Nvidia, the pioneering chipmaker at the forefront of the AI revolution, has dethroned Microsoft to become the world's most valuable publicly traded company, as reported by CNBC, The Guardian, DW and others. With a staggering market capitalization of $3.335 trillion, Nvidia's rise to the top spot underscores the immense potential and growth prospects of the artificial intelligence industry.
Nvidia Surpasses Microsoft's Valuation
On June 18, 2024, Nvidia's shares climbed 3.5% to $135.58, propelling its market capitalization to an unprecedented $3.335 trillion, surpassing Microsoft as the world's most valuable company.123 This milestone was driven by the company's dominance in the AI chip market, controlling approximately 80% of the AI chips used in data centers.42
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Founded in 1991, Nvidia initially focused on graphics chips for gaming before strategically investing in AI technology.5
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Its stock price has surged nearly 174% in 2024 alone, after more than tripling in 2023.2
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An investor who put $10,000 into Nvidia in 1999 would hold over $59 million worth of stock today.2
Nvidia's AI Chip Dominance
Nvidia's meteoric rise can be attributed to its cutting-edge graphics processing units (GPUs), which have become indispensable for training AI algorithms and powering innovative applications like image generators and chatbots.1 The company currently dominates approximately 70% of the market for AI chips, granting it significant influence in the industry and attracting regulatory scrutiny.1
In the mid-2010s, AI researchers began experimenting with Nvidia's GPUs, recognizing their unique suitability for handling the massive computations required for AI tasks.1 Nvidia capitalized on this trend by refining its software to enhance compatibility with AI workloads, positioning itself as the industry leader when the AI boom arrived.1 Competitors like AMD and Intel have struggled to keep pace, with analysts predicting Nvidia's competitive edge will persist for years.1
AI Demand Fuels Growth
Nvidia's unprecedented growth has been fueled by the insatiable demand for its chips from tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Google, who are racing to expand their AI computing capabilities.12 The company's data center business, which generates approximately 86% of its total sales, reported a staggering revenue of $22.6 billion in the most recent quarter.1 This surge can be attributed to the burgeoning field of generative AI, which has prompted companies to acquire Nvidia's processors to build AI models and manage expanding workloads.13 With investors recognizing Nvidia's technology as the driving force behind the AI revolution, the company's shares have experienced a remarkable nine-fold increase since the end of 2022.1
Jensen Huang's Rising Wealth
Nvidia's co-founder and CEO, Jensen Huang, has seen his personal fortune skyrocket alongside the company's meteoric rise. His net worth now exceeds a staggering $117 billion, catapulting him into the ranks of the world's wealthiest individuals.12 This astronomical wealth can be directly attributed to the unprecedented demand for Nvidia's AI chips, which have propelled the company's valuation to unprecedented heights.34
