- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang hired a PR firm known for handling sex scandals last year.
- Huang admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman suspected by US intelligence of being a Chinese spy.
- Nvidia's stock has fallen as tech leaders and Trump weigh in on the affair.
- Analysts note Nvidia's unprecedented $4.5 trillion market value, making it about 7% of the S&P 500.
- The firm, Heller, has handled Huang’s behind-the-scenes communications since at least October 2025, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
- Risa Heller, the firm’s founder, has built a reputation as a fixer for powerful men facing allegations of sexual misconduct and other personal controversies.
- Heller’s public relations consultants were initially believed to be hired for matters related to Huang’s personal life, including his family’s philanthropic endeavors.
- The firm frequently communicated with Huang and his daughter Madison, a product marketing director at Nvidia.
- By the end of that month, Nvidia’s internal communications teams had been instructed to include Heller’s firm on any press inquiries about Huang.
- Wall Street analysts note that stocks fell about 4% on average when a CEO was caught in a scandal; at Nvidia's size, that's roughly $185 billion.
- The largest previous scandal-hit company, Intel, was worth $249 billion when its CEO resigned in 2018.
- No earlier scandal-hit company made up more than about 1% of the S&P 500, while Nvidia is about seven times that.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang faces intense scrutiny after admitting to an extramarital affair with a woman suspected of being a Chinese spy. The company's board has launched an investigation, stating it has "no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised."
Huang's relationship with Risa Heller, a crisis communications expert known for managing scandals, has raised eyebrows. Heller's firm was engaged by Huang a year prior to his admission, initially for personal matters.
In an email to employees, Huang expressed remorse, stating, “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.”
Following the news, Nvidia's stock fell 5% in early trading, reflecting investor concerns. Historically, CEO scandals have led to significant stock declines; a study found stocks fell about 4% on average when a CEO was implicated. For Nvidia, this could mean a loss of approximately $185 billion.
Former President Trump defended Huang, calling him “an honorable guy,” while the market reacted negatively, with Nvidia's stock down 21% over the past month amid broader AI stock declines.
The board's inquiry will be overseen by independent directors and outside counsel, as they seek to address the fallout from Huang's actions and restore confidence among stakeholders.
“Heller's founder Risa Heller has a reputation as a fixer for powerful men, with past clients including Anthony Weiner and Mario Batali. Nvidia's $4.5 trillion market value makes up nearly 7% of the S&P 500, and a study shows CEO scandals typically hit stocks by about 4%, or roughly $185 billion at Nvidia's size.”
Yahoo Finance
