'Pawn Stars' Celebrity Rick Harrison Claims 81-Year-old Mother Being Manipulated to Sue Him

"Pawn Stars" celebrity Rick Harrison is embroiled in a legal battle with his 81-year-old mother, Joanne Harrison, over their family fortune and investments. However, the reality TV star said that his mother was being manipulated into suing him.

Through her lawyers, Joanne filed her lawsuit in a Las Vegas court this week with allegations that Rick convinced her sometime in 2000 or 2001 to sign over 51 percent of her share in the family business, G&S Coin Shop. During this time, Joanne was also recovering from a coma and claimed she did not fully understand her deal with her son.

Rick's father, Richard Harrison, also known as The Old Man, owned 49 percent of the shares in a business that he built with his wife since 1981. When Joanne got better, he advised his wife to let go of the issue with Rick as their son took over half of the business. Years later, Rick, Richard, and their business partners would lead the successful show "Pawn Stars" that made more money for the family. In 2018, the Harrison patriarch died following his battle with Parkinson's disease, with Joanne inheriting 49 percent of her husband's stake in the business.

Joanne, however, said that her son had not provided her with any documentation of their family's finances, including loans made using her assets. Her lawsuit further claimed that she had not been given what was due to her when The Old Man died.

The Money Stopped Coming In

Before the pandemic, Joanne received a monthly allowance of $25,000 from her son, but this was reduced to $20,000 in early 2020. When the pandemic halted most business operations, Joanne claimed that her money stopped coming in altogether for at least six months. She has also sued her son for breach of contract and wants the court to ban her son from using money that belongs to her.

In a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Rick said that someone manipulated his mother for their gain. He did not name any person or clarify the legal issues.

Following Richard's death, reports revealed that Christopher Harrison, the youngest brother of Rick, was cut out of his father's will. Richard changed the details of his will in 2017, or a year before his death, and noted in the documents that, while he has love and affection for his youngest child, he decided to leave him out of the will on purpose. Richard did not state his reasons but kept other sons, Joseph and Rick, as benefactors. He also made Rick the administrator of his will.

Rick's Divorce from Deanna Burditt

Amid his problems with his mother, Rick also dealt with a personal blow in his marriage during the pandemic. He quietly divorced his third wife, Deanna Burditt, in mid-2020 and stated that they have grown incompatible over the years.

Rick, however, said that he's grateful for his marriage to Burditt because he gained three daughters. Burditt has three kids from a previous relationship, but they are close to Rick.

Meanwhile, Rick's eldest son, Corey Harrison, has been learning the ropes of the business. Corey has been helping out at the pawnshop since he was in his teens and could soon take charge when his father retires. Rick's other adult kids have pursued different careers even as they helped in the pawnshop a few times as well.