American comedian Kevin Hart has once worked as a shoe salesman making minimum wage while hustling to make his stand-up comedy dreams come to reality. However, fast forward to 2017, Hart has reportedly become the highest-paid comedian in the world, racking in a whooping $32.5 million that year.
Looking back at Hart’s journey to his now $200 million net worth may appear to be a steady rise to success but, taking a closer look, it was one with many hurdles. Before the buzz, he garnered from his comedy tours, including “I’m a Grown Little Man” and “Seriously Funny,” Hart had cameos in movies like “Soul Plane” and “Scary Movie 3.”
According to The Philadelphia Tribune, his 2011 stand-up special “Laugh at My Pain,” earned more than $15 million in ticket sales. Viral clips of the special also helped grow his social media following and solidify his place as one of the world’s most successful comedians.
Hart also became a hit in Hollywood, starring in blockbuster action and animation movies like the “Ride Along” franchise, “Central Intelligence,” “The Secret Life of Pets,” “Jumanji: Welcome to The Jungle” and its sequel “Jumanji: The Next Level,” and more, making at least $10 million per role, One37pm reports.
The release of his stand up comedy shows “Let Me Explain” and “What Now?” made over $63.5 million combined, according to Business Insider with “Let Me Explain” having a $10 million debut on just 876 screens.
Now under his company HartBeat Productions and Laugh Out Loud Network, he is creating more original content on Youtube and the big screen.
The first movie released after his deal with Universal Studios in 2018, “Night School,” made $100 million globally, according to Business Insider.
Hart is still on the run of building as he inks new deals with SiriusXM and Quibi.