The Move That Forced ‘Pawn Star’ To Disinherit Son

Fans of “Pawn Stars” will know that the heart of the show is the strong relationship between the family that runs the store. It’s clear to everyone that Richard loved his son Rick dearly, and it showed.

But the secret “Old Man” Harrison was holding left fans shell-shocked, and it wasn’t long before the details began to emerge.

Huge Ratings

“Pawn Stars” is a hugely successful reality TV show from the History Channel that has run for 17 seasons. It has continued to captivate audiences despite the death of one of its main stars.

But while fans have gotten a kick out of watching the family dynamic play out on screen, no one could have guessed what was really going on behind the scenes.

Straight And Narrow

The store’s founder and the father of the family, Richard Harrison, was born in 1941. He had come from a poor background and soon found himself involved in a life of petty crime.

This life of crime pushed Richard to a breaking point when he was caught attempting to steal a car. In order to avoid a prison sentence, Richard decided to enlist in the Navy instead.

He served for 20 years and was eventually promoted to the rank of Petty Officer, First Class. But when Richard returned from the Navy, he needed cash.

Family Business

By this time, Richard had married the love of his life, Joanne Rhue. While Richard was serving in the Navy, Joanne was trying to get a small real-estate business of the ground.

With three young sons to support, the couple were devastated when Joanne’s business started to fail. Richard knew that he needed to do something to save his family. Perhaps moving to a city with more opportunities would be the best option?

Starting Small

With the small amount of cash they still had left, Richard and his family moved to Las Vegas in Nevada. There, he rented a small 300-square meter space for his business, where he bought and sold gold and silver coins.

Eventually, he was able to expand his business. The pawnshop began to turn a profit and Richard realized that he was onto something. So he decided to enlist the help of his oldest son, Rick.