at age 10. His parents sent him and his brother to a boarding school in Oneida, Kentucky, believing it was a top-tier prep school. Instead, it was a reform school, where he had to clean toilets and do janitorial work.
Worked as a Dishwasher at Denny’s before studying engineering
After relocating to Oregon, Huang attended Aloha High School and later pursued a degree in Electrical Engineering at Oregon State University. During college, he worked as a dishwasher at Denny’s to support himself.
He continued his studies at Stanford University, earning a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
Founded NVIDIA in a Denny’s restaurant with just $600
In 1993, at age 30, Huang co-founded NVIDIA along with Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem. They developed their business plan while meeting at a Denny’s in East San Jose, California.
The company started with $600 and was named after the Latin word “invidia”, meaning “envy”.
NVIDIA nearly went bankrupt multiple times
NVIDIA struggled in its early years, facing intense competition and failed products. The company almost went bankrupt multiple times before finding success.
A major breakthrough came in 1999, when NVIDIA introduced the Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), revolutionizing computer graphics, gaming, and AI computing.
NVIDIA’s market value crossed $3 trillion in 2024
Under Huang’s leadership, NVIDIA expanded into AI, cloud computing, and enterprise solutions over the years.
In June 2024, NVIDIA’s market capitalisation briefly surpassed $3.34 trillion, making it the world’s most valuable company, ahead of Microsoft and Apple.
Huang’s net worth reached $124.1 billion
By October 2024, Huang’s net worth climbed to $124.1 billion, making him one of the top 10 richest people in the world.
His wealth primarily comes from his 3.5% stake in NVIDIA, valued at over $122 billion. Despite selling $713 million in NVIDIA shares, he remains the company’s largest individual shareholder.
AI chips that power the world’s biggest tech companies
NVIDIA holds an 80% market share in AI chips, supplying companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Tesla.
NVIDIA’s GPUs are critical for training large AI models, including ChatGPT and other advanced AI applications. Huang once described demand for NVIDIA chips as “insane,” with customers becoming “really emotional” over supply shortages.
Doesn’t wear a watch, prefers to focus on the present
Huang is known for his unique leadership style. He once shared a story about learning patience and precision from a Japanese gardener in Kyoto.
He doesn’t wear a watch, saying it helps him focus on the present moment and his work.
Related to AMD CEO Lisa Su
Huang is cousins with Lisa Su, the CEO of AMD, one of NVIDIA’s biggest competitors in the semiconductor industry.
Both have played significant roles in shaping the modern AI and computing landscape.
Recognised as One of the World’s Most Influential People
Huang has received multiple engineering and leadership awards, including the IEEE Founders Medal (2020) and the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (2025).
Time magazine named him one of the world’s most influential people in 2021 and 2024.
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