Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Hosts Lavish Dinner for 35 Semiconductor Industry Leaders

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang recently invited the chairpersons and CEOs of key partners in Nvidia's AI chip supply chain to a grand meal, dubbed the "trillion dollar banquet." Held on Saturday, the event welcomed at least 35 top executives from prominent Taiwanese firms, including Quanta, Asus, Acer, Inventec, Gigabyte, ASRock, and MSI.

The dinner is seen as a celebration of Nvidia's success, with Huang thanking his supply chain partners for their pivotal role in the company's growth. Huang was joined by TSMC chairman CC Wei, and the two industry titans took a moment to express mutual admiration in a brief public interview.

The gathering echoes a similar event before Computex 2024, where Huang dined with the heads of TSMC, MediaTek, and Quanta. However, the purpose of this recent banquet was clear: to personally thank the key players in Nvidia's supply chain for their contributions.

Outside the restaurant, Taiwanese media interviewed Huang and Wei. “It's a pleasure and honor to supply chips to you and be a partner for over 20 years,” Wei told Huang. “On behalf of everyone in the restaurant, we thank you for bringing business to Taiwan.”

When discussing Nvidia's long-standing partnership with TSMC, Huang quipped, “My hair was 100% black, now it's 100% silver. Without TSMC, Nvidia would not be possible.” He also reflected on Taiwan's role in the global tech revolution, stating, “Because of the PC revolution, there was Computex, and then the world started coming to Taiwan.” Wei playfully added, “Jensen Huang brought it to Taiwan, remember that!” Huang laughed and responded, “That is not true!”

Beyond business, Huang and Wei's camaraderie is notable, as the two have formed a rare, public friendship over the years.

Huang's Down-to-Earth Persona Endears Him to the Taiwanese Public

While Jensen Huang is one of the wealthiest individuals globally, he stands out for his down-to-earth approach, which has earned him widespread affection in Taiwan. In late 2023, Huang was spotted enjoying street food in Vietnam and attending a LAN party in Hanoi, maintaining a relatable presence wherever he goes.

During this visit to Taiwan, Huang continued his approachable persona. After his dinner with industry leaders, he stepped outside to interact with fans, handing out sausages, sesame buns, autographs, and posing for pictures with lucky fans. Huang also gave NT$1,000 (around US$30) red envelopes, a traditional Chinese New Year gesture, to children. These thoughtful acts, embodying love and good luck, have fueled his growing popularity among the Taiwanese, contributing to the rise of "Jensanity," a term reflecting the admiration for Huang, especially since he was born in Tainan, Taiwan, though he holds American citizenship.