JoAnne Rhue Harrison is the most well-known female entrepreneur in the pawn industry who inspires many. You can call her the wife of the ‘Pawn Star.’ Yes, we’re talking about the well-known ‘Old-Man’ from the famous show Pawn Stars.
Joanne married Richard Benjamin Harrison, aka ‘Old-Man,’ who is one of the most famous pawnbrokers from the show. Richard saw solid returns on investment throughout his pawn career.
Although JoAnne Rhue Harrison has never appeared on Pawn Stars, she plays a vital role in their business. She is the co-owner of their company. As a head director of Gold & Silver Pawn Shop (the authorized Pawn Stars store), she led the business very efficiently.
Her Life
Joanne Harrison is an American citizen. She was born in Kernersville, North Carolina, USA, on September 2, 1940. This makes her 82 by age (as of 2022).
And yes, she comes from a place rich with history and tradition but filled with innovative ideas, spirit, and civic pride. This richness is indeed reflected in her personality like Rick Harrison. However, she grew up in Las Vegas and spent most of her adult life there.
She follows the Christian faith, and her zodiac sign is Virgo. JoAnne Rhue Harrison wows her fans with a height of five feet four inches (165 cm) and currently weighs about 60 kg. She has beautiful brown eyes that look contrastingly fabulous against her brown hair. In short, she is a beauty inside out.
Her Net Worth
As of 2022, Joanne Rhue Harrison has a net worth of around $3 million. Though she owns vast wealth, she lives a life of simplicity. Her work as an entrepreneur helped her amass such vast wealth and recreate life like Misty loman.
Her Family
Her parents raised Joanne Harrison . Her dad’s name is Joseph Rhue. He served as a county judge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Later, her dad became one of Philip Morris’s top attorneys in North Carolina.
No relevant information is available in the public domain regarding JoAnne’s mother and if she has any siblings.
Her Married Life
As already mentioned, JoAnne Rhue Harrison married Richard Benjamin Harrison. They were married from 1960 until his death on 25 June 2018. Her husband had one more nickname, “The Appraiser” in addition to the famous “The Old Man.”
He was an American businessman and reality television personality. He is best known as the co-owner of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop, featured on the History Channel show Pawn Stars. Both co-owned the pawn shop that Harrison and his son Rick Harrison started in 1989.
After meeting at a barn dance, the pair decided to marry soon after graduating high school. Richard faced legal issues just before the two married and eventually joined the military.
Daughter’s Death
JoAnne Rhue Harrison gave birth to a baby girl named Sherry Harrison on December 10, 1960. On May 12, 1967, their daughter tragically died due to Down syndrome.
As Sherry Harrison, their only child, was born with Down syndrome, Richard reenlisted in the Navy to qualify for benefits for Sherry’s care and medical costs.
Sherry tragically passed away at six on May 12, 1967. This incident was indeed the most remorseful moment in the couple’s life. Their daughter is memorialized at Forest Hill Memorial Park in Lexington, Davidson County, North Carolina.
The couple’s three sons are still alive, but only Rick Harrison, also known as Richard Harrison Jr., is a Pawn Stars cast member.
Children and Grandchildren
The Harrisons have three sons: Chris Harrison, Joe Harrison, and Rick Harrison. Google lists Chris Harrison, the Bachelor host, as one of their offspring, but this appears false. Chris, their actual son, and his other family live in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The couple also has several grandkids. They are Jennifer Lambert Harrison, Tabitha Cottingham, Corey Harrison, Adam Harrison, and Jake Harrison. You might know Corey; he is the cast member on Pawn Stars.
The 2022 Court Matter – 81 Year Old Joanne Harrison sues her Son
Joanne Harrison, the mother of “Pawn Stars” star Rick Harrison, has filed a request for a temporary restraining order against her son. This comes in the wake of her lawsuit against him, which involves disputes over family assets and the ownership of the Las Vegas business that has been featured on the popular reality TV show.
According to reports, the 81-year-old JoAnne Rhue Harrison is seeking to prevent Rick Harrison from engaging in activities such as diverting $25,000 payments. Transferring or hiding cash and assets, or taking any actions that would diminish her stake in the family’s businesses.
Professional Life
JoAnne had a high school diploma, demonstrating a good level of education. The Harrisons built successful businesses in real estate before becoming well-known for Pawn Stars. JoAnne Rhue Harrison obtained her real estate license in 1970 while Richard Harrison still served in the Navy.
In 1973, she reportedly launched her own real estate business. But the company failed miserably due to massive debt. They were eventually forced to shut down their company in 1981 as they saw no further profits.
Later, the couple settled in Las Vegas and opened a pawn shop called ‘The Gold & Silver Pawn Shop,’ now the backdrop for Pawn Stars. This business helped the couple skyrocket their growth, resulting in huge revenues.
Her Fortune
JoAnne Rhue Harrison and Richard Harrison made significant progress and succeeded in a family business. Richard died with a net worth of $5 million, according to The History Channel.
They also have a property in Vegas and many luxurious cars, including Mercedes-Benz.
Her Husband, Richard Harrison’s Death
Richard Harrison passed away on June 25, 2018, at 77, following a long fight with Parkinson’s disease. He left behind his wife JoAnne Rhue Harrison, three sons, 10 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Rick, his son, was given control of his estate. The youngest of Harrison’s three kids, Christopher Keith Harrison, was purposefully left out of his father’s will as a beneficiary. After his passing, Pawn Stars aired “A Treasure Remembered,” a tribute episode that included interviews and excerpts from the program.
Conclusion
Despite a few terrible events, the Harrisons had a happy existence and a close-knit, loving family. People still look up to JoAnne Rhue Harrison as an example of a successful businesswoman.
She is indeed an inspiring personality to be remembered. We hope this article has given you some interesting insights into JoAnne’s life.
