“Before and After: Rick Harrison’s Jaw‑Dropping Transformation!”

What’s the secret behind Rick Harrison’s meteoric rise from dusty counters to global stardom?
How did a simple pawn shop owner turn his family business into a billion-dollar brand and land in millions of living rooms each week?

Today, we’re unearthing the untold twists in Rick’s journey — from the jaw-dropping deals that made him famous to the unexpected ventures that reveal the man behind the “that’s a no” catchphrase.

Get ready for a deep dive into Rick Harrison then and now, and prepare to be amazed by the deals, the drama, and the dollars that changed everything.

Stick around to the finish — this jaw-dropping finale will hit you right in the feels.

To get why it’s such a big deal, let’s rewind to where it all kicked off.

On March 22nd, 1965, Richard Benjamin Harrison Jr., a veteran of the United States Navy, and Joanne Rue Harrison welcomed Rick Harrison into the world as Richard Kevin Harrison in Lexington, North Carolina.

Rick was the third of four children, and his early years were turbulent but resilient. After his father had been assigned to the military, his family moved to San Diego, California, when he was only 2 years old.

Rick developed epilepsy at the age of 8, which influenced his early years and kept him indoors. This condition also helped him develop a love of reading and learning — which would later define his Pawn Stars expertise.

The loss of his sister Sherry, who was born with Down syndrome, at the age of six had a profound effect on the family.

In 1981, the Harrisons relocated to Las Vegas, which would serve as the stage for Rick’s subsequent achievements.

Rick was a teenager with an entrepreneurial spirit at the time. He left high school to work as a fake Gucci bag salesman, making $2,000 a week — a substantial amount for a young man in the 1980s.

The hustler’s early business ventures suggested the mindset that would later make him a powerful pawn broker.

At 713 South Las Vegas Boulevard, Rick and his father (known as “The Old Man”) opened the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in 1989.

The business started out small — the family had been running a coin shop since 1981 before expanding into a full-fledged pawn shop.

The gambling culture and migratory population of Las Vegas made it an ideal place for pawn broking.

Using his street smarts and growing knowledge of antiques and collectibles, 23-year-old Rick teamed up with his father.

The store served a wide range of customers — tourists with oddball goods, locals pawning family heirlooms, and gamblers in need of quick cash.

The Gold & Silver was still a small business with no indication of future stardom. But by the early 2000s, it had established a reputation for handling unusual items — such as a 2001 New England Patriots Super Bowl ring.

Early on, Rick presented himself as a tough businessman who was skilled at spotting phonies and negotiating.

He began learning the pawn trade at the age of 13, and his ability to recognize authenticity and value earned him the nickname “The Spotter.”

Long hours, a close-knit family business, and a love of history characterized his life then — but he had no idea how these characteristics would propel him into the public eye.

The debut of Pawn Stars on the History Channel in 2009 marked a sea change in Rick Harrison’s life.

The idea had been developing for years. After his shop was featured in a 2001 PBS documentary and on Insomniac with Dave Attell in 2003, Rick first proposed the idea of a pawn shop show.

Some suggested a late-night confessional format, but early attempts to pitch the idea to networks like HBO failed.

The concept didn’t take shape until Rick was approached by Leftfield Pictures in 2008.

Pawn Stars debuted on July 19th, 2009, after Nancy Dubuc of the History Channel improved the format by fusing the dynamics of the Harrison family with evaluations by on-camera experts.

The program quickly became the most popular show on the History Channel and the second highest-rated reality show after Jersey Shore.

Rick provided viewers with a combination of entertainment and education through his father, son Corey (“Big Hoss”), and Corey’s childhood friend Austin “Chumlee” Russell.

Rick was the show’s pivotal character, serving as the wise intermediary who connected Corey’s youthful enthusiasm with his father’s tough realism.

He won over audiences with his ability to provide historical details about objects — like a Civil War cannon or a 17th-century samurai sword — and his skill at haggling gave rise to the popular “Best I can do is…” meme.

Rick was in his mid-40s during those early seasons and had a more subdued manner and a clean-shaven appearance.

His knowledge of jewelry, rare collectibles, and historical artifacts was evident in the shop’s inventory, which consisted of 12,000 items — 5,000 of which were usually on pawn.

In addition to raising Rick’s profile, Pawn Stars transformed the perception of the pawn industry by presenting it as a historical treasure trove rather than a last resort for the desperate.

As evidence of his impact, Rick was named the National Pawnbrokers Association’s Pawnbroker of the Year in 2010.

Back then, Rick’s personal and professional lives were intertwined. He had two sons, Corey and Adam, from his 1980s marriage to his first wife, Kim.

Following the end of that marriage, he married Tracy in 1987 and had a third son, Jake.

Rick was juggling his third marriage to Deanna Burditt (which started in 2013 and brought him three stepdaughters) by the time Pawn Stars debuted.

With the Old Man and Corey as co-stars, his family was a mainstay of the program — even though Adam avoided the limelight.

Rick’s personal life has changed significantly as of today.

Rick and the show were greatly impacted by the loss of his father, who died in June 2018 at the age of 77 from Parkinson’s disease.

As his hero, Rick honored The Old Man, highlighting their common heritage.

The quiet split of Rick’s marriage to Deanna in 2020 was followed by a brief fourth marriage to Amanda Palmer in 2021 — which ended in divorce in 2023.

While on a trip to Chile in March 2025, Rick proposed to Angie Pelushkin with a 6.5-carat ring from his shop.

Despite previous setbacks, his optimism is evident in this fifth marriage attempt.

Another tragedy occurred in January 2024 when Adam overdosed on fentanyl and methamphetamine and died at the age of 39.

Devastated, Rick — who had helped Adam through years of battles with addiction — went on to push for more stringent drug laws.

Though he finds comfort in his four grandchildren and his surviving sons, Corey and Jake, he admitted in March 2025 that he thinks about Adam every day and questions his parenting decisions.

In terms of his career, Rick’s now and then are very different.

Rick no longer works full-time at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which is still a landmark in Las Vegas — preferring to concentrate on Pawn Stars and its subsidiaries.

Adam’s death is not discussed on-screen in the original series, which is currently in its 23rd season as of January 2025.

With its second season ending in April 2025, Pawn Stars Do America — which debuted in 2022 — follows Rick, Corey, and Chumlee as they search for historical artifacts in places like Savannah and Seattle.

Rick has expanded his business endeavors. His passion project, Rick’s Rollin’ Smoke BBQ, which he opened in Las Vegas in 2015, demonstrates his love of entertaining outside of the pawn counter.

Additionally, he organizes an annual motorcycle charity and friendship event called the Poker Run.

His success in all of these pursuits — supported by endorsements such as the 2014 MicroTouch One Razor campaign — is reflected in his estimated net worth of $9 million.

His recent years have also been characterized by legal disputes.

Joanne, his mother, sued him in 2022 over family property and the ownership of the pawn shop, claiming he forced her to sign over her 51% share while she was in the hospital between 2000 and 2001.

Although the lawsuit’s outcome is still unknown, it highlights the conflicts that have existed within the Harrison family since Pawn Stars.

At 60, Rick Harrison is a living example of perseverance.

In keeping with his Old Man heritage, he has replaced his clean-shaven appearance with a salt-and-pepper beard.

Although he still prioritizes economic freedom over partisanship, his political views — which he described as “more of a libertarian” in a 2018 Fox News interview — have come under fire, particularly his support for politicians like Donald Trump.

He interacts with fans on social media by sharing posts about rare coins (such as a 1933 Double Eagle he estimates is worth $30 million) and humorous interactions with Chumlee — like Pokémon quizzes.

Rick’s present now combines tragedy and victory.

He is a reality TV veteran who has outlasted many of his contemporaries, a grandfather and father who treasures family in the face of loss, and a businessman who has adjusted to the demands of celebrity.

Rick Harrison’s journey — from a tenacious pawn shop owner in 1989 to a worldwide celebrity in 2025 — is a story as captivating as the objects he appraises.

A life molded by heart, history, and hustle.