Rick Harrison is a well-known American businessman, reality television personality, and entrepreneur. He gained widespread fame as the co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, which became the setting for the hit History Channel show Pawn Stars. The show has made him a household name and helped him amass significant wealth.
As of 2026, Rick Harrison net worth is estimated to be around $9 million. His wealth comes from multiple sources, including his pawn shop, TV show earnings, book sales, and various business ventures. In this article, we will explore his life, career, financial success, and future plans.
Biography
Early Life and Education
Born in Lexington, North Carolina, Rick Harrison is the son of Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr., a U.S. Navy veteran, and Joanne Rhue Harrison. At the age of two, his family moved to San Diego, California. Rick suffered from epileptic seizures starting at age eight, which confined him to bed and fostered a love for reading, particularly history books. He attended Taft Middle School but dropped out during his sophomore year to pursue a business selling fake Gucci bags, reportedly earning $2,000 a week.
Career
In 1981, Rick’s father opened the Gold & Silver Coin Shop in Las Vegas. Rick worked there during the day and repossessed cars at night. In 1989, they obtained a pawn license and opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop on Las Vegas Boulevard. The shop gained fame for its unique items and clientele, leading to the creation of the reality TV show Pawn Stars in 2009. The show became a hit, significantly increasing the shop’s popularity and Rick’s personal fame.
Personal Life and Relationships
Rick Harrison has been married five times. He married Amanda Palmer in 2021, but the couple divorced in 2023, and in January 2026 he married Las Vegas nurse Angie Polushkin.
He has six children, including Corey, Adam and Jake. Tragically, his son Adam passed away in January 2024 due to a fentanyl overdose.
Rick Harrison Net Worth
As of 2026, Rick Harrison net worth is estimated to be around $9 million. This wealth primarily comes from his pawn shop business and earnings from the Pawn Stars television show.
Sources of Income
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Gold & Silver Pawn Shop: Rick co-owns the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, which has been a significant source of his income since its establishment in 1989.
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Pawn Stars TV Show: The success of the reality TV show “Pawn Stars,” which began airing in 2009, has substantially contributed to Rick’s earnings.
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Book Sales: Rick authored “License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver,” which reached number 22 on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2011.
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Real Estate Investments: Rick has invested in real estate, including the development of the “Pawn Plaza,” a retail complex adjacent to his pawn shop.
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Product Endorsements and Speaking Engagements: He has engaged in product endorsements, such as promoting the Micro Touch One Razor in 2014, and has participated in paid speaking engagements.
Comparison of Net Worth with Other Celebrities
7 Interesting Facts About Rick Harrison
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Early Entrepreneur: Rick dropped out of high school to sell fake Gucci bags, earning significant income as a teenager.
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Avid Reader: His childhood epilepsy led him to develop a deep love for reading, particularly history books.
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Television Fame: Pawn Stars became the History Channel’s highest-rated show, significantly boosting his and the shop’s fame.
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Authorship: Rick authored a book titled “License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver,” sharing insights into his life and business.
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Legal Disputes: In February 2022, Rick was sued by his mother, Joanne Harrison, over a dispute concerning family assets and ownership of the pawn shop.
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Philanthropy: Rick is involved in charitable activities, supporting causes like autism awareness and children’s hospitals.
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Collector: Beyond pawning, Rick is a collector himself, with interests in rare books and historical artifacts.
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Current Status and Future Plans
As of 2026, Rick continues to manage the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and stars in Pawn Stars. He has expanded his ventures to include a podcast, featuring guests like Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis and guitar legend Billy Gibbons. This new endeavor aims to explore various topics beyond the pawn business.
Social Media Presence
Rick Harrison is active on Instagram under the handle @rick_harrison, where he shares updates about the pawn shop, behind-the-scenes moments from Pawn Stars, and glimpses into his personal life.
The Gold And Silver Pawn Shop
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Rick Harrison, born on 22 March 1965 in Lexington, North Carolina, moved to Las Vegas in 1981 and founded the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop with his father, Richard, in 1989. By 2005 the shop was lending around three million dollars a year, and it became one of the most famous pawn shops in the world once television arrived.
Pawn Stars And Beyond
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Pawn Stars premiered on the History channel in 2009, featuring Rick, his father, known as the Old Man, his son Corey and Austin Chumlee Russell. The show turned the shop into a tourist attraction. His father died in 2018. Rick’s 2011 autobiography, License to Pawn, reached number 22 on the New York Times bestseller list, and he opened Smoke BBQ and Tavern in 2015.
A Family Tragedy
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In January 2024 his son Adam died of a fentanyl overdose, and Rick has spoken publicly about the dangers of the drug. If you are worried about drugs, free confidential advice is available in the UK from FRANK on 0300 123 6600. For another reality television business story, see our profile of Rob Dyrdek.
How We Research Profiles Like This
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Profiles on this site are checked against public, verifiable sources such as official biographies, reputable reference works, company filings and established news reporting. Where a figure, such as net worth, cannot be verified from a primary source, we say so and present it as an estimate. If you spot something out of date, the most reliable check is the person’s own official channels, and we update pages when new, confirmed information becomes available.
Why Net Worth Figures Differ Between Sites
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Net worth estimates for public figures vary widely because most of the inputs are private: contract terms, royalties, investments, property finance and tax are rarely disclosed. Many websites copy figures from one another without a source, so the same number can appear everywhere without being any more accurate. Treat every estimate, including ours, as a rough guide, and give more weight to anything tied to a public filing or an official announcement.
Conclusion
Rick Harrison’s journey from a high school dropout to a successful businessman and television personality is inspiring. His entrepreneurial spirit, combined with his love for history and antiques, has made him a prominent figure in the pawn industry and reality television.
FAQs
1. How did Rick Harrison become famous?
Rick Harrison became famous because of his pawn shop in Las Vegas. His shop was featured on a TV show called Pawn Stars, which became very popular.
2. What is Rick Harrison’s net worth in 2026?
Rick Harrison’s net worth in 2026 is about $9 million. He makes money from his pawn shop, TV show, books, and other businesses.
3. What does Rick Harrison do now?
Rick still runs the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop and appears on Pawn Stars. He also has a podcast where he talks to famous people.
4. How many times has Rick Harrison been married?
Rick has been married five times. After divorcing Amanda Palmer in 2023, he married nurse Angie Polushkin in January 2026.
5. What happened to Rick Harrison’s son Adam?
Sadly, Rick’s son Adam passed away in January 2024 because of a fentanyl overdose.