Two years after the death of his father, Henry Witherspoon, comedian Kevin Hart revealed a significant milestone in their relationship: purchasing his father’s first house. On the July 12 episode of his podcast, “Gold Minds with Kevin Hart,” the “Jumanji” star recounted this poignant narrative with guest Vince Staples.
Hart reflected on the relentless effort and dedication of his mother, Nancy Hart. A single mother, she raised Kevin and his brother, Robert, while employed as a computer analyst at the University of Pennsylvania. Nancy Hart instilled in her sons a robust work ethic and financial prudence, always preparing for the unforeseen circumstances of a rainy day.
He told the Compton rapper that never had the opportunity to fully repay his mother, who succumbed to ovarian cancer in 2007, prior to his career taking off.
However, Hart about to find a meaningful way to support his father, despite him not being there for much of us his youth.
For His Father
The “Ride Along” box office A-lister said that at this juncture in his career he wanted to bring some comfort into his dad’s life. Hart asked his father to find a house in Philadelphia, and to his surprise, his dad quickly found a property within hours.
“I remember asking my dad what he want, and it’s like you’re kind of getting over because this is like when money started to come in,” Hart recalled. “I’m like, ‘Dad, I’m gonna set you up. Let me get you a house. Just go find a house in Philly that you want, and I got you.’ My dad called me back like two hours later. He’s like, ‘I got it.’ I’m like, ‘That fast?'”
The house his father chose was priced at $65,000, considerably less than Hart anticipated.
“It was like 65 grand. I thought I was going to have to spend some money. I’ve never paid for a house faster in my life,” Hart reflected, emphasizing the modesty of his father’s choice.
Over the years, Hart continued to support his father, upgrading his living conditions to ensure his well-being.
He continued, “Years went on… I was like let me go and set you up right, but the idea of what comfort is or was, it wasn’t as substantial as you would have believed or thought.
“That’s where my mentality got a little grounded,” he explained.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the comic brought his dad along with his family to trips where he explored the forest through hiking and zip-lining through the jungle to just having him around his home where he could lounge by the pool and posing for family portraits.
Hart’s relationship with his father was complex. He has discussed it in his stand-up routines, his 2017 memoir “I Can’t Make This Up,” and various interviews. Witherspoon was absent for much of Hart’s childhood due to struggles with drug addiction.
Eventually, Hart and his brother persuaded their father to enter rehab, where he transformed his life and found a partner. This transformation enabled them to rebuild their relationship before his death.
For Hart, this journey underscores his perspective on success and comfort, highlighting that true wealth is not merely about money but eradicating worry from one’s life.
“The money is all perception-based,” Hart said during his sit down with Staples. “If you really want to function and understand that what you’ve done is astronomical, look at it compared to your surroundings, where you’ve come from. If you’re able to take care of yourself and support your career or dream, that’s already the win.”
Hart has strategically leveraged his wealth to support his family. Beyond purchasing his father’s first house, Hart has been instrumental in motivating his brother, Robert, to transition from street life to becoming a top-notch billiards player.
The elder brother is a proficient pool and billiards participant and is endorsed by brands such as TC Bandages and Predator Cues. He is ranked 300th in the World Pool-Billiard Association’s list of players.
The Philadelphia native’s current net worth, estimated at around $450 million, is a testament to his business acumen. However, it does not encapsulate his underlying goal of encouraging those around him not just to desire more, but to position themselves to earn more.
