The Journey of the “Pawn Stars” is a captivating story that began in 2009 and took viewers into the heart of the gold and silver pawn shop in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Boasting a unique blend of historical artifacts, quirky customers, and a charismatic cast – Richard “Old Man” Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell – the series quickly became a cable television phenomenon.
“Pawn Stars” reportedly became “the most-watched ad-supported program on cable” within a year of its premiere, Reuters reported. The program made history have the highest ratings ever. Despite the myriad problems and controversies that plagued the show, it’s no wonder the network was hesitant to end its much-loved program.
Photographing a 24-hour pawn shop in Las Vegas, Nevada is bound to involve some confrontation and maybe a little embarrassment. Next up at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop are the colorful Richard “Old Man” Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison, and Austin “Chumlee” Russell, Corey’s lifelong friend. With the cast, the nature of the business, and the decidedly diverse mix of customers they encounter on a daily basis, the “Pawn Stars” have always been sure to deliver drama, on and off camera.
However, the dramatic level far exceeds all expectations. Grab your popcorn and join us as we dissect the major scandals that rocked the pawn shop stars.
The cast of “Pawn Stars” has had numerous run-ins with the law. In 2014, they were involved in another lawsuit, this time over the alleged melting down of a stash of ancient coins that had been stolen. David Walters filed a criminal complaint with the Clark County Justice Court that his niece Jennifer Beckman stole his expensive coin collection in 2013 and sold it to Gold & Silver Pawn, ABC News reports.
The treasure Beckman took to Gold & Silver “made a total of $12,375,” according to Walters, but the furious uncle claimed the true value of his collection was closer to $50,000. The coins were “already gone” by the time police contacted Gold & Silver Pawn, despite Walters’ prompt notification to authorities after discovering the missing coins.
“To the best of my knowledge, the coins could have been melted down because they are unidentifiable,” a company spokesperson told Fox News. They could have been sold.
They could be waiting in buckets filled with coins to be judged. A spokesman later denied Walters’ claim that the $50,000 was awarded. She emphasized that none of the “Pawn Stars” cast members had committed any illegal wrongdoing, saying, “These coins were worth significantly less than the gentleman believed.”
Pawnbrokers work with a diverse group of clients, including those who are desperate, cash-strapped, opportunistic, and simply individuals looking to get a good deal. Rick Harrison revealed his client’s “trades and thefts” in an interview with NPR, citing years of experience with them.
Harrison revealed that the shop’s busiest times of the day are during a big boxing match. “I don’t know what it is with fight fans,” he said. They often bet more money than they can bear to lose. Harrison then admitted that he often works as an informal bail bondsman for a certain subset of his clientele – pimps. “After they get caught, they always have someone bring their jewelry to me,” he added. Their bond will be half of what they bought it for, which I will lend them.
The second generation of pawnbrokers is not necessarily liberal in their views on society; they can only enjoy the life of a pimp. Actually, rather the opposite. In an interview with CNN, Harrison revealed his transphobia when he talked about how much he loved Marco Rubio. He said that in some cities, a man who feels like a woman can use the women’s restroom. “I can guarantee you that some very bad men who want to use the restroom with young women would take advantage of that. That’s what will happen if you pass a law along these lines.”
Back in 2014, during a presumably drink-fueled night in Jefferson City, Corey Harrison performed for the aptly named Spectators Bar. According to RadarOnline, Corey and a couple of his riding buddies decided to stop in the state capital on a sponsored motorcycle trip. Harrison reportedly went out and partied hard for seven nights in a row before heading out. “Corey traveled with us all week and spent every night drunk. However, a witness claims he was visibly drunk on this particular night. “From the moment we walked into the bar, it was obvious it wasn’t going to be good. He was so obnoxious and drunk, that you felt a dangerous situation was about to happen.
After taking “a lot of shots,” Harrison exposed himself to the public and urinated in front of them, possibly inspired by Missouri’s “Show Me State” nickname. “He pulled his pants down, peed on a bar stool, and was extremely pleased,” a source told Radar, revealing that an employee had to wipe up his mess with a towel. But the show was far from over. Harrison was asked to leave the venue after he was seen posing for fan photos with his trousers down and “picked up a bar stool and threw it”.
Corey later apologized for the drunken mishap. It’s obviously not my best moment, he told E! News. “I’m really sorry to everyone and I’m sorry for what I did. I’m really sorry.
During the 19 seasons of the series, the cast of “Pawn Stars” accumulated money. Rick Harrison’s net worth is historically estimated at $8 million.
Together, Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison and Austin “Chumlee” Russell amassed $5 million. Not surprisingly, the network did well given the show’s success. A 2014 Celebrity Net Worth analysis claimed that History earns a healthy $3 million per episode.
However, trickle-down economics do not exist in the reality TV industry. Entertainment industry production companies have been accused of “wage theft” and the people behind “Pawn Stars” have been specifically named as perpetrators, according to The New York Daily News.
According to a 2013 survey by The Writers Guild of America East, writers and producers “lose $30,000 a year in unpaid wages by working without breaks or overtime,” the website claims. When you include other employees working in the background, the amount of money lost is staggering – 40 million. In an interview with the NY Daily News, producer David Van Taylor said, “I know people who work over 100 hours a week on set.” “Extra work is not compensated.”
According to WGAE, “Pawn Stars” writers and producers “are paid a minimum of $2,136 per week.”
However, the same slots “pull down $6,712” for scripted series. Disgruntled employees of “Pawn Stars” creators Leftfield Entertainment decided to unionize in 2015 in hopes that the WGAE’s ability to collectively bargain would lead to equal pay and working conditions, according to Variety.
When “Pawn Stars” cast member Olivia Black answered a job posting on Craigslist for a night shift worker at a pawn shop, she had no idea she would become famous. In her trailer for “Pawn Stars,” Black admitted that “I didn’t really understand exactly what I was applying for.” I was quite surprised to find out what was going on.
Her reality TV career ended when her stint on “Pawn Stars” was cut to 13 episodes. In a Reddit AMA, she said “Two days later, I got a call from the producers of Pawn Stars informing me that my skills were no longer required on the show.” This was in response to the National Enquirer publishing an article about her on December 15, 2012, which included references to her SuicideGirls imagery. Black was not allowed to be photographed but was allowed to continue working in the store.
However, she left this job a few months later. Black told Fox411 that she planned to sue Leftfield Pictures and that it was “quite obvious” that her time at the studio was over. “Her termination was unpleasant and rushed, and I believe the public needs further explanation,” Black’s representative said. Despite the controversy, the pawnshop employees publicly supported her, so she bore no ill will against them. “Knowing that the guys at the pawn shop are on my side, supporting me, and honestly don’t care what I decide to do in my personal life is incredibly comforting,” she told RadarOnline.
Among the “Pawn Stars” cast members, Austin “Chumlee” Russell is undoubtedly the most corrupt. According to a 2012 TMZ report, he was caught on camera fighting a man in Hollywood before leaving the scene. Although the victim was left battered and injured on the side of the road, Chumlee insisted he acted in “self-defense” because the man “threatened to pull a gun on him and his buddies.” Simply put, instinct took over. “I just wanted to cause trouble while driving in our car,” he told TMZ, adding that “[the man] didn’t even realize I was on TV or anything.”
However, Chumlee’s involvement in the dispute four years later could not be justified.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Russell was arrested “on suspicion of 20 felonies” in 2016 and remains in custody. Russell was arrested after police raided his residence as part of an investigation into claims he had been s*xually assaulted. Ultimately, the s*xual assault charges were dropped, but Chumlee faced a new legal battle over what the raid revealed.
TMZ claims police found a “massive list of narcotics,” including Xanax, meth, and cannabis. In addition, they discovered traces of cocaine and twelve weapons, eight of which were unregistered.
Eventually, Chumlee pleaded to stay out of jail. “Guilty on a felony weapons charge, unlawful possession of a firearm, and a felony count of attempted possession of narcotics,” USA Today reports that Russell entered his plea.
In conclusion, the journey of “Pawn Stars” has been a roller-coaster ride filled with strange artifacts, legal entanglements, and controversies. From disputes over the value of stolen coins to Corey Harrison’s wild night, the drama on and off camera kept viewers in suspense. The cast, including Rick Harrison and Chumlee, faced legal challenges and financial success, with the show becoming a cable television phenomenon.
Allegations of wage theft and behind-the-scenes union battles shed light on the less glamorous aspects of reality TV production. Olivia Black’s sudden departure has highlighted the challenges facing cast members. Chumlee, in particular, faced legal problems that included s*xual assault charges and a narcotics record.
Despite the scandals, “Pawn Stars” has maintained its popularity and showcased the interesting world of a 24-hour pawn shop. The success of the show and the accumulated wealth of the cast contrasted with the behind-the-scenes struggles of those who worked on the production. The legacy of “Pawn Stars” reflects the complexities of reality TV, where drama on and off the screen intersects with financial success and legal issues.