Rick Harrison Net Worth

What is Rick Harrison's net worth?

Rick Harrison is an American business owner and reality TV star who has a net worth of $10 million. While Harrison earned millions in salary across 20+ seasons of the History Channel's Pawn Stars, the core of his wealth is tied to his estimated 95% ownership stake in the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. Given the shop's status as a global brand and major Las Vegas tourist destination, the business is valued at approximately $10 million. Rick's son, Corey, owns the remaining 5%.

Rick Harrison is best known as the co-founder of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas and the star of the long-running History Channel series "Pawn Stars." Since the show debuted in 2009, Harrison has become one of the most recognizable figures in reality television. With his calm negotiating style, deep knowledge of collectibles, and ability to quickly assess the value of unusual items, he earned the nickname "The Spotter" on the show. "Pawn Stars" follows the daily operations of the family-run pawn shop, where Harrison and his team evaluate everything from rare coins and historical artifacts to vintage guitars and sports memorabilia.

Under Harrison's leadership, the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop transformed from a small family business into one of the most famous pawn shops in the world and a major Las Vegas tourist attraction. The show's success turned Harrison, his father Richard "The Old Man" Harrison, his son Corey Harrison, and family friend Austin "Chumlee" Russell into pop culture figures. "Pawn Stars" has aired hundreds of episodes across more than two decades and remains one of the most successful programs in the history of the History Channel. Beyond television, Harrison has expanded his brand through books, speaking engagements, and various business ventures, cementing his reputation as both a savvy negotiator and a central figure in modern reality television.

Early Life

Richard Kevin Harrison was born on March 22, 1965, in Lexington, North Carolina. The son of Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr. and Joanne Harrison, Rick's early life was marked by a battle with epilepsy. Beginning at age eight, frequent seizures often left him bedridden. During these periods of isolation, he became a voracious reader, consuming history books and encyclopedias—a habit that provided the foundation for the expansive trivia and historical knowledge he displays on television.

After the family moved to Las Vegas in 1981, Rick dropped out of high school during his sophomore year to pursue various "hustles," including a brief stint selling counterfeit designer bags. This early exposure to the secondary market eventually led him to join his father's budding coin business.

The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop

Soon after arriving in Las Vegas, Rick's father opened a small secondhand business called the Gold & Silver Coin Shop in 1981. The shop was initially a tiny 300-square-foot storefront on Las Vegas Boulevard. Rick began working alongside his father during the day, learning the intricacies of buying and selling collectible coins and precious metals. At night, he supplemented his income by repossessing cars.

Over the next several years, the business grew steadily. In 1986, the shop moved into a larger space in downtown Las Vegas. Two years later, after losing their lease, the Harrisons relocated again to another commercial building on Las Vegas Boulevard.

Rick and his father believed that the natural next step for their business would be converting the coin shop into a full pawn shop. However, Las Vegas regulations made that difficult. A city law dating back to 1955 limited the number of pawn shop licenses issued based on population size. Determined to secure a license, Rick reportedly called the city statistician every week to track the city's population growth so they could apply the moment a new license became available.

In 1989, when the population threshold was reached, the Harrisons successfully obtained one of the rare licenses. That same year they officially opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop near the Las Vegas Strip.

By the mid-2000s, the shop had become a profitable business. The Harrisons were issuing roughly $3 million in loans annually, generating approximately $700,000 in yearly income through interest.

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Pitching "Pawn Stars"

Rick Harrison had long believed that a pawn shop offered the perfect setting for a television show. The business attracted an endless stream of unusual items and colorful personalities, from tourists looking for quick cash to collectors bringing in rare historical artifacts.

The idea gained traction after the shop appeared in a 2001 PBS documentary and later in a segment on the Comedy Central show "Insomniac with Dave Attell" in 2003. Harrison spent nearly four years pitching the concept of a reality series centered on the store.

Early discussions reportedly involved networks like HBO and emerging online platforms, but nothing materialized until the History Channel became interested in the concept. The network ultimately developed the show that became "Pawn Stars."

Larry French/Getty Images

"Pawn Stars" Success

"Pawn Stars" premiered on the History Channel in July 2009 and quickly became a ratings phenomenon. The show follows the day-to-day activity inside the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop as customers bring in items they hope to sell or pawn. Harrison and his team evaluate the objects, consult experts when necessary, and negotiate deals.

The show's formula blends history, comedy, and negotiation. Harrison often explains the historical significance of objects while carefully calculating their market value. His ability to spot rare items and avoid overpaying became a defining feature of the series.

The cast dynamic also contributed to the show's popularity. Rick served as the pragmatic negotiator, while his father, known as "The Old Man," delivered blunt humor. Rick's son Corey handled many operational aspects of the shop, and Austin "Chumlee" Russell provided comedic relief.

The show's success dramatically increased the pawn shop's visibility. What had once been a local business turned into a major Las Vegas tourist attraction, with thousands of visitors lining up daily to see the store.

Over the years, "Pawn Stars" expanded into multiple spin-offs and special episodes. The flagship series has produced hundreds of episodes across more than twenty seasons and remains the most successful show in the History Channel's history.

Business Ventures and Public Profile

The popularity of "Pawn Stars" elevated Rick Harrison into a national celebrity. In addition to operating the pawn shop, he has pursued several other business opportunities.

Harrison has written books about his life and business philosophy, including "License to Pawn," which recounts his journey from a small family business to international television fame. He has also appeared frequently as a speaker and guest commentator discussing entrepreneurship, collectibles, and the pawn industry.

The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop itself became one of the most famous pawn shops in the world. Even people who never intended to pawn an item began visiting simply to see the location featured on television.

Harrison also became active in public discussions about regulation, business policy, and entrepreneurship in Nevada.

Family and Personal Life

Rick Harrison's personal life has included several marriages and a large extended family. When he was 17 years old, his girlfriend Kim became pregnant. Although she suffered a miscarriage, the couple chose to marry. Their first son, Corey Harrison, was born in 1983, followed by a second son, Adam, two years later. The marriage eventually ended in separation.

Harrison later met his second wife, Tracy, on a blind double date. After several months of dating, they moved in together and eventually married. Tracy helped raise Rick's two sons, though the marriage later ended in divorce.

In 2013, Harrison married Deanna Burditt in Laguna Beach, California. The marriage ended in divorce in 2020. In 2021, he married Amanda Palmer.

Rick's son Corey remains a central figure in the family business and on "Pawn Stars," continuing the Harrison family's multigenerational role in the shop.

Family Lawsuit and Ownership Dispute

Following the death of Richard "The Old Man" Harrison in 2018, a high-stakes legal battle fractured the family. In 2022, Rick's mother, Joanne Harrison, filed a lawsuit in Nevada seeking an accounting of the family assets and alleging corporate misconduct.

The lawsuit alleged that while Joanne was hospitalized in a coma around 2000 or 2001, Rick had her sign over her 51% controlling interest in the pawn shop to him. Joanne claimed she had no knowledge of what she was signing at the time. Furthermore, the filing alleged that Rick failed to provide her with the required financial documentation regarding the business and Richard Sr.'s estate, which included substantial holdings in cash and silver.

While Rick publicly denied the allegations, characterizing them as a result of his mother being "manipulated" by others, the dispute highlighted the consolidation of the business. Through these legal maneuvers and previous buyouts, Rick emerged as the 95% majority owner, with his son Corey holding the remaining 5%. The lawsuit was eventually moved toward private mediation, and Rick remains the primary executive and owner of the Gold & Silver brand.

Real Estate

Rick Harrison has owned several properties in the Las Vegas area.

One of his most notable homes was located in the Red Rock Country Club community in Summerlin, an upscale neighborhood west of the Las Vegas Strip.

The approximately 8,800-square-foot house was originally built in 2001. Harrison purchased the property in 2016 and reportedly spent around $600,000 renovating it. The home included luxury features such as a 12-seat theater with a 150-inch screen, a wine cellar capable of storing more than 1,000 bottles, an elevator, and a central audio system that could stream music throughout the house.

One of the more unusual design details was a granite floor in the formal sitting room that had been acid-washed and cut into planks to resemble hardwood flooring.

The backyard included views of Red Rock Canyon and the Las Vegas Strip. Outdoor amenities included a lagoon-style swimming pool, a spa, a waterfall, and a lazy river that flowed into the pool. The property also featured an outdoor kitchen and direct access to the nearby Arroyo Golf Club.

Harrison listed the home for sale in 2019 for approximately $3.99 million. He accepted $3.15 million in March 2021.

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