At One Point, Kevin Hart Said Investing In Friends’ Ideas Became An ‘Endless Pit Of Bankruptcy’
Even successful entrepreneurs face investments that don’t work out. Kevin Hart, known for his comedy and film career, has shared one of his most difficult business experiences: investing in his friends’ ventures.
Kevin Hart On His Worst Investment
In a clip from an episode of “The Late Late Show with James Corden” in August 2022, Hart discussed his various business ventures and revealed, midway through the interview, that his worst business decision came from supporting friends’ ideas.
“The worst business investment that I’m currently involved in is the business of investing in your friends,” he said to Corden at the time.
“You never want your friends to feel like their ideas are not good ideas, but thus far, these ideas have been an endless pit of bankruptcy,” he also added on the show.
On the 2022 episode, Hart highlighted one particular venture as the most regrettable: a friend’s company that designed headphones that could open up into speakers. The concept was intended to allow users to play their music out loud when asked “What are you listening to?”
“In the beginning, they were just headphones, and people could enjoy them normally,” Hart explained on the show.
“But then if you wanted to make everybody else listen, they opened up … That’s the worst invention I’ve ever put money into,” he continued.
Despite the creative concept, the product did not succeed, marking what Hart has described as his worst investment. The experience gave him firsthand insight into how investing in friends’ businesses can be unpredictable and influenced how he approaches future partnerships.
Empowering The Next Generation Of Entrepreneurs
Building on those lessons, Hart has focused on using his business platforms to create opportunities for others.
As AFROTECH™ previously reported, Hart launched an AI Illumination Grant in partnership with the Fifteen Percent Pledge, Heartbeat Ventures, and A16z’s Cultural Leadership Fund. The program is designed to support Black founders and provides a $35,000 funding pool, including a $20,000 top prize, to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses and leverage emerging technologies.
Hart is also expanding these efforts through his Coramino Fund, the investment arm of his tequila brand Gran Coramino, which is now in its third year. Since its launch, the fund has supported more than 100 small businesses, offering $10,000 grants to selected entrepreneurs. In addition to financial support, recipients gain access to hands-on AI training and educational resources, providing guidance on how to responsibly integrate AI and other emerging technologies into their business operations.
Kevin Hart’s Multifaceted Career
As of September 2025, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Hart’s net worth at around $400 million. He founded HartBeat Productions, which later merged with his Laugh Out Loud Network to manage comedy, film, and digital media projects, according to a 2022 press release.
Hart remains active in both business and entertainment. His stand-up tours regularly sell out arenas, and his 2025 tour, “Acting My Age,”included stops in the U.S., India, Australia, and Saudi Arabia, per Business Insider.
He is also working on a film about a stream gone wrong, featuring Twitch streamers Kai Cenat and Druski, as AFROTECH™ previously reported.
Hart’s experiences show that even experienced entrepreneurs can encounter challenges with investments — particularly when personal relationships are involved — while continuing to operate across business, entertainment, and philanthropic projects.
