💔 The Heartbreaking Truth About Rick Harrison: What Really Happened Behind the Pawn Stars Curtains?

Rick Harrison’s life in 2025 has been nothing short of turbulent.

To the world, he remains the unflappable pawn shop boss of Pawn Stars, known for his wit, his negotiating skills, and his relentless pursuit of deals.

But behind the cameras and the scripted drama of the show, Rick has faced challenges far more personal than anyone could have anticipated.

The first major blow to Rick’s world came on January 19, 2024, when he received the devastating news that Adam Harrison, his second son, had died at the age of 39.

Adam’s death rocked Rick to his core.

A shocking autopsy revealed that his son had tragically died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl and methamphetamine in a Las Vegas guest house.

It was a tragedy that shattered Rick and his family, but the story behind it was even more heartbreaking: Adam had been struggling with addiction for years, a struggle that Rick had witnessed firsthand.

Rick had always been there for Adam, even helping him check into rehab and supporting him through the process of recovery.

But addiction, as many know, doesn’t always respond to help.

It’s clear that despite Rick’s best efforts, Adam’s troubles were too deep to overcome.

In his grief, Rick publicly blamed U.S.

border policies for the overdose, an explosive statement that added fuel to the fire of his already difficult year.

But 2025 wasn’t done delivering its punches.

Despite his son’s death, Rick continued to battle personal demons.

Pawn Stars, the show that had made him a household name, faced its own crisis.

In February 2025, the History Channel, which had aired the show for years, dropped Rick and his crew from any new contracts, leaving the iconic show in limbo.

The once-mighty Pawn Stars—which had become one of the highest-rated reality shows in the world—was now in what Rick described as an “indefinite pause”.

Was this the end of the beloved series? Or could Rick somehow revive it?

Rick isn’t one to give up easily.

He’s been adamant that the show isn’t canceled, but is merely going through a “pause.

” According to Rick, he’s working on a new concept for the show, which he’s dubbed Pawn Stars 2.0.

He remains determined to get the cameras rolling again, but with his son’s death and the sudden halt in production, it’s unclear when or how that will happen.

In the meantime, Rick and his co-star Austin “Chumlee” Russell have started a podcast, Pawn After Dark, which is completely separate from the show.

This move is an attempt to keep their fanbase engaged while they wait for the potential return of the show.

But even if the show does come back, the future of its cast is uncertain.

Cory Harrison, Rick’s first son, has distanced himself from the Pawn Stars world entirely.

Cory recently revealed he isn’t in contract talks with the show and has no desire to return.

In fact, he has left Las Vegas altogether and relocated to Tulum, Mexico.

The beachside paradise in the Yucatán Peninsula, known for its ancient Mayan ruins and laid-back atmosphere, is where Cory says he’s taking a much-needed break.

“I’ve earned this vacation,” Cory said, clearly tired of the constant hustle and the spotlight that Pawn Stars had created for him.

But his departure raised more questions.

Why would Cory leave? And what exactly happened between him and Rick? While Cory insists it’s not about the show, many speculate that there could be deeper family tensions at play.

Rick’s grief over Adam and the collapse of the show seem to have taken a toll on his relationship with his son.

Things took a turn for the worse in 2023 when Cory found himself embroiled in a drunk driving arrest.

While driving his pickup truck late at night, Cory swerved between lanes, prompting a police officer to stop him.

Cory’s bloodshot eyes and slurred speech led the officers to suspect he was under the influence.

Although he failed a field sobriety test, Cory denied being intoxicated.

However, he was arrested and released after making bail.

Cory’s legal troubles raised concerns that he might be dealing with some of the same issues that plagued Adam.

Could there be a pattern of addiction and escapism running through the Harrison family?

Adding to Rick’s woes was his ongoing battle with his mother, Joanne Harrison.

In 2022, she accused Rick of stealing from her and filed a lawsuit, claiming that she was the rightful owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, not Rick.

According to Joanne, she had signed over control of the business while she was ill and unable to fully understand the documents she was signing.

The accusations spiraled out of control, and Rick was forced to defend himself against claims of mismanagement and financial dishonesty.

The situation caused a significant rift in their relationship, and although there have been no updates on the case since, it’s clear that this legal battle took a personal toll on Rick.

Amidst all the chaos, there was a bright spot for Rick in 2024.

He got engaged to his girlfriend, Angie Palashkin, during a romantic trip to Chile’s Casablanca Valley.

Despite the 18-year age gap, the couple appeared to be deeply in love, and fans were happy for Rick as he finally seemed to find happiness after a difficult year.

Rick proposed with a 6.

5-carat pear-shaped ring, and the two announced their engagement on Instagram.

This marked Rick’s fifth engagement, following four failed marriages.

The whirlwind of 2025 has left many fans wondering about the true future of Pawn Stars and the Harrison family.

Will Rick bounce back from these personal and professional setbacks? Can Pawn Stars return to the airwaves? Or has the show, and the family drama that’s intertwined with it, run its course?

What’s clear is that Rick Harrison has been through more in 2025 than anyone expected.

From the loss of his son to legal battles, from his son Cory’s arrest to the uncertain future of Pawn Stars, Rick’s personal life has taken center stage in a way no one saw coming.