Jensen Huang leather jacket sells for $960,000 at auction

A black leather jacket associated with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang sold at Sotheby’s for $960,000, far above its presale estimate. Sotheby’s said the money will go toward a philanthropic effort benefiting the Edge Institute, a nonprofit tied to live-in gatherings for people working across technology, science, culture and society.

The Tom Ford jacket had been expected to bring $40,000 to $60,000, according to Sotheby’s. The auction house said proceeds will support fellowships, grants and residencies through an initiative organized by San Francisco venture firm Long Journey Ventures.

Huang’s black leather jackets have become part of his public image as Nvidia has risen to the center of the artificial intelligence boom. Sotheby’s described the jacket as part of the Nvidia CEO’s “uniform” and connected it to his appearances at product launches, developer conferences and major company announcements.

A signature item draws a high bid

Sotheby’s said PSA photomatched the jacket to Huang at Hon Hai Tech Day in Taipei on Oct. 18, 2023. The auction house also said James Spence Authentication verified Huang’s signature on the item.

Huang has acknowledged the association before. In a 2016 Reddit AMA, he wrote, “You may know me better as ‘the guy in the leather jacket who repeats things three times.’” Time also featured Huang wearing the look when it named him among its people of the year in 2021, according to Fortune.

Fortune reported that it was not clear what connection Huang has to the Edge Institute or whether he initiated the auction. Fortune said Sotheby’s and Nvidia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Where the money is going

The Edge Institute brings together founders, researchers and others for temporary residential communities built around experiments and collaboration, according to Sotheby’s and Fortune. Fortune described the effort as part of a broader “pop-up village” movement with roots in technology and crypto circles.

Fortune reported that Edge Esmeralda, the group’s flagship event, brought more than 1,300 people to Healdsburg, California, last year. Sotheby’s said the jacket sale will help pay for fellowships, grants and residencies connected to the institute’s work.

The sale differs from much of Huang’s better-known philanthropy, according to Fortune. Huang and his wife, Lori, both graduated from Oregon State University, and Oregon State has said the couple gave $50 million to help launch a research complex that carries their names.

Inside Philanthropy has estimated the Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang Foundation’s assets at more than $10 billion, Fortune reported. Fortune also cited donations linked to Stanford and a $22.5 million gift to the California College of the Arts.

Huang’s leather-jacket image

Fashion experts told Fortune in 2025 that Huang often wears Tom Ford jackets, some of which can cost more than $10,000. Bloomberg’s billionaire index puts Huang’s net worth at $172 billion, and Fortune reported that Nvidia’s market value is nearly $5 trillion.

Reginald Ferguson, owner and founder of New York Fashion Geek, told Fortune that Huang wears many expensive Tom Ford pieces and has settled on a consistent style. Huang told HP in a 2024 interview that the wardrobe choice was not entirely his own, saying, “I’m happy that my wife and my daughter dress me.”

A spokesperson for Huang previously told The New York Times that the Nvidia chief had worn black leather jackets “for at least 20 years,” according to Fortune.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.