Three decades, observing the key figures in the wave of technology and the strength of the Chinese.
The relay of era leaders
In the past decade, we looked at Jobs; in this decade, we look at Musk; in the next decade, we look at Jensen Huang! As NVIDIA's market value surpasses 40 trillion, Jensen Huang returns to the top ten global billionaires with a net worth of 143 billion USD (only 10 billion less than Buffett) and a 3.5% stake, as the market re-prices for the AI era.
The key link of Chinese entrepreneurs
In this wave that spans three eras, three Chinese entrepreneurs weave together key stories:
Zhang Zhongmou and Jensen Huang: A friendship formed during a crisis
• 1997 · Desperate call for help: At that time, NVIDIA was on the verge of bankruptcy (only over 50 employees), as TSMC's US team ignored cooperation, Jensen Huang directly wrote to Zhang Zhongmou. Zhang Zhongmou was moved by the sincerity and personally visited the US for inspection, strongly supporting its chip foundry. The first game chip, RIVA 128, was successfully mass-produced, saving NVIDIA and making it one of TSMC's top five customers within 2-3 years. This partnership became a starting point of trust, and Zhang Zhongmou even considered poaching Jensen Huang to be the CEO of TSMC (which did not happen).
• 2009 · Crisis breakthrough: TSMC's 40nm process yield issues caused massive losses for NVIDIA, and the former CEO refused compensation. After Zhang Zhongmou took back control, he calculated the losses within 48 hours and proposed a compensation plan of over 100 million USD, which Jensen Huang accepted. This move resolved the dispute and has since led NVIDIA to contribute over 10 billion in revenue to TSMC annually, establishing a long-term deep cooperation.
Zhang Zhongmou and Terry Gou: A dual connection of kinship and business
Terry Gou is the cousin of Zhang Zhongmou's wife, Zhang Shufen, which created a crucial bridge in the business world. In 2010, Apple urgently sought new foundries due to competition with Samsung, while TSMC struggled without opportunities. Terry Gou, as the founder of Foxconn (Apple's main assembler), directly brought Apple's COO Jeff Williams to Zhang Zhongmou's home. That night, a cooperation intention was finalized, and TSMC secured orders with its 20nm process, even 'borrowing money to gamble' on the Apple project. Intel attempted to intervene, but Zhang Zhongmou personally went to Apple's headquarters, and Cook's remark 'Intel is not good at foundry' along with TSMC's technological strength solidified the cooperation, allowing TSMC to establish a foothold in Apple's supply chain.
Industry influence in the wave of the times
• Apple Era: By the end of 2024, Apple's market value reaches 39 trillion, nearing the GDP of France and the UK. If considered as an independent economy, it would rank fifth globally (only behind the US, China, Japan, and Germany). The annual output value of the Apple ecosystem accounts for approximately 1.2% of global GDP, reshaping the global manufacturing landscape through its value chain.
• Tesla Era: Open patents promote standardization of electric vehicles, Tesla's annual revenue exceeds 100 billion, driving the scale of battery, charging piles, and autonomous driving industries to over 50 trillion, accounting for 5% of global GDP, stirring up massive waves in the new energy tide.
• AI Era (NVIDIA): By July 2025, NVIDIA's market value surpasses 40 trillion, exceeding the GDP of the UK (38 trillion) and India (35 trillion), with over 90% global market share in AI chips, becoming the absolute leader in AI computing power.
The rise of Chinese voice in the supply chain
From the IT era to new energy, and then to the takeoff of AI, the Asia-Pacific region (especially the Chinese) contributes over 70% to the supply chain. Foxconn and Apple, CATL and Tesla, TSMC and NVIDIA, each achieving success together. As the AI era begins, the Chinese hold more voice in the paradigm shift of enterprises, and this power will continue to write new chapters in future waves!#山寨季何时到来 