One of the most enviable positions in the past 2-3 years has been the “NVIDIA employee” who receives stock options as part of their compensation, thanks to the skyrocketing value of the company’s stocks (almost 10x increase in the last 2 years). However, the reality of these employees’ lives may not be as glamorous as one might think.
Several interviews conducted by Bloomberg with current and former NVIDIA employees revealed a consensus that the workload is intense. One employee shared expectations of working 7 days a week, with shifts ending at 1-2 am, while another mentioned daily meetings ranging from 7-10. Despite this, employees admitted that the high compensation made it difficult to refuse.
One employee mentioned that nearly everyone in the office is wealthy, as they overheard discussions about buying vacation homes in the coveted Palo Alto neighborhood near NVIDIA’s headquarters. Some employees were seen discussing attending expensive sports events like the NBA or NFL championships. Luxury cars with high price tags are a common sight in the company’s parking lot, with one employee showing off their green Lamborghini to match the company’s colors.
NVIDIA’s employee turnover rate was at 5.3% in 2023, but dropped to 2.7% in 2024 when stock prices soared. Compared to the average turnover rate of 17.7% for semiconductor companies, it’s clear that “money solves problems.”
TLDR: NVIDIA employees enjoy high compensation but endure heavy workloads and discussions about luxury expenses like vacation homes, expensive sports events, and luxury cars. Employee turnover decreased significantly in 2024 due to rising stock prices.
Leave a Comment