Rick Harrison

Richard Kevin Harrison was born on March 22, 1965, in Lexington, North Carolina. At the age of two, his family relocated to San Diego, California. During childhood, beginning at age eight, Harrison experienced epileptic seizures, leading him to spend significant time in bed. This period fostered a profound love for books and history, particularly the Royal Navy, and he was influenced by John D. Fitzgerald’s ‘The Great Brain’ series. He later dropped out of high school in the tenth grade to engage in entrepreneurial activities.

In 1981, the Harrison family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. That same year, his father, Richard Benjamin Harrison, opened the Gold & Silver Coin Shop. Rick worked alongside him, and after several years, they transitioned the business into a pawn shop following a change in local licensing laws. In 1989, they opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop at 713 Las Vegas Boulevard South. The shop gained a reputation for its diverse inventory and unique items, loaning approximately $3 million annually by 2005. Harrison’s expertise in appraising historical items contributed to the shop’s success.

After initially pitching the concept for four years, Harrison achieved television fame in 2009 with the premiere of “Pawn Stars” on the History Channel. The show, which also featured his father, son Corey, and family friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell, showcased the daily operations and unique items in the pawn shop. This brought him widespread recognition, leading to appearances on other TV shows and the publication of his biography, “License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver,” which became a New York Times Best Seller in 2011. He expanded his business ventures by opening Rick’s Rollin Smoke BBQ & Tavern in 2015. His career has continued to evolve with various spin-off series and brand partnerships.