More Than Just Chips: Jensen Huang's Iconic Leather Jacket Sells for $960,000, Setting AI Memorabilia Record

NVIDIA (NVDA-US) CEO Jensen Huang's iconic black Tom Ford leather jacket was auctioned for $960,000 at Sotheby's charity sale on the 17th, far surpassing the pre-auction estimate of $40,000 to $60,000 and nearly 100 times the jacket's original retail price of around $10,000, making it one of the most emblematic technology collectibles of the AI age.

According to Sotheby's, the jacket attracted 45 bidders and saw 65 rounds of bidding before the hammer fell. Brahm Wachter, Head of Modern Collectibles at Sotheby's, said the response far exceeded expectations, indicating rapidly growing market demand for culturally significant artifacts from the AI era.

The jacket was worn by Huang during his appearance at the 2023 Hon Hai Technology Day in Taipei on October 18, 2023. Its authenticity was confirmed through image comparison by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), and his signature was verified by James Spence Authentication, further enhancing its collectible value.

For nearly two decades, Huang has consistently worn the black leather jacket at nearly every product launch, GTC conference, corporate event, and international appearance. This signature look has become one of the most recognizable executive images in the AI era, often compared to Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ black turtleneck and Meta (META-US) CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s gray T-shirt.

Huang has humorously addressed his fashion sense in the past. In a 2016 Reddit Q&A, he referred to himself as “the guy in the leather jacket,” and in a 2023 podcast interview, he revealed that his wardrobe is largely selected by his wife and daughter.

Huang’s iconic style has even influenced other tech leaders. In 2024, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg participated in a symbolic jersey swap with Huang, exchanging their signature garments. At another computer graphics conference that year, Huang directly gifted the jacket he was wearing to Zuckerberg, who joked on the spot: “Because it’s been worn, it’s more valuable.”

Sotheby’s noted that the auction was initiated by venture capital firm Long Journey Ventures, with all proceeds donated to the nonprofit Edge Institute. The funds will support scholarships, research grants, and residency programs for young innovators, empowering the next generation of tech entrepreneurs and researchers.

The market had initially estimated the jacket’s value between $40,000 and $60,000, but the final price reached $960,000—16 times the upper estimate—demonstrating how the AI boom has extended from capital markets into the collectibles market. Analysts suggest that as NVIDIA has become one of the world’s most valuable companies amid the AI surge, Huang’s personal image and his signature jacket have evolved into powerful symbols of the AI industry’s development, with their collectible value far exceeding the garment itself.