Jensen Huang's Journey from College to CEO of a $3.38 Trillion AI Chip Company

Nvidia Corporation NVDA CEO Jensen Huang recently opened up about the charming pick-up line he used in college that led to his marriage and played a significant role in his path to building a tech powerhouse valued at $3.38 trillion.

What Happened: During a talk at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Huang recounted the moment he met his wife, Lori Huang, when they were both students at Oregon State University (OSU). Huang was uniquely positioned as the youngest student in his class, and he cleverly used his youthful looks to his advantage.

To catch Lori's attention, he boldly approached her and asked, ‘Do you wanna see my homework?’ This clever line laid the foundation for what he called a guaranteed way for her to achieve straight A's. The catch was that this arrangement also turned into a weekly study date for them every Sunday.

As their relationship progressed, Huang, at the age of 20, made a bold statement to Lori that he would become a CEO by the age of 30. Reflecting on this moment years later, Huang admitted, “I had no idea what I was talking about,” but five years after that declaration, he and Lori got married, and Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993, fulfilling his promise by becoming the CEO at 30.

Why It Matters: Fast forward to 2024, and Nvidia has emerged as a leader in the AI chip market, boasting a market capitalization of approximately $3.38 trillion, making it the second most valuable company in the world, just behind Apple Inc.. Recently, Nvidia reported third-quarter revenues amounting to $35.1 billion, reflecting a remarkable 94% increase compared to the prior year and surpassing analysts' expectations of $33.12 billion.

For the fourth quarter, projections estimate revenues around $37.5 billion, with a slight margin of error. Huang himself has seen significant financial success, with a net worth reported at $120.7 billion; he owns about 3% of Nvidia, which became publicly traded in 1999.

Price Action: Recently, Nvidia’s stock price saw an increase of 2.15%, closing at $138.25. In after-hours trading, the stock experienced a minor dip of 0.09% to $138.12. Over the year, Nvidia's stock has soared by 187%, significantly outpacing the Nasdaq 100 index's increase of 26.51% during the same period.

Nvidia’s stock is currently projected to reach a consensus price target of $170.56 set by 40 analysts, with Rosenblatt projecting a high of $220 on November 21. Recent ratings from DA Davidson, Phillip Securities, and Truist Securities indicate an average target of $154.67, suggesting an upside potential of around 11.96%.

Nvidia, Huang, CEO