You are correct. Further, AI kind of fell into their lap, though they did have the core competency to sustain supporting that.

However, even if Huang did not drive the success directly, another leader could easily tank things. Just like how when a good president can't magic the economy into being great, a very bad president can screw it up.

I would say the sort of potential CEO to secure leadership of the second largest market cap in the world is the most likely sort of terrible leader to do that. The sharks that circle for that sort of prize are the ones most eager to burn it all to the ground for the sake of short term self enrichment.