Kevin Hart’s $450 million empire might not exist as we know it today if not for one unexpected favor from Shaquille O’Neal. Back in 2009, the NBA legend called up a young Hart for what seemed like just another comedy gig. Little did Hart know, it would change everything.
Kevin Hart recently joined The Breakfast Club to talk about his career—his movies, viral videos, and larger-than-life encounters. Then came an unexpected revelation. When asked if Shaquille O’Neal had played a role in his rise, Hart didn’t hesitate. The Big Aristotle had been a key factor in his journey. He mentioned the lesser-known Shaquille O’Neal Comedy All-Star Jam.
Hart shared how he received a call from O’Neal to headline the show held in 2009. Initially, the comedian didn’t think much about the event, but it gained immense popularity. “The crazy thing, I did it as a favor. I was like “man I can’t really do sh– I’m about to drop my special. So I don’t really want to like go.” And they was like, “No Kev come on like we need a headliner, we want you to come it’ll be quick,” and it was like just a gig doing Allstar Weekend, and like we’re going to tape it,” he said.
“I was like all right I’m going to put like a different 15 minutes on this man I don’t really you know I’m not really pressed to I’m not really pressed about it like that so I’ll give you all this 15 and I’ll save the other for my special so it it’s like a toss away set,” Hart added.
Cedric The Entertainer and other comedians also performed, but for Hart, the event proved far more important than he ever expected. He has a net worth of $450 million, which is $50 million less than Shaq’s. Moreover, an old, unscripted video of Shaq playfully pretending to arrest Hart in ‘The Real Husbands of Hollywood‘ went viral, further boosting Hart’s visibility.
May 28, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Shaquille O’Neal watches the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Minnesota Timberwolves in game four of the western conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The comedian also became a part of producing the Comedy All-Star in collaboration with the 4x NBA champ. But is the Los Angeles Lakers legend still involved with the show?
Shaquille O’Neal was surprised to find out about the 2025 Comedy All-Star Jam
Logically, one would assume so. However, recent developments suggest otherwise. For his love of comedy, O’Neal joined Hartbeat President & Chief Distribution Officer Jeff Clanagan to launch a platform for new talents in 2009. However, in 2023, O’Neal sold Jersey Legends Productions, which was one of the studios behind the production, to Authentic Brands Group.
So, while the show started back in 2009, O’Neal might have lost the rights along with his new deal. This might explain why he wasn’t aware of the latest 2025 event, though it’s just an assumption. He likely found out about it during The Big Podcast. In that episode, his guest DC Young Fly shared that he would be performing at the Comedy All-Star weekend. This surprised Shaq. “We got a show out here tonight. I just really be flying coming to pick up my money…It’s the All Star Comedy Jam they had your name on,” DJ Young Fly said.
“They are like we can’t use Shaq no more,” he added. This even surprised co-host Adam Lefkoe. Following this, Shaq added that he will “figure” it out.
Shaquille O’Neal may no longer be at the helm of the Comedy All-Star Jam. But his impact on the entertainment industry remains undeniable. From his early support of rising comedians to his multi-million-dollar media empire, Shaq has proven that his influence extends far beyond basketball. Whether in sports, business, or entertainment, the Big Aristotle always finds a way to stay ahead of the game.
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