“Pawn Stars” lead Rick Harrison has broken his silence after the death of one of his sons, taking to social media to post a heartfelt tribute.
The son, Adam “Wax” Harrison, reportedly died in Las Vegas on Friday at the age of 39. The Las Vegas Review-Journal initially reported Adam’s death, and the Harrison family has since confirmed to the outlet that Adam died of an overdose.
“Our family is extremely saddened by the death of Adam. We ask for privacy as we grieve his loss,” the family said in a statement to the Review-Journal, requesting privacy as they grieve.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is reportedly investigating the case.
“You will always be in my heart!” the family and pawnshop patriarch wrote. “I love you, Adam.”
“Wax wtf I will always love you bubba,” he wrote alongside the image.
Several high-profile personalities sent their condolences, including Donald Trump Jr., who appeared with Mr. Harrison at a get-out-the-vote rally in Las Vegas for his father ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.
“I’m so sorry, man,” he commented under the mourning father’s Instagram post.
The Harrison family gained national fame after starring on the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars,” a long-running reality television series that follows the deals made at the family-run Gold & Silver Pawn Shop outside Las Vegas. The hit show gives the audience an inside look at the world of the pawn shop business, where the Harrison family uses their sharp eyes and skills to assess the value of items coming in and out of their store.
Since 2009, the series has aired for 22 seasons, with the latest season running from March to June 2023.
According to the Review-Journal, Mr. Harrison shares his two eldest sons, Corey and Adam, with his first former wife, Kim. He later married and welcomed his third son, Jake, with his second former wife, Tracy. Jake made his debut on “Pawn Stars” in 2021.
He also has three daughters: Sarina, Ciana, and Marissa, according to the Review-Journal. They didn’t appear on “Pawn Stars.”
In 2013, Mr. Harrison married his third wife, Deanna, but the couple divorced in 2020. He is now married to a woman named Amanda Palmer.
Mr. Harrison’s father, Richard, also starred on “Pawn Stars.” Known among the audience as “The Old Man,” he appeared in nearly 300 episodes before his death in 2018 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 77.
Adam Harrison had never appeared on “Pawn Stars.” Meanwhile, Corey “Big Hoss” Harrison has been working at the family store since he was nine years old and became a fixture of the show alongside his father and grandfather. Episode plots often involve Corey arguing with his family over the knowledge of the shop’s inventory and his buying expensive items. He also appeared in spin-off programs like “Pawnography” and “Pawn Stars Do America.”
In a 2012 interview with the Huffington Post, Corey said that Adam used to work at the pawnshop but moved on to become a plumber and had little interest in appearing on his family’s reality series.
When asked whether Adam would appear in 2012, Corey told the outlet: “Most likely not. He’s a plumber now.”
Over the course of 14 years, “Pawn Stars” has made each of its core cast members millionaires. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Rick Harrison has about $9 million to his name, while Corey is worth roughly $4 million. Richard Harrison, the founder of the now-world-famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, had a net worth of $8 million before his death.
