Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars: The Rise, Success, and Personal Struggles Behind the TV Star
Rick Harrison, best known as the co-star and co-owner of the long-running History Channel series Pawn Stars, has become one of reality television’s most recognizable faces. Since the show premiered in 2009, millions of viewers have followed his work at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. However, behind the success of the show lies a life marked by significant personal challenges, family tragedies, and legal battles.
Early Life and Challenges
Born Richard Kelvin Harrison on March 22, 1965, in Lexington, North Carolina, Rick was the third of four children born to Richard Benjamin “The Old Man” Harrison and Joanne Harrison. His older sister, Sherry, was born with Down syndrome and passed away at the age of six — a loss that deeply affected the family.
When Rick was two years old, the family moved to San Diego, California, after his father was transferred while serving in the U.S. Navy. At age eight, Rick began experiencing epileptic seizures, which forced him to spend long periods at home. During this time, he developed a strong love for reading, particularly history and a series of books about a young con artist. His interest in history would later prove valuable in the family business.
Rick dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and moved with his family to Las Vegas in 1981 after his parents’ real estate business failed.
Building the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop
In 1981, Rick’s father opened a small secondhand gold and silver coin shop on Las Vegas Boulevard. Rick quickly became involved, using his knowledge of history to help evaluate items. The business grew, and in 1989, after years of waiting for the city’s population to reach the required threshold, the Harrisons finally obtained a pawn license.
That same year, they opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South. Initially focused on sports memorabilia and historical items, the shop eventually found its biggest success in jewelry. By the mid-2000s, the business was lending out millions of dollars annually.
The Success of Pawn Stars
In 2008, producers from Leftfield Pictures visited Las Vegas and discovered the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. They pitched the idea of a reality show centered around the family-run business. Originally titled Pawning History, the show was later renamed Pawn Stars — a playful pun on “porn stars.”
The series premiered on the History Channel in July 2009. It quickly became a massive hit, blending negotiation, history, and colorful characters. At its peak, Pawn Stars was the highest-rated show on the History Channel. Rick’s son Corey and longtime friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell became fan favorites alongside Rick and his father.
The show’s success turned the Harrison family into reality TV stars and significantly increased business at the shop.
Personal Life and Heartbreaks
Rick’s personal life has been marked by both joy and deep loss. He became a father at a young age when his then-girlfriend Kim became pregnant. The couple later married and had two sons: Corey (born 1983) and Adam (born 1985). They eventually divorced in 1985.
In 1986, Rick married Tracy, and the couple helped raise Corey and Adam. That marriage ended in divorce in 2011. Rick later married Deanna Burditt in 2013, gaining three stepdaughters. That marriage also ended in divorce around 2020.
Tragically, in January 2024, Rick’s younger son Adam passed away at age 39 from an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and methamphetamine. Rick shared the heartbreaking news on social media, writing, “You’ll always be in my heart. I love you, Adam.” The loss deeply affected the family.
Legal Battle with His Mother
In February 2022, Rick faced another major challenge when his mother, Joanne Harrison, filed a lawsuit against him and several family businesses. She accused him of improperly gaining control of her 51% ownership stake in the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop years earlier while she was recovering from a coma. She also claimed she had not received proper financial records or payments from her late husband’s share of the business after his death in 2018.
Rick denied the allegations, stating they were untrue and suggesting his mother may have been influenced by others. The legal dispute created a painful public rift within the family.
Current Life and Activities
Despite the many hardships he has faced, Rick Harrison has remained active in television. He no longer works full-time at the pawn shop and has stepped back from day-to-day operations. He continues to appear on Pawn Stars and starred in the spin-off series Pawn Stars Do America.
Rick has also shown interest in politics. He endorsed Donald Trump in 2020 and has publicly discussed the possibility of running for office, including potentially for U.S. Senate.
In recent years, Rick married his fourth wife, Amanda Palmer. He has spoken positively about spending time with his grandchildren and stepchildren, whom he continues to refer to as his daughters.
A Life of Highs and Lows
Rick Harrison’s journey from a high school dropout with epilepsy to a reality television star is remarkable. While Pawn Stars brought him fame and financial success, his life has also been shaped by significant personal losses, including the deaths of his sister, his father, and his son Adam, as well as multiple divorces and a painful legal battle with his mother.
Through it all, Rick has remained a recognizable figure in American pop culture. His story reflects both the opportunities and the personal costs that can come with sudden fame and a family business thrust into the national spotlight.
