Nvidia Corp, led by billionaire co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang, is known for its high-stress and demanding work environment, according to a report by Bloomberg. Employees, despite receiving high pay, often endure long working hours and intense pressure. A former technical support worker who quit in May 2023 described the environment as a "pressure cooker," with expectations to work seven days a week, often until 1 or 2 AM. Another former employee, a marketing executive who left in 2022, highlighted the frequent outbursts and tense atmosphere during meetings, which often included yelling and confrontations. She endured the toxic work culture for two years due to the “golden handcuffs” of high compensation.
CEO Jensen Huang has a hands-on leadership style, managing 60 direct reports and requiring employees to regularly update a centralized email ID with their tasks. Occasionally, Huang would respond with further instructions or questions. He has stated that he prefers to "torture" employees into achieving greatness rather than firing them, believing that pushing them hard will help them reach their potential.
Despite the intense work environment, Nvidia’s employee turnover rate remains significantly lower than the industry average. In fiscal year 2024, Nvidia reported a turnover rate of just 2.7%, compared to the semiconductor industry average of 17.7%. This low turnover rate is partly attributed to the company's stock grants, which vest after four years, incentivizing employees to stay.
Jensen Huang, who co-founded Nvidia in 1993, holds about 3% of the company’s stock. With a net worth of $40.7 billion, he ranks as the 17th richest person in America and the 76th richest in the world, according to Forbes.