Who Will Succeed Jensen Huang at Nvidia?

It is nearly impossible to imagine Nvidia firing its rock star CEO. Yet, the situation has evolved to the point where this scenario seems plausible. On Kalshi, Jensen Huang’s odds of surviving the week sit at a mere 30%. Despite building one of the world’s most valuable and, according to many, dangerously powerful companies, his reputation has suffered. He admitted to an extramarital affair, although as of Wednesday afternoon, it remains unclear who he was referencing: Alice Huang, the Chinese executive suspected by U.S. intelligence of spying, or Kimberly Powell, an Nvidia executive who reports to him and whom five sources told The New York Times was also a paramour.

Even if Huang is pushed out as CEO, the board members he enriched are unlikely to sever ties completely. Unless further revelations emerge, they could retain him as chairman, a role Nvidia does not currently possess. However, a leader is still required, and no apparent succession plan exists. This leaves the public and stakeholders in a similar position to the board, speculating while awaiting the next move. While Huang’s 60 direct reports are undoubtedly being scrutinized, consider this our own parlor game featuring a mix of obvious and less obvious candidates:

Lisa Su. The AMD CEO runs Nvidia’s most credible rival and is a distant cousin of Huang. The Information floated her name this week, but why would she leave her current role for his? Her company stands to benefit from any distraction Nvidia faces due to investigations, congressional briefings, and ensuing drama. Her best strategy might be to send a note of support and stay in her current corner office.

Eric Schmidt. The Yale School of Management’s Jeffrey Sonnenfeld suggested Schmidt could “parachute in tomorrow and do a very good job.” Schmidt has a proven track record, having run Google, chaired the National Security Commission on AI, and currently leads Relativity Space. His expertise spans chips, software, government, and rockets. However, his own history of extramarital dalliances presents a significant obstacle for him to overcome.

Lip-Bu Tan. Intel’s CEO understands chips and might view a move to Nvidia as an excellent escape hatch. Intel recently reported revenue growth but warned of disappointing fourth-quarter results. The AI boom has caused a memory-chip shortage, driving up PC prices and hurting sales. Intel has seen its stock plummet, making an opportunity at a company performing exceptionally well seem like a favorable move.

Bret Taylor. The former Salesforce co-CEO and current OpenAI board chair leads the startup Sierra. His resume is formidable, including co-creating Google Maps, serving as Facebook’s CTO, and chairing Twitter’s board during its sale to Elon Musk. When a company needs a stable leader, they often turn to Taylor. His extensive network likely includes many of Nvidia’s key clients.

Ian Buck. If the board prioritizes a “builder” at the helm, Buck is a viable option. As the Nvidia VP who developed CUDA, the software central to Nvidia’s AI dominance, he has been floated by analysts and former employees. Although he lacks household name status, he is seen as a strong candidate if Huang retains the chairman title and establishes a working relationship with a successor.

Someone else down the hall. Andrew Bell, Nvidia’s senior vice president of hardware engineering, has been with the company for 25 years and has steadily risen through the ranks. Like Buck, he reports directly to Huang. Nvidia CFO Colette Kress is often named as an insider candidate, though analysts suggest she may lack the innovative vision of Bell, who possesses the necessary chip pedigree.

The wild card? Lori Huang. While no one has officially floated her name, she is worth considering. Jensen met his wife as lab partners at Oregon State, meaning she has worked alongside him since before Nvidia existed. After working at Silicon Graphics, she stepped back to raise their family and now co-leads their trusts. If the board seeks continuity, a technically proficient and humble leadership style could be attractive.

Whatever happens next, the situation will likely resolve in the near future.