Rick Harrison continues to possess ownership of the Pawn Shop. While he isn’t present at the store on a full-time basis, he makes periodic visits to interact with fans, taking photos and signing autographs.
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Who Is Rick Harrison?
Born on March 22, 1965, Richard Kevin Harrison is an American businessman, reality television personality, and the proprietor of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, prominently showcased on the History series “Pawn Stars.” In a collaborative endeavor, Harrison and his father, Richard Benjamin Harrison, inaugurated the shop in 1989. This partnership persisted until the passing of his father in 2018.
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Rick Harrison Trivia
Birthdate | March 22, 1965 |
Birthplace | Lexington, N.C. |
Birth name | Richard Kevin Harrison |
Marriages | Kim Harrison (1982–1985) |
Tracy Harrison (1986–2011) | |
Deanna Burditt (2013–2021) | |
Children | Jake Harrison |
Adam Harrison | |
Corey Harrison |
Rick Harrison Business
Rick’s father initially established the store in Las Vegas as a coin shop in 1981. However, its journey would involve several relocations before eventually transforming into a pawn shop near the iconic Las Vegas strip in 1989.
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Rick diligently pitched the concept of a reality TV show for a span of four years. Surprisingly, the idea was nearly picked up by platforms like HBO or YouTube. Eventually, the History Channel secured the rights to the show, which has since become one of the network’s most acclaimed and highest-rated programs.
The substantial popularity of the show has significantly influenced Rick’s real estate endeavors. Notably, he successfully sold his Summerlin residence, located on the outskirts of Las Vegas, for a substantial sum of $3.99 million in 2019.
Acquired in 2016, the luxurious country club-style residence underwent an impressive $600,000 in renovations under his stewardship before being placed on the market to yield a profitable return.
Rick Harrison’s Television Fame
After his shop was featured in the show “Insomniac with Dave Attell” in 2003, Harrison dedicated four years to pitching the concept of a show centered around a pawn shop. Despite his initial efforts not yielding success, the tide turned in 2008 when Brent Montgomery and Colby Gaines from Leftfield Pictures conceptualized a reality show set in a Las Vegas pawn shop and approached Harrison.
Originally pitched to HBO, the network suggested a “Taxicab Confessions”-style format taking place at Gold & Silver’s night window. However, the format underwent a transformation under Nancy Dubuc of the History Channel.
This new format incorporated on-camera experts appraising items, along with the dynamics of the store’s staff and patrons’ personalities. The show was eventually renamed “Pawn Stars,” a nod to the term “porn stars” for enhanced marketing appeal.
The show features Harrison, his father Richard Harrison (known as “The Old Man”), Corey Harrison (“Big Hoss”), and Corey’s childhood friend and employee, Austin “Chumlee” Russell. In recognition of his role in enlightening the public about the pawn industry, Harrison received the Pawnbroker of the Year Award from the National Pawnbrokers Association in 2010.
“Pawn Stars” garnered significant popularity, becoming the highest-rated program on the History Channel and the second-highest-rated reality show after “Jersey Shore” in January 2011.
In June 2011, Harrison authored the biography “License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver,” which reached No. 22 on The New York Times Best Seller list.
Harrison made appearances as himself in various TV series, including “iCarly” and “The Middle.” He also became the spokesperson for the Micro Touch One Razor in January 2014 and starred in television commercials for the product.
In June 2014, History premiered “United Stuff of America,” a series spotlighting significant artifacts from history, and “Pawnography,” a game show where Harrison and others compete against players to prevent them from winning items from Gold & Silver Pawn Shop’s inventory.
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Estimated Rick Harrison’s Net Worth
Rick Harrison’s remarkable net worth amounts to an impressive $9 million. He belongs to the esteemed Harrison family, proprietors of the renowned Gold and Silver Pawn Shop located in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, Nevada.
His prominence soared due to his involvement in the captivating reality television sensation, Pawn Stars.