When Richard “Old Man” Harrison passed away on June 25, 2018, at age 77, Pawn Stars lost its grumpy patriarch and the glue that held the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop together.
His death from Parkinson’s disease marked the end of an era for the History Channel’s most successful reality show.
But when his will became public, it revealed a shocking family secret: one of his three sons had been completely cut out of his inheritance.
The revelation sparked international media attention and raised uncomfortable questions about family dynamics, money, and the hidden costs of fame.
Richard Harrison’s Fortune: How Much Was He Worth?
Thanks to the massive success of Pawn Stars, Richard Harrison died a wealthy man.
The show became an unlikely ratings juggernaut for the History Channel, bringing in $3 million per episode at its peak. For his role as the no-nonsense “Old Man,” Richard earned $15,000 per episode.
By the time of his death in 2018, various sources estimated Richard’s net worth at approximately $5 million.
This fortune came not just from his television salary but also from his ownership stake in the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, which he co-owned with his son, Rick Harrison.
Richard had been married to his wife, JoAnne Rhue Harrison, for 58 years when he died.
The couple had weathered financial struggles early in their marriage, including Richard’s 20-year Navy career and the challenging early days of building the pawn shop business.
Their partnership had ultimately produced three sons: Rick, Joseph, and Christopher.
The Shocking Will: One Son Left Out
In 2017, just one year before his death, Richard Harrison updated his will with a bombshell provision.
The document explicitly disinherited his youngest son, Christopher Keith Harrison, while expressing both love and intentional exclusion in the same breath.
The will stated: “I would like to express my love and affection for Christopher Keith Harrison; however, for this Will, I have intentionally and with full knowledge failed to provide for him and his issue.”
The phrase “and his issue” is legal terminology, meaning Christopher’s children were also excluded from any inheritance.
This wasn’t an oversight; it was a deliberate, legally documented decision to leave Christopher with nothing.
The will named Rick Harrison as executor of the estate, with the primary beneficiaries being Richard’s widow, JoAnne, and his two other sons, Rick and Joseph.
This estate controversy would be just one of several legal battles and courtroom dramas that have plagued the Pawn Stars cast, demonstrating how the show’s success brought not just wealth but also complex legal entanglements for the Harrison family.
Who Is Christopher Harrison?
Most Pawn Stars fans had never heard of Christopher Harrison before news of the will broke.
Unlike his brothers, Rick and Joseph, Christopher had never appeared on the show and maintained no public presence in the family business.
According to Rick’s son Corey, who is featured prominently on Pawn Stars, he hadn’t seen his uncle Christopher in approximately 20 years.
“I was in junior high back then,” Corey told reporters, indicating the family estrangement had existed for decades.
Christopher’s absence from both the show and the pawn shop business suggests he chose a different path from his father and brothers.
While this separation might explain the disinheritance, Richard’s decision to explicitly mention Christopher by name, expressing love while denying inheritance, struck many as particularly cruel.
The will did not explain the exclusion, leaving fans and legal experts to speculate about what could have caused such a decisive family split.
The Harrison family has experienced its share of cast controversies over the years.
When Olivia Black was abruptly removed from the show in 2012, it demonstrated how production decisions could dramatically affect people’s lives and careers.
Christopher’s disinheritance, however, represented a far more personal family drama, one that revealed deep rifts that had existed long before the cameras started rolling.
Rick Harrison’s Response and Later Legal Troubles
As executor of his father’s estate, Rick Harrison found himself managing this very public family controversy.
Through his publicist, Rick issued a brief statement: “The family had previously discussed this information, and it is a private matter.”
This measured response suggested that Christopher’s disinheritance wasn’t a surprise to the family; they had apparently discussed it beforehand.
Whether Christopher was aware of the decision before Richard’s death remains unclear.
Rick’s handling of the estate would later become controversial. In 2022, his mother, Joanne, sued him over family assets and business ownership, adding another layer of family drama to the Harrison legacy.
The lawsuit alleged Rick had manipulated Joanne into signing over her business interests while she was recovering from a coma and wasn’t providing proper accounting of estate finances, specifically regarding over $500,000 worth of cash and silver she believed Richard had accumulated.
Joanne claimed that Rick stopped sending her monthly $25,000 payments from Richard’s share of the business in 2020.
She filed for a temporary restraining order to prevent Rick from selling off family assets without proper documentation.
The Public Reaction
The revelation sparked widespread media coverage and fan speculation. Pawn Stars viewers who had grown to love the Harrison family dynamic were shocked to learn about the hidden rift.
“We would like to know why,” said fan Bryan Herman in interviews. “We do not want to speculate, [or] make up all kinds of stuff.”
The controversy highlighted how reality television creates parasocial relationships.
Fans feel invested in these families and are shocked when private complications become public.
Interestingly, even employees like Chumlee, who had workplace tensions with Richard, remained in good standing, making Christopher’s total exclusion even more mysterious.
Legal Considerations and Common Reasons for Disinheritance
From a legal standpoint, Richard Harrison executed the disinheritance correctly.
By explicitly naming Christopher and stating his intentional exclusion “with full knowledge,” Richard protected the will from legal challenges claiming he had forgotten or overlooked his youngest son.
Nevada law allows parents to disinherit children, provided the disinheritance is made explicitly and intentionally, exactly as Richard did. Common reasons for disinheritance include:
- Family estrangement or lack of relationship
- Belief that the child has sufficient financial means
- Past conflicts or betrayals
- Fundamental disagreements about values or life choices
- Prior financial support already provided to the child
Without Richard’s explanation, we can only speculate about the factors that influenced his decision.
Estate planning experts note that completely cutting out a child often causes lasting family damage, especially when done publicly.
The Show Goes On
Following Richard’s death, Pawn Stars continued filming with Rick, Corey, and Chumlee.
The show addressed Richard’s passing with tribute episodes, and the cast occasionally references the Old Man’s memory during appraisals.
The family chose not to add a fourth regular cast member to replace Richard, instead maintaining the trio format.
The show has continued for several more seasons, though Corey Harrison recently departed in 2024 after moving to Mexico.
Conclusion
The mystery of why Richard “Old Man” Harrison disinherited Christopher remains unsolved. The carefully worded will expressed love while denying inheritance, creating a legal puzzle that captured public attention.
Richard’s $5 million estate went to his widow, JoAnne, and sons Rick and Joseph, with Rick serving as executor. Christopher received nothing, and the family has maintained that the reasons remain private.
This chapter of Pawn Stars history reminds us that fame and fortune don’t shield families from conflict.
Sometimes the most interesting stories happen off-camera, in lawyers’ offices and family discussions that viewers never see.
The Harrison family’s legal battles, both over inheritance and business ownership, demonstrate that reality television success often comes with complicated personal costs that audiences rarely witness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rick Harrison a Millionaire?
His net worth is estimated to be around $9 million as of 2023.
How Much Did Rick Pay for The 1915 Panama-Pacific Coin?
On the show Pawn Stars, Rick Harrison paid $67,500 for a 1915 Panama-Pacific Octagonal.
Does Rick Still Own the Pawn Shop?
Yes, Rick Harrison still owns the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.
How Many Divorces Has Rick Harrison Had?
Three divorces. No prenups. No regrets. Rick Harrison says money isn’t everything, and happiness is easier than people think.
Who Is the Richest Person on Pawn Stars?
The richest star of Pawn Stars is generally considered to be Rick Harrison, the main face of the show.
