Pinkett was already an educational and business superstar by the time he and his wife decided to send in his application to compete for the right to be on Donald Trump’s reality series “The Apprentice.” He was both a Rhodes Scholar and a Walter Byers Scholar and was the co-founder of the business consulting firm BCT Partners in 2001.
In 2005, a 34-year old Pinkett along with 17 other contestants entered “The Apprentice” after his wife downloaded the application form, planting the idea of auditioning for the show in his mind. The fourth season began filming in May 2005 and began airing September 2005, with the finale airing in two-parts on on December 8 and 15, 2005. Pinkett reached the finale with one other contestant, 23-year-old financial journalist Rebecca Jarvis. Pinkett was to organize a celebrity ball-game for Autism Speaks while Jarvis’ task was to stage a comedy night in aid of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Despite the game being rained out, Pinkett raised nearly $11,000.
