Rick Harrison Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Rick Harrison’s net worth?

With a net worth of $9 million, Rick Harrison is known as an American business owner and a reality TV personality. He is part of the Harrison family, which operates the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The family’s fame escalated through the reality show “Pawn Stars,” showcasing the various happenings at their pawn shop.

Early Life

Born as Richard Kevin Harrison on March 22, 1965, in Lexington, North Carolina, he is the son of Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr. and Joanne Harrison. He is the third child in his family, having an older sister named Sherry who passed away at the age of six, along with an older brother Joseph and a younger brother Chris. His father served in the U.S. Navy. At the age of two, Harrison’s family moved following his father’s transfer to San Diego. Beginning at eight years old, Harrison experienced epileptic seizures, which often kept him bedridden, fostering his passion for reading. Although he attended Taft Middle School in San Diego, he left during his sophomore year to pursue his business of selling counterfeit Gucci bags for $2,000 a week. In April 1981, the Harrisons relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada.

Career

After moving to Las Vegas, Harrison’s father initiated his first secondhand store in 1981, a small 300-square-foot establishment named the Gold & Silver Coin Shop on Las Vegas Boulevard. During the day, Harrison assisted in the store, while at night, he engaged in car repossession. In 1986, the store transitioned to a larger location in downtown Las Vegas, but by 1988, the family lost their lease and shifted to a new commercial building on Las Vegas Boulevard. Harrison and his father had considered transforming the coin shop into a pawn shop for years, seeing it as a natural progression for their business. However, changing their business model was complicated by a longstanding Las Vegas law from 1955, which restricted the issuance of pawn shop licenses based on the city’s population. In 1988, with over 640,000 residents in the greater metro area, Harrison frequently contacted the city’s statistician to stay updated on the population growth. This persistence paid off when, in 1989, the Harrisons secured their pawn license and subsequently opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop near the Las Vegas Strip. The duo managed the shop until the passing of his father in 2018.

By 2005, the Harrisons were lending approximately $3 million annually, which generated around $700,000 in income through interest from these loans. By 2006, the pawnshop had gained notoriety for its unique sports memorabilia and became a popular spot for gamblers needing to pawn items for gas money to return home.

In 2001, following his store’s feature in a PBS documentary and an appearance on Comedy Central’s Insomniac with Dave Attell in 2003, Harrison spent four years advocating for a TV show centered around his pawnshop. His idea circulated through HBO and YouTube until the History Channel decided to bring it to life, resulting in the creation of Pawn Stars, which has become the network’s highest-rated series. Premiering in July 2009, and as of June 2023, the show has aired for 21 seasons totaling 633 episodes. Pawn Stars consistently ranks as the top show on The History Channel, so much so that the network renews it in increments of 80 episodes, which is quite uncommon.

For any television series, particularly a reality show, this is quite significant.

Corey Harrison, the son of Rick, currently works in the store and appears on the show alongside his childhood best friend, Austin “Chumlee” Russell. The nickname given to Rick on the show is “The Spotter,” reflecting his talent for identifying undervalued items.

Personal Life

At the age of 17, Harrison’s girlfriend Kim became pregnant. Even though they experienced a miscarriage, the pair chose to marry. Their first child, Corey, was born on April 27, 1983, followed by their second child, Adam, two years later. Shortly after Adam’s arrival, Kim and Harrison parted ways.

Nine months later, Harrison encountered his future second wife, Tracy, during a blind double date. After a six-month courtship, they moved in together and tied the knot eight months later, taking on the responsibility of Corey and Adam’s upbringing. Eventually, they divorced.

In 2012, Harrison, who had been divorced twice, announced his engagement to Deanna Burditt, who also had two previous marriages. The couple exchanged vows on July 21, 2013, in Laguna Beach, California, but they divorced in September 2020. In 2021, Harrison wed Amanda Palmer.

Rick Harrison has shown interest in political matters and contemplated a bid for governor of Nevada in 2022, and he is considering running for the U.S. Senate in 2024.

Lawsuit

Following the passing of Richard Harrison, known as “The Old Man,” in 2018, Rick’s mother, Joanne, initiated a lawsuit concerning a dispute over family assets and the ownership of their Las Vegas pawn shop. She claims that Rick had her transfer her 51% ownership of the business while she was hospitalized in 2000/2001. According to the lawsuit, after Richard’s death in 2018, Joanne inherited his 49% share but Rick did not provide her with complete financial records. Joanne also states she has not received a proper accounting for over $500,000 in cash and silver that she believes her husband accumulated before his death. She seeks unspecified damages, an accounting of assets, and a court order to prevent Rick Harrison from using her funds, in addition to a “constructive trust” over property that belongs to her.

Real Estate

In 2019, Harrison put his Red Rock Country Clubhouse in Summerlin, Las Vegas, on the market for $3.99 million. The home, covering 8,845 square feet, was constructed in 2001. After purchasing the house in 2016, he invested approximately $600,000 in renovations. The formal sitting room features acid-washed granite flooring, cut into planks and arranged like hardwood, costing $45,000. There are two bedrooms on the lower level and two on the upper level, along with a gym that can serve as a bedroom. The house includes seven bathrooms, a home theater that can seat 12 people equipped with a 150-inch screen, and curtains. A wine cellar is capable of holding over 1,000 bottles. An elevator and a central sound system enable music to be played in any room from a phone.

The front of the property has views of Red Rock Canyon’s Spring Mountains, while the backyard overlooks the Strip and the Arroyo Golf Club. An upstairs game room features a balcony at the back of the house. The backyard boasts a lagoon-style pool, an elevated spa, and a gate leading to the golf course. There’s a 10-foot waterfall alongside a lazy river that flows into the pool. Additionally, the backyard contains an outdoor kitchen. Harrison chose the neighborhood as their children attended high school in the vicinity, but now that the children have grown, the space is no longer needed.