Despite their skyrocketing fortunes from Nvidia’s soaring stock prices, many of the company’s employees find themselves caught in a relentless grind, with little time for leisure or relaxation.
Since the beginning of 2019, Nvidia’s stock has skyrocketed by 31 times, driven by its global dominance in AI chips. This surge has turned numerous Nvidia employees into millionaires. However, despite their newfound wealth, many are unable to enjoy vacations, engage in recreational activities, or even buy homes due to their demanding work schedules.
According to Bloomberg, both current and former employees of the chip giant reveal that founder and CEO Jensen Huang has cultivated an intense and exacting work culture. Huang, known for his relentless drive, starts his day at 6 AM with a workout, followed by 14-hour workdays. “I always want to work hard, and then work even harder,” the 61-year-old CEO shared in a March podcast on 20VC.
At Nvidia, Huang is actively involved in problem-solving alongside his staff, a practice mirrored by his senior executives. It’s not uncommon for one person to receive reports from dozens of other employees.
A former employee who worked in technical support for enterprise clients reported being required to work seven days a week, often until 1 or 2 AM. Many of his former colleagues, particularly in technical roles, endured even longer hours. He described the work environment as a “pressure cooker,” with some company meetings resembling heated arguments. Despite the intense pressure, the lucrative compensation made it difficult for him to leave, and he only decided to move on in May.
Another former employee from the marketing department, who left in 2022, recounted attending 7-10 meetings daily, each with over 30 participants. Frequent arguments were a regular feature of these meetings. Nevertheless, she remained for two years due to the attractive salary.
Nvidia is known for its policy of avoiding layoffs. When an employee’s performance falters, the company prefers to reassign them to a different team rather than provide additional training or initiate dismissal. Former employees confirm that Huang has repeatedly stated his reluctance to fire anyone.
On the flip side, Nvidia faces no difficulty in retaining its workforce. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in stock prices and enticing stock option packages, keeping employees committed. A company report shows that in 2023, 5.3% of employees left. However, after the company’s market capitalization hit $1 trillion last year, the turnover rate dropped to 2.7% this year. This is notably lower than the semiconductor industry average of 17.7%.
Unlike many tech companies, Nvidia employees cannot simply coast while awaiting their stock options. At the end of last year, Insider sources reported that some employees showed signs of reduced motivation as stock prices climbed. This shift in work attitude caused internal rifts at Nvidia, prompting Huang to hold a meeting to address the issue.
According to a former technical employee who departed the company in June, those who have been with Nvidia for nearly a decade are financially poised for retirement. Yet, many choose to stay, driven by the potential to earn millions more when their next stock bonus matures.
Over the past two years, this former tech employee has frequently observed colleagues browsing real estate websites and casually mentioning new vacation homes during casual conversations. It’s also become common for them to attend major sporting events, like the American football Super Bowl and the NBA Finals.
Spencer Hsu, a real estate agent based in Palo Alto, California, has worked with several Nvidia employees this year. “We only communicate in the evenings and on weekends. I was amazed at how much money they had from their stocks,” he revealed. This group often makes substantial down payments, ranging from 40-60%, on million-dollar homes.
Beyond the impressive income, Airan Junior—who worked at Nvidia from 2020 to 2023—described the experience as “like being at Disneyland,” thanks to the diverse teams tackling fascinating technical challenges. Junior, who worked in the Brazil business unit, believes the company’s unique culture has been key to its remarkable success.
Huang has often explained that his leadership style has been shaped by more than 30 years of “facing adversity” while running the company. He consistently tells employees that he is pushing them to achieve what matters most.
It seems employees largely support Huang’s unconventional leadership style. According to a survey by Glassdoor, his approval rating is 97%, surpassing peers at Alphabet (94%), Apple (87%), Meta Platforms (66%), and Amazon.com (54%).
In a recent interview on 60 Minutes, Huang elaborated on his rigorous management style: “It should be this way. If you want to achieve extraordinary things, you can’t do it easily.”
