On a recent Saturday, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, hosted an extravagant dinner for the leaders of several companies involved in manufacturing Nvidia’s AI chips. The event, which took place in Taiwan and was dubbed the “trillion dollar banquet” by local media, saw the attendance of at least 35 top executives from companies such as Quanta, Asus, Acer, Inventec, Gigabyte, ASRock, and MSI. During a brief media session, Huang, alongside TSMC chairman CC Wei, exchanged mutual admiration, highlighting the long-standing partnership between their companies.
The gathering echoed a similar event before Computex 2024, where Huang met with executives from TSMC, MediaTek, and Quanta. Unlike previous occasions, the purpose of this meeting was clear. Huang has openly expressed his intention to meet with the heads of Nvidia’s supply chain partners as a gesture of gratitude for their role in Nvidia’s success, suggesting this lavish meal was the pinnacle of his efforts.
Speaking to reporters outside the venue, both Huang and Wei expressed their appreciation for their partnership. Wei remarked, “It’s both my pleasure and honor to supply chips to you and have been your partner for over two decades.” He added a communal thanks on behalf of the Taiwanese business community for the opportunities brought by Nvidia. Huang humorously commented on the changes brought by their long-term collaboration, saying, “My hair was once completely black, now it’s fully silver. Without TSMC, Nvidia wouldn’t have been possible.”
These comments not only underscored the deep business ties between Nvidia and TSMC but also highlighted a personal friendship between Huang and Wei, a relationship that often remains out of the public eye.
A People’s Champion in Tech
Jensen Huang, despite being one of the wealthiest individuals globally, remains notably accessible and relatable compared to other tech billionaires. His down-to-earth nature was on display late in 2023 when he was seen enjoying street food in Vietnam and participating in a LAN party in Hanoi. This approachability continued in Taiwan, where he engaged in local traditions such as visiting night markets.
During the recent event, upon noticing a crowd outside the restaurant, Huang stepped out to distribute sausages and sesame buns to the public, also signing autographs and taking photos with fans. His interaction didn’t stop there; he also handed out “hongbao” — red envelopes with NT$1,000 (about US$30) — to several children. These envelopes, a traditional gift symbolizing love, blessings, and good luck, are especially significant during the Chinese New Year.
These gestures are deeply cherished by the local community and have greatly endeared Huang to the Taiwanese people, giving rise to a phenomenon locally known as ‘Jensanity’. This admiration is partly hometown pride, as Huang was born in Tainan, Taiwan, though he is also an American citizen.
