Rick Harrison’s Journey: From Pawn Shop Owner to Reality TV Star and Personal Struggles

Rick Harrison, best known as the co-founder and star of the hit show Pawn Stars, has built an empire in the pawn shop business, becoming a household name for his no-nonsense attitude and sharp bargaining skills. Since Pawn Stars premiered in 2009, Rick and his family have been thrust into the limelight, where they became central figures in the world of reality TV. However, Rick’s journey to fame and fortune has been far from easy. Behind the camera, Harrison has faced personal and legal battles, including family tragedies, business struggles, and health challenges, that have shaped the man behind the pawn shop counter. In this article, we take a closer look at Rick Harrison’s life, his journey to success, and the struggles he’s faced along the way.

Richard Kelvin Harrison, known to fans as Rick Harrison, was born on March 22, 1965, in the United States to Richard Benjamin Harrison and Joanne Ru Harrison. Rick grew up in a family of four children, with Rick being the third child. His early life was marked by tragedy when his older sibling, Sher, who had Down syndrome, passed away at the age of six. Despite this heartbreak, Rick continued to navigate life with resilience, although he would later face additional challenges.
At the age of 8, Rick was diagnosed with epilepsy, which led to him spending significant time in bed, reading books, and developing a love for history and physics. His interest in the Royal Navy and the 1700s to 1800s became a lifelong passion, one that would eventually benefit his career. However, Rick’s teenage years were not without difficulties. After attending several schools, he dropped out of high school during 10th grade and briefly worked selling fake Gucci bags, an experience that would eventually guide his future business decisions.

In 1981, Rick’s family moved to Las Vegas after their real estate business failed. Rick initially took on various jobs, including repossessing cars, but his path changed when his father opened a 300-square-foot secondhand coin shop, which later became the famous Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. At the time, Rick was in his late teens and quickly became involved in the family business. Rick’s knowledge of history and his fascination with unique items made him an asset to the pawn shop, and by 1989, they had obtained a pawn license after overcoming legal challenges. The Gold and Silver Pawn Shop officially opened that year, and Rick began applying his expertise to the business, focusing on historical pieces and rare sports items. Eventually, jewelry became the shop’s most popular item, and the shop started earning millions in loans and interest each year.

In 2008, producers Brent Montgomery and Colby Gaines from Leftfield Pictures visited Las Vegas to explore the idea of a reality TV show set in a pawn shop. After discovering the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, they saw potential in showcasing the unique characters and dynamic of the Harrison family. The concept for Pawn Stars was born, and despite the initial challenges in pitching the show, it premiered on the History Channel in July 2009. The show quickly became a massive success, with Rick, his son Corey, and Chumley becoming household names. Their interactions with customers and their knowledge of rare and unique items captured the audience’s attention, and the show became one of the top-rated programs on cable television.

Despite the success of Pawn Stars, Rick Harrison’s personal life has been fraught with challenges. In 2018, he faced the heartbreaking loss of his father, Richard Harrison, known as “The Old Man” on the show, who passed away from Parkinson’s disease. Rick’s grief was compounded by the responsibility of managing the family business without his father’s guidance. Then, in 2019, Rick’s pawn shop business was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a significant drop in customer visits. During the pandemic, Rick had to adjust by lowering interest rates and offering customers more time to pick up their items. Despite these efforts, the shop’s revenue drastically decreased, and it was a challenging time for Rick and his business.
In addition to business struggles, Rick’s personal life faced turbulence when he divorced his second wife, Tracy, in 2011. Later, in 2020, Rick married Deanna Burditt, a woman he had been dating after his divorce. The marriage, however, ended in divorce in 2022 after the couple drifted apart, with Rick citing their different tastes, opinions, and preferences as reasons for the split.

In 2022, Rick’s legal troubles intensified when his mother, Joanne Harrison, filed a lawsuit against him over family assets and ownership of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. The lawsuit accused Rick of breaking a contract and using his mother’s 51% ownership of the business without her full understanding. Joanne claimed she was forced to sign over her shares of the business while recovering from a coma in the early 2000s, a situation that led to a bitter legal dispute. Rick responded by stating that the accusations were false and that his mother had been influenced by others. The legal battle over family assets and the pawn shop’s ownership caused a rift between Rick and his mother, a complicated situation that raised questions about his personal and professional relationships.

In January 2024, Rick faced an unimaginable loss when his son, Adam Harrison, tragically passed away from a fentanyl overdose at the age of 39. The news of Adam’s death shook the Harrison family, and Rick shared his grief on Instagram, posting a tribute to his son. “I’ll always love you, Bubba,” he wrote, adding a broken heart emoji. Adam, who had previously worked at the pawn shop before becoming a plumber, was not involved in Pawn Stars but was a part of the family business in earlier years. The loss of his son was one of the most devastating events in Rick’s life, and it served as a reminder of the fragility of life.

Despite the personal and professional challenges, Rick Harrison continues to stay active in the world of reality TV. He is currently starring in Pawn Stars Do America and continues to lead the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop. Though his life has been marked by ups and downs, Rick’s resilience and dedication to his family and business have remained steadfast. Rick’s story is one of perseverance, demonstrating that even in the face of tragedy and hardship, one can continue to push forward. As he moves into a new phase of his life, Rick’s journey serves as a reminder that family, hard work, and determination are essential to navigating life’s toughest challenges.