Nvidia CEO Surpasses Luxury Tycoon in Wealth Race

AI Chip Resumption Fuels Stock Surge

Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, has ascended to become the world’s sixth-richest individual, overtaking Bernard Arnault of LVMH. This elevation comes as Nvidia’s shares hit an unprecedented high, propelled by the company’s announcement that sales of its crucial H20 AI chips to China will soon resume after a period of restrictions.

China Chip Sales Set to Reopen

The U.S. government has reportedly assured Nvidia that it will grant the necessary licenses for the company to resume selling its H20 AI chips in China. Deliveries are anticipated to commence shortly. This development follows months of restrictions that had been projected to reduce Nvidia’s sales by an estimated $5.5 billion.

Earlier this month, Jensen Huang met with President Donald Trump and Chinese leadership in Beijing. During these discussions, the U.S. government conveyed its intent to permit Nvidia to continue its chip sales in China.

Nvidia’s Market Dominance Grows

Nvidia’s stock saw a significant increase of over 4%, reaching approximately $171 per share on Tuesday. The company’s market capitalization swelled by an astounding $145 billion in morning trading alone. With a current valuation nearing $4.15 trillion, Nvidia has now surpassed tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon to become the world’s most valuable corporation.

“An analyst for Loop Capital said last month that Nvidia was at the “front-end” of the next “Golden Wave” for generative AI and more companies adopt the technology.”

—Ananda Baruah, Analyst at Loop Capital

Analysts have maintained a positive outlook on Nvidia’s position within the burgeoning AI market, with shares already up 24% this year despite previous export controls. Loop Capital analyst Ananda Baruah, who raised his price target for Nvidia’s stock to $250 from $175, believes the company’s valuation could potentially reach $6 trillion.

Huang’s Wealth Surges

Holding approximately a 3% stake in Nvidia, Jensen Huang‘s net worth is now estimated by Forbes at $148.1 billion. This surge has placed him just ahead of Bernard Arnault, whose wealth stands at $147.9 billion, and behind Google co-founder Larry Page at $150.6 billion. The value of Huang‘s Nvidia holdings alone increased by over $5.3 billion with the recent stock gains.

The ability to serve the Chinese market, previously estimated to be worth $50 billion for AI chips, is a critical factor. The U.S. administration’s decision to allow these sales is seen as a significant policy shift, potentially easing trade tensions in the high-tech sector. As of July 2025, the global AI market is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030, with companies like Nvidia at the forefront of this expansion (Statista, 2025).