TLDRs;
Contents
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sold $36.4 million in shares under a prearranged plan set in March.
- His net worth is now estimated at $143 billion, nearly rivaling Warren Buffett’s fortune.
- The sale aligns with a broader 2025 trend of CEOs cashing out amid strong market gains.
- Nvidia’s explosive AI-fueled growth recently pushed its market cap past $4 trillion for the first time.
Nvidia’s CEO Jensen Huang has sold approximately $36.4 million worth of Nvidia stock, according to recent regulatory filings, even as his net worth continues to climb at an extraordinary pace.
The move comes as Nvidia becomes the first publicly traded company to cross a $4 trillion market valuation, driven by explosive demand for its AI-optimized chips.
The stock sale involved 225,000 shares and was carried out under a prearranged trading plan adopted in March 2025. Huang, who had previously sold $15 million in June under the same plan, is allowed to offload up to six million shares by the end of next year. In total, Huang has already cashed out over $700 million earlier this year under separate arrangements.
Even after these sales, Huang’s holdings in Nvidia remain substantial. He still controls more than 858 million shares directly and indirectly. His current estimated net worth stands at roughly $143 billion, putting him within striking distance of legendary investor Warren Buffett on Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index.
Huang’s sale mirrors growing CEO sell-off trend
While Huang’s transaction may seem massive, it is part of a larger pattern among top executives this year. In February alone, CEOs from nearly 200 companies sold over $1 million in stock each, including eye-catching moves like Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks who sold $275 million, and JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon, who sold $233 million.
These sales point to a broader wealth accumulation trend. Since 1978, executive compensation has ballooned by over 900 percent, in stark contrast to the modest 12 percent wage growth experienced by the average worker.
The widening wealth gap between CEOs and the general workforce is increasingly shaped by equity-based pay, which has become the dominant form of compensation since the 1990s.
Stock sales tied to diversification and transparency
Huang’s stock sale also reflects a balance between aligning with shareholders and managing personal financial risk. Most Fortune 100 companies enforce executive stock ownership policies that encourage leaders to hold large amounts of company equity, often for five years or more, before selling is allowed. Nvidia’s policy appears consistent with this standard, given Huang’s ongoing substantial stake.
Prearranged stock sales, such as the one Huang used, are designed to increase transparency and avoid potential allegations of insider trading.
These plans allow executives to schedule sales in advance, providing both regulatory clarity and strategic financial planning tools.
Nvidia’s dominance fuels billionaire surge
The timing of Huang’s sale coincides with Nvidia’s historic ascent in the tech sector. Just days ago, the company became the first ever to reach a $4 trillion market valuation. This milestone was powered by strong financial performance, including $18.8 billion in quarterly profit and a 69 percent revenue jump to $44.1 billion.
Analysts expect the company to post another record-breaking quarter next month, driven largely by its leadership in AI chip design. The market for AI semiconductors is projected to generate over $150 billion this year alone, bolstering Nvidia’s position as the industry’s top performer.
That said, Huang’s rising fortune, combined with his recent stock sale, offers a glimpse into how executive compensation continues to evolve in 2025. His case is emblematic of the structural shift in corporate pay, where equity plays a more central role than ever, further entrenching wealth among top tech leaders.
