Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Gives Major Multi-Year Donation to San Francisco Opera

Written by Chantal Gapato  |  November 24, 2025

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and his wife, Lori, have committed a multi-year donation to the San Francisco Opera, placing the family among the institution’s highest-level supporters. The previously undisclosed gift will fund a range of initiatives, beginning with the world premiere of The Monkey King, a new two-hour opera inspired by the classic Chinese novel. Future contributions will support main-stage productions, young artist training, community programs, and digital media projects.

The Huangs, who live in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, are serving as honorary chairs for the production. Their daughter, Madison Huang, an Nvidia employee, has been organizing associated events and managing the family’s partnership with the Opera. As part of their support, the family is sponsoring more than 600 tickets for employees and technology leaders to attend two special performances, including receptions at the War Veterans Memorial Building’s Green Room.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said the donation places the Huangs in a small group of top benefactors and will remain in place for at least three years. He described their support as a significant reinforcement of the arts community in the region. A spokesperson for the family said they were honored to help launch The Monkey King and look forward to continuing their involvement with one of the city’s major cultural institutions.

The Monkey King, performed in English and Mandarin, was created by composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang. It was commissioned by San Francisco Opera in collaboration with the Chinese Heritage Foundation of Minnesota. The production has drawn enthusiastic reviews, with The New York Times calling it a spectacular achievement in modern music theater.

This marks the second major arts contribution from the Huang family this year, following their $22.5 million donation to help prevent the closure of the California College of the Arts. Their growing civic presence comes as Nvidia finalizes a 45,000-square-foot lease in San Francisco’s Mission Rock development and as Huang’s national profile continues to rise. His recent appearances included the APEC summit in South Korea, a ceremony at St James’s Palace, and a White House event attended by leading tech figures.

Huang’s introduction to the project began when former San Francisco protocol chief Maryam Muduroglu mentioned the upcoming world premiere. She said Huang was immediately interested in the idea of an opera that highlights Asian cultural themes. After he became involved, fellow technology leaders Chris Larsen and Jerry Yang joined the honorary committee, helping the production reach a broader audience within the tech sector.