Rick Harrison, a prominent American businessman and reality TV personality, has an estimated net worth of $9 million. He is best known as the co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, Nevada, which gained worldwide attention thanks to the hit television series Pawn Stars. The show, which chronicles the daily events at the pawn shop, has made the Harrison family a household name.
Early Life and Family Background
Born Richard Kevin Harrison on March 22, 1965, in Lexington, North Carolina, Rick Harrison was the third child in his family. His parents, Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr. and Joanne Harrison, raised him alongside his two brothers, Joseph and Chris, and his older sister, Sherry, who tragically passed away at the age of six. Rick’s father, a U.S. Navy veteran, relocated the family to San Diego when Rick was just two years old.
Harrison faced health challenges as a child, battling epilepsy from the age of eight. These seizures often kept him bedridden, which fostered his love for reading. Harrison attended Taft Middle School in San Diego but dropped out during his sophomore year. He was eager to pursue a business opportunity, selling counterfeit Gucci bags, which brought him around $2,000 a week.
In 1981, the Harrison family made a significant move to Las Vegas, Nevada.
Early Career and the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
Upon settling in Las Vegas, Rick’s father opened his first secondhand store, the Gold & Silver Coin Shop, in 1981. This small, 300-square-foot space was located on Las Vegas Boulevard. While Rick worked in the shop during the day, he also took on the job of repossessing cars at night. However, the store’s first location did not last long. In 1986, the shop moved to a larger space in downtown Las Vegas. Unfortunately, this lease was also lost by 1988.
The Harrisons relocated once again, this time to a new commercial building on Las Vegas Boulevard. At this point, Rick and his father had been discussing the idea of turning their coin shop into a pawnshop for years. However, due to a 1955 Las Vegas law, they faced a hurdle: the city’s population was a determining factor for issuing pawn licenses. Rick persistently contacted the city’s statistician, hoping for the population to reach a threshold that would open up a new round of pawn licenses.
In 1989, the Harrisons finally received the coveted license, and they officially opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. The store became a staple in Las Vegas, providing not just pawn services but also a wide range of unique items, from rare coins to sports memorabilia.
The Success of Pawn Stars
By 2005, the pawnshop was loaning out approximately $3 million annually, with the Harrisons earning around $700,000 from the interest. By 2006, the shop was already well-known for its collection of rare sports memorabilia and served as a haven for gamblers who needed quick cash.
Rick’s breakthrough moment came after the pawnshop was featured in a 2001 PBS documentary and on Insomniac with Dave Attell in 2003. These appearances led Rick to pitch the idea of a reality TV series based on his shop. After several years of discussions with HBO and YouTube, the History Channel finally saw the potential of the concept, and Pawn Stars debuted in 2009.
The show quickly became the most popular program on the History Channel and is now in its 21st season, with over 600 episodes. Pawn Stars continues to break records, with the History Channel renewing it for 80 episodes at a time, an unusually large order for a reality series.
Rick’s son, Corey Harrison, and childhood friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell also feature prominently on the show, contributing to its dynamic and appeal. Known as “The Spotter,” Rick has earned his nickname for his impressive ability to identify undervalued items.
Rick Harrison’s Personal Life
Rick’s personal life has been just as eventful as his business career. At the age of 17, he and his girlfriend, Kim, had a child together. Tragically, Kim suffered a miscarriage, but the couple chose to marry. They went on to have two sons, Corey and Adam. However, Rick and Kim eventually separated after Adam was born.
Nine months after the separation, Rick met Tracy on a blind date. Their relationship quickly progressed, and they married after just a few months of living together. They raised Corey and Adam together but later divorced.
In 2012, Rick became engaged to Deanna Burditt, a woman who had also been previously married. The couple tied the knot on July 21, 2013, in Laguna Beach, California. However, their marriage ended in September 2020. In 2021, Rick married Amanda Palmer, marking his third marriage.
Rick Harrison has also expressed interest in politics, even considering a run for governor of Nevada in 2022. He has hinted at a potential candidacy for the U.S. Senate in 2024, further expanding his public profile.
Legal Disputes and Family Drama
In 2018, following the death of Rick’s father, Richard “The Old Man” Harrison, a family dispute erupted over the ownership and assets of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. Rick’s mother, Joanne Harrison, filed a lawsuit alleging that she had been coerced into signing over 51% of the business to Rick while she was hospitalized in 2000. The lawsuit claimed that Rick failed to provide her with proper documentation regarding the business’s finances after his father’s passing.
Joanne also accused Rick of not disclosing over $500,000 in cash and silver that she believed her late husband had accumulated before his death. She sought unspecified damages, an accurate accounting of the business’s assets, and a court order preventing Rick from using any funds she believed were rightfully hers.
Rick Harrison’s Real Estate Ventures
Rick’s real estate investments have been as impressive as his business ventures. In 2019, he listed his Red Rock Country Clubhouse in Summerlin, Las Vegas, for $3.99 million. The luxurious 8,845-square-foot property, built in 2001, had undergone significant renovations, including a $600,000 upgrade.
The home boasts numerous high-end features, such as granite flooring in the formal sitting room, a 12-seat home theater, and a wine cellar that can hold over 1,000 bottles. It also offers breathtaking views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Strip. The backyard features a lagoon-style pool, a lazy river, an outdoor kitchen, and even a waterfall.
Rick had initially chosen the neighborhood for its proximity to the schools his children attended. However, with his children now grown, he decided to downsize and put the home on the market.
