Since landing on a private jet at Songshan Airport on Friday, every public appearance by the Nvidia executive has triggered a flood of fans, journalists and onlookers, all eager for an autograph or even a simple word. "Jensen, I love you!" shouted a woman on Saturday evening outside a restaurant in Taipei, where Huang was dining with senior Taiwanese executives, including representatives from TSMC, in what the local media dubbed the "billion-dollar dinner."

"I love coming to Taiwan, I love seeing everyone here and I am very grateful for their support. The people are extremely kind," Huang told Reuters, visibly touched by the welcome.

The phenomenon is not new. Back in 2023, the Taiwanese press coined the term "Jensanity" to describe the almost hysterical enthusiasm he generates. This year, Nvidia even opened a pop-up store dedicated to his image, selling playing cards, T-shirts, and other souvenirs bearing his effigy.

This devotion intrigues his American colleagues: while he remains relatively discreet in his own country, Huang is literally surrounded by fans in Taiwan. This situation is a source of concern for his bodyguards, who had to fend off journalists and admirers on Saturday evening as he handed out fried ice creams outside the restaurant where he had enjoyed rice noodle soup accompanied by Kavalan whisky.

"He encourages young Taiwanese people like me. What he does is inspiring," said Hsu Han-yun, a 21-year-old student who managed to get Huang's autograph.

Guest of honor and political tensions

After dinner, Jensen Huang attended the opening ceremony of the World Masters Games, an international sporting event for athletes over 30. He was the guest of honor alongside Olympic boxing champion Lin Yu-ting and renowned Taiwanese actress and director Sylvia Chang.

Huang's presence briefly sparked political controversy, with opposition lawmakers accusing Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim of joining the event at the last minute to benefit from Huang's aura. The presidential office denied any opportunistic strategy, stating that presidential security had inspected the site a month earlier and that the vice president was unaware of Nvidia's CEO's attendance at the time.

The fervor surrounding his visit was such that a ministry had to clarify a point raised in the media: the cost of parking his private jet in Taipei. The Ministry of Transportation specified that the rate for six days was 95,562 Taiwanese dollars (approximately US$3,167), contradicting lower figures reported in some articles. "The figure of TWD 60,000 is incorrect, and its source has not been verified with the relevant authorities," it said with a hint of annoyance.

Finally, the jet, operated by VistaJet, left Taipei on Saturday afternoon bound for Honolulu, according to flight tracking websites. But in the minds of the Taiwanese, Jensen Huang will once again have left the mark of a tech hero returning to his homeland.