This Letter proposed a novel, to the best of our knowledge, laser diode driver design principle for high-power vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays. Based on the electrical characteristics of VCSEL arrays, a new VCSEL driver was designed with voltage-control and current-monitor mechanism instead of conventional constant-current modulation by MOSFET. Heat from the modulation MOSFET was minimized so that high current, heavy duty cycle, and high average power from the laser diode driver can be achieved. CW, long-pulsed, and QCW driver designs were lately discussed and specific circuit architectures were provided. The driver design was then verified through experiment and burn-in test. This novel VCSEL driver principle provides a very simple, reliable, and economical solution for high-power VCSEL arrays or stacks. It can be widely used for industrial heating, solid-state pumping, medical treatments, and many other applications in the future.