Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Wakes Up At 4 AM Daily Because He’s Afraid Of Failing

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang may be running one of the most valuable companies in the world but comfort is not part of his daily routine. Despite Nvidia’s massive success in the AI era, Huang says his biggest

motivation is not ambition or growth but a deep fear of failure.In a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, the 62-year-old CEO opened up about his intense work routine and the mindset that keeps him going. Huang revealed that he works all seven days of the week and wakes up at 4 AM every morning to clear thousands of emails. This routine continues even on holidays.According to Huang, this fear-driven approach comes from Nvidia’s early struggles in the 1990s.During its initial years, the company came dangerously close to shutting down multiple times. One of the most critical moments, he recalled, was when Nvidia had to inform Sega about a serious flaw in a graphics chip it had agreed to supply. At the same time, Huang was negotiating for a $5 million payment that was essential for the company’s survival.ALSO READ: Bill Gates Warns Of AI Bubble, Says Many Startups May Not Survive The Hype Huang said he is more motivated by the fear of failure than by the desire for success. That lesson, learned early in his career, still guides how he makes decisions today."The sense of vulnerability and uncertainty never really goes away," he explained.This work culture has also shaped his family life. Huang shared that both his adult children, Madison and Spencer are now working at Nvidia. They joined the company as interns after trying different career paths. Long working hours and high expectations, according to Huang, are common in his household as well.Under Huang’s leadership, Nvidia has seen massive growth largely due to the global AI boom. The company recently reported a record revenue of $57 billion in the third quarter, driven by strong demand for AI chips from companies like Microsoft and OpenAI.Nvidia’s chips are now considered critical for powering data centres and AI tools worldwide.Even with such success, Huang insists he has not become comfortable. He believes staying slightly insecure helps him stay sharp and focused.