Pawn Stars' Rick Harrison Confirms Devastating New Detail In Son Adam's Death

Warning: This story contains mention of a drug overdose.

On January 19, TMZ reported that Adam Harrison, the son of "Pawn Stars" star Rick Harrison, had died from an overdose at age 39. "Our family is extremely saddened by the death of Adam. We ask for privacy as we grieve his loss," the Harrison family stated. The day after Adam's death, Rick shared a pic of himself with his son on Instagram and wrote, "You will always be in my heart! I love you Adam." 

Adam's brother and Rick's "Pawn Stars" co-star Corey Harrison wrote, "Wax wtf I will always love you bubba," while posting a throwback photo of himself and his brother in a bathtub as kids.

Just days after Adam's death, Rick confirmed that Adam did indeed die of an overdose, per TMZ. "Yes, I can confirm Adam died from a fentanyl overdose. The fentanyl crisis in this country must be taken more seriously," the reality star shared, before blaming a lack of oversight at America's borders. "[Nothing] is being done about it. We must do better," he told the outlet.

If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Adam Harrison's death is the latest tragedy to strike Rick Harrison, who's dealt with personal and legal struggles in recent years. In 2018, Rick lost his father and namesake, Richard Harrison — who invested in and started the family's pawn shop business in addition to appearing on the early seasons of "Pawn Stars." According to CNN, Richard died from Parkinson's disease. Rick broke the news shortly after on Instagram. "Today I lost a friend, a father, a teacher and so much more," Rick captioned an old photo of his father. "The Old Man lost his long battle with Parkinson's this morning. Love you Dad. See you on the other side."

Unfortunately, Richard's death eventually led to legal turmoil for Rick. Rick's mother, Joanne Harrison, sued him in 2022 for withholding her percentage of earnings from the family company she inherited after Richard Harrison's death, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. She also accused Rick of convincing her to sign over the shares — amounting to 51 % of the company — that she previously owned, as she was being treated for a coma in the hospital in the early 2000s. Furthermore, Joanne claimed Rick hadn't been fully transparent about the shop's finances and had temporarily ceased her monthly payments of $25,000. "Joanne believes that Rick has failed to issue distributions to Joanne commensurate with her proper equity interest in the Pawn Shop," read the lawsuit.

Rick has denied the accusations, but the lawsuit is ongoing.

More troubles have continued to plague the Harrison family. On September 13, 2023, Rick Harrison's other son, Corey Harrison, was arrested in Las Vegas for allegedly driving under the influence, per TMZ. According to the cop who pulled him over, Corey's truck was swerving and he was ordered to take a sobriety test, which he failed. The breathalizers used for the "Pawn Stars" star were broken so he had to take a blood test or be forced to stay in jail over the weekend.

But Corey is not about to let the arrest slide easily. He told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the sobriety test was difficult to pass. "It's, stand on this leg, stand on that leg, walk in a straight line. I felt I passed it. But the test is meant for you to fail, no matter what," he declared. Corey claimed there were many reasons he was unsteady on his feet, such as an infection on his right leg and the uneven stone street he was standing on. He also told the cops that he had one drink while flying back over seven hours ago from Minnesota and the alcohol smell that was coming from the truck was because of some unopened wine bottles that were gifted to him. Corey stated that he has plans to fight the DUI and will be hiring a lawyer.