Colette Kress, Nvidia's Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, has been a pivotal figure in the company's meteoric rise since joining in September 2013. Initially, Nvidia's stock price was around 40 cents per share, but by 2025, it had surged to nearly $150 per share, pushing the company's market capitalization over $3 trillion. This staggering growth has solidified Nvidia's position as one of the world's most valuable companies, with only Apple and Microsoft surpassing its market cap and revenue. Kress's financial acumen has been instrumental in Nvidia's success. Her strategic management of the company's finances has helped it achieve remarkable financial milestones, such as the revenue of $39.33 billion reported in February 2025, which exceeded market expectations. During the earnings call, Kress highlighted the strong demand for the Blackwell GPU but also noted that the impact of Trump-era tariffs remains a concern. Under her leadership, Nvidia has maintained robust financial health, allowing it to invest heavily in research and development, a critical factor in its sustained technological edge. Kress holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Before joining Nvidia, she had a distinguished career at Microsoft, where she served as CFO of the Server and Tools Division for 13 years. She has also held significant roles at Cisco and Texas Instruments, bringing a wealth of experience to Nvidia's executive team. The company's success is also deeply rooted in its groundbreaking GPU technology, which has become the backbone of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. GPUs are highly parallel processors that excel in handling the complex computations required by AI models, making them indispensable in fields like machine learning, deep learning, and data centers. Nvidia's early bet on AI, combined with its leading-edge hardware, has paid off handsomely, driving both innovation and market demand. Nvidia's journey began in 1993 when it was founded by Jensen Huang, Curtis Priem, and Chris Malachowsky. The company initially focused on producing high-performance graphics cards for the gaming and multimedia markets. A pivotal moment came in 1999 with the introduction of the world's first GPU, followed by the company's IPO at $12 per share. This early innovation set the stage for Nvidia’s future success. Curtis Priem, one of Nvidia's co-founders, played a crucial role in the company's inception. After obtaining his Bachelor's degree in Computer Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Priem worked at Vermont Microsystems and later Sun Microsystems, where he developed the IBM Professional Graphics Adapter, significantly contributing to his expertise in computer graphics. In 1993, at a Denny’s restaurant in Silicon Valley, Priem, along with Jensen Huang and Chris Malachowsky, laid out the vision for Nvidia. However, Priem left Nvidia in the early 2000s to pursue a life focused on philanthropy. He now lives in a low-profile, off-grid home near Nvidia’s headquarters in Fremont, California. According to Forbes, if Priem had held onto his shares, his net worth would have exceeded $70 billion, rivaling that of the world's wealthiest individuals. Instead, his current net worth is estimated at around $30 million, a stark contrast to Jensen Huang's $115 billion fortune. Despite his modest financial status, Priem's contributions to Nvidia's early success are highly regarded. His vision and innovation were foundational in establishing the company's technical prowess and market position. Today, the Priem Family Foundation supports education and research, and he maintains a close relationship with RPI, often returning to his alma mater to engage with students and faculty. Nvidia's rapid growth and technological advancements since 2019 have been remarkable. In late 2019, the stock price was below $6 per share, but by 2025, it had skyrocketed to nearly $150 per share. This increase reflects the market's strong confidence in Nvidia's capabilities and its strategic focus on AI and high-performance computing. Industry insiders commend Kress and Priem for their significant roles in Nvidia's trajectory. Kress's financial acumen has provided a solid foundation for the company's rapid expansion, while Priem's early technical innovations laid the groundwork for its leadership in the chip industry. Nvidia's continued investments in AI and computational technologies, driven by its strong financial position, ensure that it remains at the forefront of global tech innovation. Nvidia, founded in 1993, has evolved from a niche graphics card manufacturer to a dominant player in the global chip industry. Its early focus on parallel processing and AI has been a key differentiator, enabling the company to meet the growing demands of advanced computing applications. With a strong leadership team and a clear vision for the future, Nvidia's influence in the tech world is poised to grow even further.