Jensen Huang Isn't 'Afraid' of Paying $8 Billion in California's Billionaire Tax: Nvidia CEO Says This Is What Scares Him Instead

Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang says he would view paying billions of dollars in additional taxes as a privilege as California considers a one-time levy on the state’s wealthiest residents. Huang Says $8 Billion Tax Bill Would Be A Privilege In an interview with CBS News correspondent Jo Ling Kent, Huang said he would not object to paying billions more in taxes if California voters approve the proposed billionaires’ tax this fall. The measure would impose a one-time 5% tax on Californians with a net worth of at least $1 billion. Huang, whose fortune is estimated at $184 billion, said paying as much as $8 billion over five years would not bother him. "The fact that I can afford to pay $8 billion in taxes over five years is a privilege," Huang said. "I feel it’s a privilege. It’s a responsibility. And nothing would give me more joy than to be able to pay even more taxes." Huang also offered a humorous take on his enormous fortune. "I’m not afraid of paying taxes — I’m just afraid of being poor," he said. Jensen Huang could pay ~$8B in taxes over next 5 years and says "I’m not afraid of paying taxes. I’m just afraid of being poor."That mindset also shows up in how $NVDA pays people where he says "I try to pay people as much as possible." pic.twitter.com/Cn2DhPHBjn— Shay Boloor (@StockSavvyShay) September 20, 2026 Read Also: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Rejects Calls to Slow Down AI Development: ‘We Are Going to Go as Fast We Can, But…' Nvidia CEO Calls Himself ‘the Ultimate American Dream’ Huang described himself as "the ultimate American dream," crediting the U.S. with providing the educational and professional opportunities that helped him become an entrepreneur. The Nvidia CEO also recalled his early career, saying he worked as a dishwasher at Denny’s before eventually co-founding the chipmaker. "I was just really, really focused on doing dishes like no dishwasher ever did dishes," Huang said, describing how far his career has taken him from those early days. Huang’s Journey From Nvidia Co-Founder to AI Chip Leader Huang co-founded Nvidia in 1993 and has served as its CEO and president ever since. He owns roughly 4% of the company, which went public in 1999. Born in Taiwan, Huang moved to Thailand as a child before his family sent him and his brother to the U.S. amid civil unrest. Under Huang’s leadership, Nvidia’s GPUs evolved from powering video games to driving the AI boom, pushing the company’s market value past $5 trillion in 2025. Price Action: Nvidia shares ended 1.34% higher at $222.27 on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro. According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Nvidia ranks in the 98th percentile for Growth, with positive short-, medium- and long-term price trends. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Read Also: Jensen Huang Says AI Is a 'Five-Layer Cake.' Nvidia Is Just One Slice Photo: jamesonwu1972 from Shutterstock