The Things Fans Don’t Know About Pawn Stars

It can be pretty hard to predict whether a show will be popular or not before it airs, especially with reality TV. That was certainly the case when 'Pawn Stars' premiered. The series, which follows the goings on at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas, could have easily tanked.

Instead, though, it became History Channel's highest-rated series, pulling in millions every episode. Is there more to the show than meets the eye, though? What about the cast who make the series so entertaining? It seems there's plenty we might not have known before about ‘Pawn Stars.’

Rick Harrison reportedly spent years pitching the show to networks

At this point, 'Pawn Stars' has aired nearly two dozen seasons since its debut in the late 2000s. Evidently, it's a show that a lot of people love. However, back in the days when Rick Harrison was pitching the idea, it seems that networks weren't so sure it would be a hit. He was reportedly turned down frequently.

Of course, the series that Harrison was pitching to networks wasn't necessarily the same 'Pawn Stars' that we know and love today. The concept was apparently quite different when Rick turned to HBO and produced a pilot, one that allegedly didn't go down well. Rather than be defeated by this, though, Harrison altered the show and kept pitching it.

Production reportedly vets all items before they're featured on Pawn Stars

Across all these seasons of 'Pawn Stars,' we've seen the most incredible and unusual items come through the doors of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. However, don't think that such magnificent finds are being brought in constantly, even if the show makes it seem like that's the case. It can actually be quite a rarity.

Production reportedly vets items before they're on the show so they can make sure only those that are interesting make it onto the series. Apparently, what often happens is that the brokers will encounter unique finds in the shop and show them to producers. From there, people behind the scenes decide if they're worth including on camera or not.

Everyone in the shop has to sign a release before filming

Not everyone is looking to pawn their items on TV. In fact, quite a few people would probably be put off by the thought of going into a pawn shop and having a camera right there in their faces. Watching the series, though, you wouldn't think so, and that's because everyone in the show has already agreed to be there.

Apparently, everybody in the shop on each episode of 'Pawn Stars' has signed a release to agree to be on camera. This is apparently a necessity because of Nevada's privacy laws. These exist to protect customers from people who might come into the shop to take photos and videos of this famous location and its stars, keeping everyone safe.

Sellers are allegedly coached on how to act to avoid nerves

Just because someone agrees to appear on the series, that doesn't mean they're going to be a natural in front of the camera. It's not such a big deal if people are there to act as extras in the background. However, for those who want to sell something to the stars of the show, it's vital they're not camera shy.

This is why the sellers are reportedly coached on how to behave during filming. Production doesn't want people to appear nervous, so they direct them as best they can to make the scene compelling to watch. Apparently, producers have failed to show certain items in the past simply because the seller failed to "pull it together" on camera.

Prices for items are reportedly discussed before the cameras start rolling

The negotiations on 'Pawn Stars' can be one of the most exciting parts of the show. After all, it's here that the tension and drama is usually at its peak. However, don't think for a second that everything you're seeing is true to life. Allegedly, the prices for the items are supposedly discussed in advance with producers.

This is reportedly to ensure that the sellers are willing to give away their items for a reasonable price. They know that some people simply want to get their moment on TV and don't actually wish to give up their precious belongings. So, it helps production to know who is actually worth filming with and who isn't.

The cast are apparently encouraged to buy things they wouldn't normally want

The cast of 'Pawn Stars' all have their interests when it comes to the things they buy from sellers. However, if they were to only take the stuff that really spoke to them, the show wouldn't be as exciting as it is. That's why production allegedly encourages everyone to take items they wouldn't necessarily want if the cameras weren't rolling.

Doing this allows for greater variety in the series and ensures that each episode brings something different to the table. However, it does mean that the cast might not always be authentic in their responses to the stuff they buy. They know they're making a TV show, so they've got to give the viewers what they want.

Pawn Stars can actually be quite disruptive for the business

To those unfamiliar with how television works, 'Pawn Stars' probably seems like it's great for business for the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. In a way, it is. However, what you don't see is just how much disruption the show can cause for the daily running of the store due to the constraints of filming.

Cameras might be rolling "two to five times per day, Monday to Friday," according to shop manager Travis Benton. Given that only those who have signed a release can appear on camera, they may have to turn people away or stop anyone from coming into the shop while filming. It can apparently be a real nuisance sometimes.

There's apparently little advance warning about what the show will be filming

Benton states that sales can actually suffer when 'Pawn Stars' is filming because there's so much disruption. It doesn't help that the staff usually gets little warning about what production has planned for each day. Apparently, Travis usually finds out "around 6 pm" the day before what it is they'll be filming in the next 24 hours.

Thankfully, while filming 'Pawn Stars' can be disruptive, it's ultimately done a lot of good for the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. After all, so many more people are interested in visiting this place now than they were before. Even if most of them aren't looking to pawn items, the attention is something that works in the shop's favor.

You're unlikely to see the cast working when the cameras aren't rolling

One of the reasons people visit the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop is that they want to meet the cast of characters who make 'Pawn Stars' so entertaining. However, there's just one problem with this. If you go to the shop when the series isn't filming, you're unlikely to bump into any of the main stars.

None of them reportedly work at the business when they're not doing the show anymore. With the series being so popular, they'd simply spend their days being flooded by fans instead of getting any work done. Besides, the success of 'Pawn Stars' has allowed them to work on other ventures that need their attention when the cameras aren't rolling.

Some of the sellers are supposedly actors that production has cast

With every reality show, there are always allegations that the series is fake. With some of the stuff we've seen, it's evident that 'Pawn Stars' is not quite as genuine as it would have you believe. However, the items being sold are generally the real deal, although the people looking to sell them might not be.

It turns out that some sellers are allegedly actors who have been hired to fill that role. This apparently sometimes happens if the real seller is unable to play the part effectively when the cameras start rolling. Rather than miss out on airing whatever they're trying to sell, production just replaces them with a person that's more comfortable on camera.

The cast avoids making the first offer to keep negotiations in their favor

After so many seasons, it's safe to say that 'Pawn Stars' has found its groove on the History Channel. Sure, each episode has different interactions and unusual items that people want to sell. For the most part, though, everything tends to follow a pattern. That's partly because the cast has certain restrictions placed on them by themselves or production.

According to a CNN interview with Rick Harrison, something they must never do when dealing with a customer is make the first offer. They always try to urge the seller to put forward a number first. That way, they avoid putting negotiations in the customer's favor by suggesting an offer that's higher than what they were expecting.

You'll apparently never see the cast agreeing to buy weapons

It's incredible the kind of things that have come through the doors of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. While some of these extraordinary finds have been turned away because of trouble agreeing on a price, plenty have been accepted. Something that the cast will apparently never say yes to, though, is firearms made after 1898.

This is because they lack a federal license to carry such weaponry, which is allegedly the Old Man's fault. According to Rick's book 'License to Pawn,' his father's criminal behavior in the past made him ineligible for the license. Combine that with the fact that dealing in firearms requires a ton of paperwork, and it simply isn't worth it.

The pawn shop is reportedly one of Vegas' biggest tourist attractions

We mentioned before that Rick Harrison's pawn shop attracts a lot of fans of the show. Saying that doesn't quite encapsulate just how much of a tourist attraction it's become, though. According to the owner during an interview with Las Vegas Now, his shop regularly competes with the 'Welcome to Las Vegas' sign with the amount of visitors they receive.

Ignoring all of the gaming tourist attractions, it's one of the most popular spots in the city, with lines supposedly sometimes being several hours long. To think that it took Rick so long just for a network to give him and his show a chance. We imagine the people who turned him down before may be kicking themselves now.

Harrison has had some inappropriate content come to his shop in the past

After more than 20 seasons, you might think that viewers would be bored of seeing people come to sell their items to Rick and the gang. However, fans constantly keep coming back for more because there's always something new and unusual to see in the shop. What exactly is the weirdest thing that's ever been brought in, though?

According to Harrison, something that really stands out is the two-hundred-year-old Japanese adult content that someone wanted to sell. He said it was all "hand-painted" and "really exaggerated" to the point of being "sort of creepy." Unfortunately, after buying it, he realized that displaying it probably wasn't a good idea because of his mom regularly visiting the store.

Someone reportedly once tried to sell human skulls to the pawn shop

In interviews, this adult content is usually what Rick calls out as being the strangest thing that's ever come into the shop. However, there is something else he sometimes mentions that he also found incredibly bizarre. This was a collection of human skulls that the seller reportedly got from an auction at a dental school.

Unlike the other bizarre item, Harrison wasn't as willing to put in an offer for these skulls. What exactly would he have done with them anyway? We can only imagine what this interaction between Rick and the seller must have been like. Unfortunately, this reportedly happened before the show started airing, so it wasn't something that ever got filmed.

Chumlee wasn't always guaranteed to be a cast member on the show

'Pawn Stars' is very much a familiar affair. For most of the show's life, it's featured three generations of Harrison men, from the Old Man down to his grandson Corey. However, they're not the only ones who make up the main cast, with Chumlee also part of the crew and a beloved fan favorite of many viewers.

Considering how many people enjoy the man's antics on the series, it's a surprise to find out that he wasn't always going to be one of the cast members. Apparently, he'd heard that the Harrisons were looking for a fourth person, and he put himself forward, something that evidently worked out. It helped that he didn't get nervous on camera.

He got into a brawl in 2012 that left a man bleeding

It's a good thing for Chumlee that the show started when it did and not a few years later. Otherwise, an incident in 2012 may have ruined his chances of joining the cast of 'Pawn Stars.' It seems that the TV star got into a brawl with an unknown man who approached him and his friends at Hollywood Boulevard.

The incident reportedly ended with the man being beaten while Chumlee and his pals drove away. According to the reality star, he and his pals were simply acting in self-defense after the guy approached them wanting to get in their car. He allegedly threatened them with a weapon, hence why the group seemingly lashed out and left.

Chumlee's house was apparently raided by the police in 2016

Unfortunately, it appears that this isn't the only time that Chumlee has gotten into a bit of trouble. In fact, what came four years later was seemingly a lot worse for the star. Apparently, the police raided his home in 2016 as part of an investigation into an assault case. Luckily, Chumlee wasn't charged with such behavior.

However, when the cops came to his home, they found a lot of things that shouldn't have been there. This reportedly included several illegal substances and more than half a dozen firearms that weren't registered to the TV star. They were all discovered in his 'Chum Chum Room,' which is apparently the "party spot" in Chumlee's home.

Lawyers managed to negotiate his case down to two charges

This incident in 2016 could have spelled serious trouble for Chumlee. Luckily, fans of the show will know it didn't lead to him ending up in jail, nor did it spell the end of his career. It seems that the reality star hired the right people to defend him, as his lawyers were able to get him a lighter punishment.

They ultimately negotiated things down to two charges, those being felony possession of a controlled substance and felony possession of a firearm. After completing the probation he was given, both charges would ultimately "become misdemeanors." Let's just hope that the man tries to stay on the right side of the law moving forward, lest he face some more serious discipline.

Chumlee has been the victim of several hoaxes claiming he passed away

Living in the public eye can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, you get the fame and fortune that can take some of the stress out of life. On the flip side, though, you have to deal with a lack of privacy and people saying all sorts of things about you online. 

That seemingly includes people saying that you've passed away when you haven't. This has reportedly happened several times with Chumlee, with the first occurrence being in 2013 when he supposedly took too much of a certain substance. Less than a year later, another website claimed that he'd had a heart attack. Evidently, though, their sources weren't accurate.

Olivia Black was 'fired' after certain pictures of her surfaced

While the Harrisons and Chumlee might make up the main cast, they're hardly the only staff members of the pawn shop to appear in the series. Someone who previously featured as an employee on the show was Olivia Black, although she's not with 'Pawn Stars' anymore. Unfortunately, that's not something she chose for herself, as she was reportedly fired.

When pictures of her as an online model surfaced, production was allegedly concerned about how such images might affect the show's reputation. So, she was fired. At least, that's how it appeared. Apparently, she still kept her job at the pawn shop and was only let go in front of the cameras for the sake of the show.

She allegedly wanted to return to the show but was ultimately unsuccessful

In Olivia's eyes, she had seemingly done nothing wrong, and she allegedly felt that her termination from the show was unfair. Reports soon emerged that she was looking to get back onto 'Pawn Stars,' with claims that Black was suing to get what she wanted. However, the model denied this during an AMA on Reddit.

However, while the lawsuit might have apparently been fake, that didn't mean she wasn't interested in returning to work. She reportedly wanted the production company to see that the fans didn't care about the photos and were "a lot more open" than they might be given credit for. However, she ultimately gave up on her crusade to return.

David Walters reportedly sued the store for melting his coin collection

While Olivia Black's alleged lawsuit might not have been real, the same can't necessarily be said for one that David Walters reportedly made against the pawn shop. This was back in 2014 when the store bought a collection of gold coins from his niece. They apparently paid her $12,375 for the coins, which were then melted down.

What was the problem? Supposedly, the coins had been stolen by his niece and sold without David's permission. When Walters found out where the collection had ended up, he reportedly wanted it back. So, you can imagine his surprise and frustration when he learned that the coins - which were supposedly worth $50,000 - had already been melted down.

The pawn shop alleged the coins weren't worth what David Walters thought

It reportedly didn't take long for Walters to find out what his niece had done with his coin collection. However, by the time he'd discovered where she'd sold it, it was already too late. That's because gold coins apparently aren't subject to the same law that requires pawn shops to hold onto items for 30 to 90 days.

A spokeswoman for the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop later said that melting coins is common practice when "the grader is not someone we trust." According to them, most - but not necessarily all - of the coins were melted, although they weren't as valuable as Walters assumed. That's why the shop paid his niece what they did.

The cast was apparently sued by their former manager back in 2012

It seems that 'Pawn Stars' is no stranger to lawsuits, with the cast dealing with one several years before they faced David Walters' wrath. This lawsuit apparently came courtesy of Wayne Jefferies, who used to manage the stars of the show. It seems he felt he'd been unjustly dismissed following an incident with a 'Pawn Stars' spinoff.

As a result, he was apparently seeking "unspecified damages," although the lawsuit seemingly didn't faze Rick Harrison. He apparently told Fox News that: "The more money you make, the more times people sue you." The suit, which also included a charge against the network from the cast's former talent agency, Venture IAB, was reportedly ultimately dismissed.

Rick and his team were supposedly "blindsided" by a Pawn Stars spinoff

So, what was this drama about a spinoff that reportedly got the cast's manager fired and eager to file a lawsuit? Supposedly, the network had promised that 'Pawn Stars' would not have any spinoffs, even though such things are common with successful reality shows like this. However, it seems they ultimately went back on their word with 'Cajun Pawn Stars.'

Even though the spinoff only lasted a year, the cast of 'Pawn Stars' were allegedly "blindsided" by its creation. Their feelings were shared publicly by TMZ, something that the network was reportedly unhappy about. Who was to blame for the publication finding out about this in the first place? Wayne Jefferies, apparently, hence why he was dropped by his clients.

"Doc Phineas" is one of the show's most eccentric characters

If the show was just the Harrisons and Chumlee, it would still be pretty entertaining. However, while the men might be good at negotiating and providing entertaining interactions, they don't know everything about the items that come into their shop. That's why they sometimes lean on experts to provide some additional information. That includes people like Dr. Phineas T. Kastle.

"Doc Phineas" is one of the more eccentric characters to appear in the series, with his trademark mustache and bold outfits making his appearances unforgettable. In addition to helping the cast identify if an antique is authentic or not, he also apparently sings, acts, tap dances, and even teaches. He's reportedly taught college classes for decades now.

Sean Rich provided props for several Pirates of the Caribbean films

Someone who's appeared on the show in a much smaller capacity is Sean Rich. It's been quite a while now since viewers have seen the man on 'Pawn Stars,' and that's apparently because he was expected to sign an "exclusive contract." This reportedly would have taken a lot of control over Rich's livelihood and career out of his hands.

As Sean wasn't interested in this, he reportedly walked away, although he did make a few more appearances several years later. Perhaps the network felt like he was someone worth having around, given his connections. Apparently, he provided props for some of the fantasy swashbuckler 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films, which must have earned him a nice sum.

Bob Yuhas was once featured on an episode of Mystery Diners

Given how old a lot of the items are that come into the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, they're not always in the greatest condition. Thankfully, there are experts like Bob Yuhas out there who know plenty about restoring, repairing, and conserving antiques. That's why he's featured on 'Pawn Stars' several times over the years.

This isn't the only reality program he's appeared on either, as he was also in an episode of 'Mystery Diners.' However, he wasn't there to help anyone with antiques. Instead, he acted as the friend of a bartender who was allegedly undermining his boss. It was seemingly all just for show, though, as the whole series was reportedly faked.

Jeremy Brown moved his entire business to capitalize on the show's success

'Pawn Stars' may not be the biggest show on television, but its longevity and viewership prove that it's one of the most beloved. There's no denying the impact that it's had, particularly on the people who feature in the show. That's something that Jeremy Brown, an expert on sports memorabilia, wanted to take advantage of during the show's early years.

Apparently, in 2012, Brown moved his entire business just to be closer to the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. He said he wished to "fully embrace the opportunity" that the show had given him by utilizing his expertise. He also stated that he wished to "be near other fellow experts" whose knowledge he could potentially make use of.

Stuart Lutz and Mark Hall-Patton are bonafide experts in their field

Anyone can say that they're an expert in antiques. However, it takes years of experience and knowledge to really back this up. Luckily, 'Pawn Stars' seems to have a pretty good track record when it comes to enlisting the help of genuine experts in this field. Stuart Latz and Mark Hall-Patton are clear proof of that.

Lutz previously received the seal of approval from the Appraisers Association of America thanks to his expertise "in the field of Books and Manuscripts: Historic Documents." Hall-Patton, meanwhile, allegedly has a library containing more than 20,000 books from which he performs detailed research on anything he doesn't already know. That's why he's called “The Beard of Knowledge.”

Mark Hall-Patton has supposedly only been wrong about an item's authenticity once

Mark Hall-Patton has been something of a regular throughout 'Pawn Stars'' run. His former standing as the administrator of the Clark County Museum has meant that he's always been someone reliable the show's cast can turn to. However, while the man may have incredible knowledge, that doesn't mean he gets things right every single time.

According to Hall-Patton himself, there has been one occasion - but only one - where he got things incorrect. This was when he claimed that a 1930s British guard's uniform was mostly authentic, except for the pants. However, a viewer later claimed that the bearskin hat was apparently doctored, which Mark soon realized was correct. Everyone's allowed to make mistakes, though.

Steve Grad allegedly lied about his expertise in identifying authentic antiques

'Pawn Stars' may do a decent job of pulling in bonafide experts to help them identify the authenticity of various items. However, that doesn't mean they've never had anyone on the show who's not got the credentials to back up what they're saying. Who could forget Steve Grad, who apparently lied about his education and training?

Apparently, the only mentoring he ever received came courtesy of Bill Mastro, someone who was convicted of fraud. It's no wonder that he's allegedly cost collectors serious money because he stated that forgeries were the real deal when they weren't.We're not surprised that 'Pawn Stars' hasn't had anything to do with the man for years now.

Rick Harrison's Pawn Plaza reportedly drew criticism from some former tenants

Rick Harrison was so devoted to making 'Pawn Stars' into a TV show because he figured the publicity it would bring would be good for business. Evidently, he was right, with the success of the series allowing the cast to branch out more with their careers. That has included allowing Rick to establish a shopping center next to the store.

Unfortunately, Pawn Plaza reportedly hasn't been a hit with everyone, with multiple tenants leaving in the space of a year. Paul Weinstein was one of them, and he apparently claimed that Harrison had made promises of heavy foot traffic that never manifested. He stated he was "slighted and betrayed," especially when his rent was allegedly increased beyond what he made.

The Old Man passed away after a "long battle with Parkinson's"

When 'Pawn Stars' began, it could have easily been a three-man venture with Rick, Corey, and the Old Man. However, the family decided to bring in a fourth to really capitalize on their chemistry and create more opportunities for interactions. Sadly, the show really is now a three-man venture following the passing of the Old Man in 2018.

Real name Richard Harrison, the original owner of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop was apparently 77 when he lost his life. According to a social media post breaking the news, he passed away following a "long battle with Parkinson's." This was something that a lot of people didn't know he was living with, so his loss was surprising.

He reportedly stole a car at 17 and enlisted in the Navy

The passing of Richard Harrison was devastating for many viewers who appreciated the balance that he brought to the show. While he could sometimes be the grumpy one in the group, he provided a nice contrast to the rest of the cast. Of course, it seems that the Old Man wasn't always this way, judging by his past actions.

Remember how we said he couldn't get a firearms license because of criminal behavior when he was younger? Well, according to Rick's book 'License to Pawn,' that criminal behavior was him stealing a car at 17 years old. As punishment, he was given the choice of either enlisting in the Navy or going to jail. He opted for the former.

Harrison left the Navy then returned when the family need money

After enlisting, the Old Man reportedly spent four years on tour before he left the service. He'd effectively served his time, and now he could get back to the life he had before. However, it seems this wasn't actually the end of Richard's Navy career, as he reportedly returned just two years later because of money troubles.

His daughter apparently had health problems that left the Old Man with medical bills he struggled to afford. So, he went back to the Navy and ultimately worked his way up to first-class petty officer. It was over a decade later that he finally retired for good, his reason allegedly being that his wife needed help with the kids.

He reportedly left one of his sons out of his will

The Old Man reportedly rejoined the Navy to help afford his daughter's medical bills. Unfortunately, the child didn't get to enjoy a long life, with the girl allegedly passing away at six years old. Thankfully, Harrison's other kids - his sons Rick, Chris, and Joseph - did make it to adulthood and beyond. Not all of them were in Richard's will, though.

An update to his will in 2017 reportedly stated that he "intentionally and with full knowledge failed to provide for [Chris] and his issue." There was no indication of why the Old Man had opted not to give one child anything while the rest of his loved ones benefitted. Unfortunately, things haven't become any clearer with time.

The Old Man allegedly punched Rick in the face as a teenager

In that update to Richard's will, he said that he wished to "express my love and affection for Christopher Keith Harrison." However, some fans speculated that there must have been some tension between them if he was willing to remove his son from his will. The Old Man had certainly been known to lose it with his kids before.

According to a Fox News interview with Rick Harrison, Richard punched him in the face when he was 16 years old. It was in response to Rick trying to "act all tough" and cursing at his father. Richard reportedly told his son that if he felt old enough to speak that way, he was old enough to face such consequences.

Richard once hosted a party that raised money for a motorcycle gang

That incident supposedly wasn't something that either man has ever regretted, with Rick even saying it was "one of the greatest life lessons" he'd ever received. However, that doesn't mean the Old Man went his whole life without any regrets. One thing he probably wished he could take back was a party for a notorious motorcycle gang.

According to TMZ, Richard believed he was helping a charitable cause with this shindig. However, the reality apparently was that his party was assisting in raising funds to cover the Vargas gang's legal costs. 32 of their members had reportedly been arrested for a range of serious crimes, including trafficking and robbery, to which the Old Man was supposedly oblivious.

He once blew nearly $30,000 on cubic zirconias he thought were diamonds

Some people may feel like the 'Pawn Stars' cast is sometimes unfair when it comes to their offers. However, these guys aren't necessarily in the easiest position at their shop. After all, there's a risk they could pay a seller tons of money for something, only to discover that the item isn't as authentic as it appears.

Richard Harrison reportedly knew this well, having apparently been duped by cubic zirconias during the early days of the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop. Apparently, he lost almost $30,000 on these because he - much like a lot of other pawn shop brokers at the time - believed them to be diamonds. Most people know better now.

Rick spent $40,000 on diamond earrings he later discovered were stolen

With how long the Harrisons have been in the pawn shop business, it was inevitable they'd have some stories of being duped with their sales. Luckily for the Old Man, he isn't the only one at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop to blow big money on fakes. His son reportedly had a similar incident with some diamond earrings.

Rick admitted to the History Channel in 2010 that a guy once came in eager to get rid of diamond earrings. Harrison was thorough with his questions about the jewelry, but the seller seemed legit. Unfortunately, three days after giving the guy $40,000, the police reportedly showed up and revealed that the earrings were actually stolen goods.

Chumlee accidentally broke a stand-up bass that cost the store $20,000

It almost seems like a rite of passage that you have to cost the pawn shop a hefty sum at some point if you work there. Another cast member who suffered a bit of a financial setback was Chumlee, although his costly mistake was a little different. Rather than spending big money on fake goods, he broke something valuable instead.

Apparently, someone came in to pawn a stand-up bass, which Chumlee left leaning against a shelf. At some point, he walked away, and by the time he returned, the instrument had shattered. Chumlee confessed that the guy pawned the item for $700, but because it turned out to be rare, it cost the pawn shop around $20,000.

Corey was duped into buying six fake Rolexes in just one week

Ever since the Old Man turned his store into a pawn shop in the 1980s, it's very much been a family business. Not all of the Harrisons work there, but someone from each generation has sat behind the counter. The latest of these is Rick's son, Corey, who has also been duped at least once during his time there.

This reportedly came very early on in the job when he started working the night shift. He told the History Channel he was a "typical 18-year-old kid" who believed that he "knew everything." However, in the space of a week, he reportedly purchased six fake Rolexes. His family apparently wasn't impressed, but at least it allegedly only cost $4,000.

He also spent $31,000 on a uniform that had minimal value

This early mistake in Corey's career was an unfortunate blunder but one that he could learn from. Unfortunately, while he has gotten better at spotting when someone is trying to sell a fake, he's still been caught out at times. That included in 2012 when he made quite an expensive mistake with a game-worn Willie Mays San Francisco Giants uniform.

Even though the outfit appeared pristine and the seller had no authentication paperwork, Corey still chose to believe it was the real deal. So, he handed over $31,000. Unfortunately, Haul of Shame later discovered that the uniform had never belonged to Mays and was a "Spalding salesman's sample." It was reportedly estimated to be worth up to $3,000.

Corey once had a close call after jumping off his bike

It seems as though Corey Harrison has no shortage of drama in his life. When he's not accidentally paying big bucks for fake goods, he's apparently putting his life on the line. Back in 2014, he was seemingly lucky to be alive after he jumped off his bike at 40 mph when the bottom fender mount broke off.

While launching himself off the bike at this speed might not have been ideal, it was better than the alternative - flying into a wall or oncoming traffic. Corey ended up breaking his hand, although he didn't discover this until after going to a party. Well, the shindig was at his house and for his birthday, no less.

He was recently stopped by the police for driving under the influence

Corey came away from that incident in 2014 with eight screws and two plates in his broken hand. Given how much worse it could have been, Harrison probably didn't mind having his hand out of action for a bit. Unfortunately, that's not the only time he's faced danger on the road, with Harrison getting into trouble again more recently. 

Whereas the first incident was an accident, though, it seems the blame this time was more on Corey. He was reportedly stopped by the police because his car was struggling to stay in one lane, with the cops later saying it smelled like he'd been drinking. He was ultimately booked for a DUI, with Harrison claiming he'd had one drink.

Rick Harrison may apparently run for US Senate in 2024

As TMZ only reported this incident on 11 September 2023, it's unclear at the moment what will come of Corey's alleged drink driving. However, he and his family are probably hoping that things will work in Harrison's favor, especially with his dad's reported political interests. It seems there's a chance of Rick running for US Senate in the future.

Back in March 2023, the Las Vegas Review-Journal revealed that he'd apparently been approached to run for the Senate in 2024. At the time, Harrison admitted that he hadn't decided whether or not to get involved. He's been outspoken about his past beliefs that "less government leads to a better economy," but he's seemingly open to possibilities in the future.

His TV fame sometimes comes back to bite him at yard sales

Some people may question Rick Harrison's apparent interest in politics, given he doesn't have a background in this area. However, in his eyes, the experiences he's had mean that he has an idea of what a lot of ordinary people want from the government. Regardless, his role in 'Pawn Stars' means plenty of voters will know who he is already.

It seems that he's quite the famous face in parts of the US, although that's not always a good thing. Apparently, his TV fame sometimes comes back to bite him at yard sales because people don't want to do business with him. A woman once refused to sell him a painting that he was interested in after she recognized him.

The show has become a global phenomenon

It's not just in the US that people know Rick Harrison's name and that of the other 'Pawn Stars' cast. The show has seemingly become a global phenomenon and is reportedly broadcast in as many as 150 countries. As a result, it's allegedly been dubbed in nearly 40 different languages so people around the world can understand and enjoy it.

According to Rick, he's been stopped by people across the globe, from Kuala Lumpur and the Philippines to Buenos Aires and New Delhi. In some places, the cast is so beloved that they're apparently "greeted as if they were the reunited Beatles." That's pretty incredible for a show that some networks thought no one would be interested in.