A Student introduced Mark Hatala to Nvidia before the AI boom. His initial $2,000 investment led to a stake worth over $1 million by 2024

A college student’s interest in video games helped Mark Hatala discover Nvidia years before the chipmaker became a major force in artificial intelligence. Around 2002, Hatala had invested about $2,000 in the company and by August 2024, his Nvidia holdings were worth over $1 million.

The psychology professor’s investment journey stretched across more than two decades during which Nvidia grew from a company known for its graphics cards into major supplier of chips used in AI computing.

How Mark Hatala Discovered Nvidia Stock

Hatala, a psychology professor at Truman State University in Missouri, first heard about Nvidia from a student who enjoyed playing video games and building computers. Nvidia’s graphics cards were popular among gaming enthusiasts and the recommendation prompted Hatala to invest.


His initial purchase was worth about $2,000. But he bought additional shares a few years later and continued to add to and trim his position over time. Although he made changes to his holdings, he never sold all his shares.

According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal in 2024, Hatala had not taken profits since 2008. By the time of the report, he valued his Nvidia holdings at more than $1 million.

Nvidia’s Stock Rally Helped Build His Seven-Figure Stake

Nvidia’s shares climbed sharply as demand for artificial intelligence computing increased. The company’s graphics processing units, initially associated with gaming, became important to the development and operation of AI systems.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia’s stock had risen about 2,000% since 2019. The shares had also more than doubled during that year, making Nvidia the S&P 500’s best-performing stock by August 2024.

Hatala’s original investment came long before the recent AI boom. His decision to retain shares while Nvidia expanded helped him benefit from the company’s subsequent rise, although the value of his holdings also reflected his additional purchases and changes to his position.

Why Hatala Held on to His Nvidia Shares

The gains gave Hatala greater financial flexibility. In the 2024 report, he described the outcome as being like winning a lottery and said the investment’s value contributed to his plans to retire early in 2025.

He also planned to divide his time among Missouri, France, Japan and the Philippines while continuing his research and writing books. These were plans he discussed in 2024 as per the report.

Hatala said, “It’s just the freedom to do whatever I want,” adding, “which I think is what happiness and joy truly are,” as quoted by WSJ.

What the Nvidia Investment Story Shows

Hatala’s experience illustrates how an investment made early in a company’s development can grow as its business expands. But the story is not simply about turning one $2,000 purchase into more than $1 million, his holdings also reflected additional purchases and changes over many years.