Nvidia’s board opened an independent investigation on November 8, 2026 into reports that chief executive Jensen Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort. The same day, Huang told staff in an email that he had been unfaithful to his wife. “There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry,” he wrote, in the copy CNBC published at 21:50 UTC.
The two statements answer different things. The email is a personal admission and an apology. The board statement is about national security, and it says the board has “no reason to believe that either national security or NVIDIA secrets were compromised.” Below: what each document says, what is still only reported, and how it connects to the New York Times report we covered on October 29.
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Jensen Huang told Nvidia staff in an email on November 8, 2026 that he was unfaithful to his wife and apologized; CNBC published the full text.
The same day, Nvidia’s board opened an independent investigation into reports that Huang was the target of a foreign intelligence effort.
A committee of independent directors, with outside independent counsel, will run it; neither the directors nor the firm are named.
The board says it has no reason to believe national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, and that it has confidence in Huang.
No findings, timeline or charges have been reported; the underlying intelligence assessment remains classified.
§ 01What the board announced
Nvidia posted the statement in its newsroom, dated November 8. It sets up the review this way: “A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel, will oversee the investigation.”
| Point | The board’s words |
|---|---|
| Why now | “in light of recent reporting that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort” |
| Who runs it | “A committee of independent directors, assisted by outside independent counsel” |
| Priority | “U.S. national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of NVIDIA and its shareholders” |
| What it believes so far | No reason to believe national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised |
| Scope | “the Board’s inquiry will examine all available information” |
| Huang’s role | “Jensen fully supports the review and has committed to cooperating with it” |
| Confidence | “The Board has confidence in Jensen and his leadership team” |
The statement does not confirm the intelligence allegation, does not name anyone else, and gives no timeline. It promises “further updates as appropriate.”
§ 02What Huang told staff
CNBC obtained and published the full email, addressed “To my colleagues at NVIDIA.” It has two parts.
The first is personal. “I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children,” he wrote, and “I take full responsibility for what I did and the hurt I caused, and I accept the criticism that comes with it.”
The second turns to the company and the investigation: “Regarding the national security concerns raised in news reports, NVIDIA’s Board of Directors has initiated an independent investigation. I support the investigation and will cooperate fully.” He closes: “My family bears no responsibility for my choices. I do. Please give them privacy.”
Nvidia also gave CNBC a one-line company statement: “Today’s news will not slow NVIDIA. Jensen is committed to continuing to lead NVIDIA as CEO without interruption.”
§ 03How it connects to the October 29 report
The investigation follows reporting that began with the New York Times on October 29. The Times said US officials had concluded that Alice Huang, a Megaspeed executive with a close relationship to Jensen Huang, was a Chinese intelligence asset. At the time the report accused Jensen Huang of no crime, Nvidia called his meetings with her ordinary customer contact, and China’s embassy called the finding a smear. Our record of that report has the detail.
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| October 29, 2026 | Times reports US officials see a Megaspeed executive close to Huang as a Chinese asset | New York Times |
| October 29, 2026 | Nvidia calls the meetings ordinary customer contact | Nvidia, per the Times |
| November 8, 2026 | Board opens an independent investigation with outside counsel | Nvidia newsroom |
| November 8, 2026 | Huang tells staff he was unfaithful to his wife and will cooperate | Staff email, published by CNBC |
Huang’s email does not name the woman, and the board statement does not either. Neither document says the affair and the intelligence report concern the same person; news coverage connects them.
Asked by reporters on Sunday, President Trump said he had not spoken to Huang about it and called him a fine person, in video of the exchange widely shared on X.
§ 04What is not known
- The findings. The board has not said what its committee has found or when it will report.
- Who the counsel is. The statement names neither the directors on the committee nor the law firm.
- The intelligence itself. The underlying assessment remains classified and has been described only by people briefed on it.
- Any charge. No charge against anyone has been reported.
- Market effect. The news broke on a Sunday; regular trading reaction comes Monday.
§ 05Where CellCog sits
Much of the AI industry runs on Nvidia chips, which is why its leadership and its export questions matter to anyone building with AI. We keep this record next to our earlier page on the Times report and update it as Nvidia or the board publishes more.
§ 06What we are watching
- The committee’s update. Any finding, timeline or named counsel from Nvidia’s board.
- A filing. Whether Nvidia files anything with the SEC about the investigation.
- Officials. Any on-record comment from the agencies behind the assessment.
§ 07Sources
- Nvidia newsroom: Statement From NVIDIA Board of Directors, November 8, 2026.
- CNBC: Huang’s staff email and the board statement, November 8, 2026, 21:50 UTC.
- New York Times: the October 29 report.
- Our record: Nvidia CEO spy plot report.
Q1Where was the board statement published?
In Nvidia’s own newsroom, dated November 8, 2026, under the title Statement From NVIDIA Board of Directors.
Q2Does the board say secrets were leaked?
No. It says it has no reason to believe national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, and that the inquiry will examine all available information.
Q3Does Huang's email name anyone?
No. It names no other person. News coverage connects the email to the October 29 New York Times report; neither Nvidia document does.
Q4Has anyone been charged?
No charge against anyone has been reported, and the intelligence assessment behind the reporting remains classified.
Q5When will the board report?
It has given no timeline. The statement says it will provide further updates as appropriate.