In a statement dated Nov. 8 on Nvidia’s newsroom, the company’s board said it is opening an independent investigation following recent reporting that founder and Chief Executive Jensen Huang has been “the target of a foreign intelligence effort.” The statement said a committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the inquiry, and that it has “no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised.” In a separate email to employees published on Nvidia’s newsroom the same day, Huang said he had been unfaithful to his wife, apologized and said he would “cooperate fully” with the investigation. Nvidia told CNBC that Huang is committed to continuing to lead the company as CEO.

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang, wearing a black leather jacket, during a classroom talk at Stanford University (file photo)
Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang during a fireside chat in Stanford University’s CS 153 course on April 30, 2026 (file photo). Photo: Anders Eidesvik / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The board cited “recent reporting” but did not name any news outlet or anyone other than Huang. SharpPost reviewed the earlier reporting on Oct. 31. The statement made no reference to Huang’s personal life.

U.S. national and economic security is “paramount to the interests of NVIDIA and its shareholders,” the board said, adding that its inquiry “will examine all available information.” It said it has confidence in Huang and his leadership team.

CNBC reported that the investigation concerns Huang’s relationship with a businesswoman. Citing reports in The New York Times and the Financial Times, CNBC said U.S. intelligence agencies have expressed concern that she has been passing information to Beijing. The Times has published a series of reports on the matter over the past two weeks, according to NPR.

Huang began his email: “I owe my family and all of you an apology.” He went on: “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”

He said he takes “full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused” and accepts “the criticism that comes with it.” The email did not name anyone.

Addressing colleagues, the board, partners and shareholders, Huang wrote: “you deserve better from me.” Later in the email he wrote: “I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to NVIDIA and will work to earn back your confidence.”

On “the national security concerns raised in news reports,” he wrote that he supports the investigation and is “committed to protecting NVIDIA and supporting America’s national security.”

“My family bears no responsibility for my choices. I do. Please give them privacy,” he wrote.

In a statement to CNBC, Nvidia said: “Today’s news will not slow NVIDIA. Jensen is committed to continuing to lead NVIDIA as CEO without interruption.” Neither newsroom document mentions a change in management.

The board has not named the committee members or the outside counsel, or given a timetable, and said it “will provide further updates as appropriate.” As of 11:56 a.m. Singapore time (UTC+8) on Nov. 9, SharpPost found no Form 8-K filed by Nvidia with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about the matter.