Kevin Hart Says Former Roommate Jason Segel Convinced Him to Buy a $300 Computer Program Despite not Owning a Computer

Kevin Hart recently shared a humorous and formative story from his early career, illustrating how his former roommate, Jason Segel, convinced him to buy a $300 screenwriting software even though he didn’t own a computer at the time. Hart recounted this experience on a new episode of his Peacock show, “Hart to Heart,” featuring guest Judd Apatow.

During the episode, Hart revealed that two decades ago, before his rise to fame with successful comedy specials, movies like “Night School,” and TV shows like “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” he had minimal writing experience. At that time, he was living with Segel while they worked on a 2001 pilot called “North Hollywood,” directed by Apatow.

“‘If you’re trying to write, Kev, you gotta get Final Draft,'” Hart recalled Segel telling him. Taking Segel’s advice seriously, Hart purchased the screenwriting software, only to realize he had no way to use it. “I didn’t even have a f—ing computer,” Hart said.

“I had no place to put it. I spent three-hundred-and-something dollars on Final Draft, and I came home, and I was like, ‘Jason, so I got it.’ Like, ‘what do I do now? Do I set it up on your computer?'”

Segel informed him that the software could not be installed on his computer, and Hart needed to invest in his own PC. “He’s like, ‘You gotta get your own computer,’” Hart added. Segel’s computer already had its own copy of Final Draft, which usually comes with a single-user license, preventing another installation.

Determined, Hart bought a Dell computer and began writing. “I had to go buy a Dell and, without knowing, I just started writing s—t. I didn’t know what the f—k I was writing, but I was writing it, because Jason was doing it. And Seth [Rogen] was doing it. And they were doing it because you were doing it.”

The pilot for “North Hollywood” was never picked up, but Hart and Segel maintained their friendship and later worked together on another show called “Undeclared,” also directed by Apatow. Hart continued to develop his writing skills, which eventually helped him create projects for himself.

Reflecting on those early days, Hart said, “That circle, that bond. I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget what I got to the privy. It was a privilege to be a part of that because now that I look back, and look at all of us, it worked.”

A decade after living with Segel and buying Final Draft, Hart co-created and wrote for the parody reality show “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” where he played an exaggerated version of himself. He wrote roles for friends Nick Cannon, Boris Kodjoe, Duane Martin, J.B. Smoove, Nelly, and Robin Thicke. He also wrote TV series like “Hart of the City” and “TKO: Total Knock Out.”

As a writer, Hart scripted his stand-up comedy specials, including “Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain,” “Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain,” and “Kevin Hart: What Now?” He made his film debut in 2002’s “Paper Soldiers” and wrote variety shows like “The Plastic Cup Boyz” and his first film under his own production company, “Night School,” starring Tiffany Haddish.

Hart, who currently has an estimated net worth of $450 million, has surpassed his mentor Apatow. The Philly native’s entrepreneurial spirit has propelled him to financial and creative heights he may have never imagined in 2001.

His latest media venture, HartBeat, showcases his business acumen. In May 2022, Hart and private equity firm Abry Partners raised $100 million, elevating HartBeat’s valuation to $650 million. Beyond HartBeat, Hart sits on the board of Comcast Corp., aligning his brand with NBCUniversal and its streaming service, Peacock.

As a key decision-maker, Hart controls his brand’s intellectual property, including movies, TV shows, and various online content. Ventures like Laugh Out Loud and HartBeat have thrived, especially during the pandemic when digital content consumption surged. Hart’s strategic investments and content ownership have solidified his status as a creative entrepreneur inching closer to the half-billion mark.

“Hart to Heart,” the talk show where he interviewed his former mentor and now peer Apatow, is produced by Hart’s own media company, HartBeat Productions. Reflecting on his journey, that $300 investment in Final Draft, even without a computer, proved to be a wise decision.