Colette Kress to lead Nvidia as interim CEO after Jensen Huang resigns: What is her net worth?

Nvidia named longtime finance chief Colette Kress interim CEO after Jensen Huang stepped down. Forbes ranked Kress No. 32 on its 2026 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. Her Nvidia shares were worth roughly $750 million at Wednesday’s close, down from more than $1 billion at the stock’s October peak, as per a report by The Week.

Colette Kress is taking over as Nvidia’s interim CEO after co-founder Jensen Huang stepped down on November 12 following reports of two alleged extramarital affairs. Kress has been Nvidia’s finance chief since 2013. She now leads one of the world’s biggest chipmakers, whose processors power AI data centers and supercomputers.

Nvidia’s rise had already made Kress a billionaire on paper before she took the top job. Much of her wealth came from the company’s stock. The same shares that helped build her fortune have fallen in value since October.

What is Colette Kress’s net worth?

Forbes ranked Kress No. 32 on its 2026 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women. It estimated her net worth at US$1.2 billion on June 3, 2026. Reuters valued her Nvidia shares alone at roughly US$750 million at Wednesday’s close on November 11, down from more than US$1 billion at the stock’s October peak.

The two figures measure different things. Forbes estimated her overall fortune in June. Reuters put a price on her Nvidia stake in November. The drop in the value of her shares doesn’t tell us whether her total net worth is still above US$1 billion.

How did Nvidia’s CFO build her fortune?

The Bloomberg Billionaires Index first put Kress’s net worth above US$1 billion in July 2025. Most of her estimated wealth was tied to Nvidia stock. CFO.com reported at the time that Kress owned or held options on more than 5.4 million shares. Her holdings may have changed since then.

Stock awards help explain how her fortune grew well beyond her salary. One award Kress received in March 2026 vests over four years, Reuters reported. Under its terms, she earns the right to receive shares over time. What those shares are worth depends on Nvidia’s stock price.

Did Jensen Huang resign as CEO of Nvidia?

Huang stepped down as CEO and is also leaving Nvidia’s board. The Associated Press described his departure as a resignation. Reuters reported that the board ousted him. Nvidia named Kress interim CEO while it searches for a permanent successor.One of the alleged affairs involved a former business executive whom U.S. authorities reportedly suspected of ties to Chinese intelligence. Nvidia opened an inquiry into whether Huang was targeted by a foreign intelligence effort. Its board said it had no reason to believe company secrets or U.S. national security had been compromised.

Who is Colette Kress, Nvidia’s longtime CFO?

Kress began her career at Texas Instruments. She went on to lead finances for Microsoft’s Server and Tools division and later held a senior finance role at Cisco. She joined Nvidia as CFO in September 2013.

Nvidia reported US $4.13 billion in revenue in the fiscal year Kress joined. By fiscal 2026, annual revenue had reached US$215.9 billion. Investors spent years hearing her explain those results alongside Huang on earnings calls. She will now run the company while the board looks for its next permanent CEO.