Corey Harrison once pulled in wages worthy of a TV star, $50,000 per episode on “Pawn Stars” during the show’s peak.
That seems like a lot of money. But as Harrison said Friday, “That was a long time ago.”
“This is when the show was a half-hour and was a big hit for History,” Harrison said from his home in Tulum, Mexico. “Then it was doubled to an hour per episode, and the pay dropped by 10 percent.”
The former “Pawn Stars” cast member’s finances and medical debt have become a focal point, as his buddy Aron Chambers has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover what Harrison describes as six-figure expenses. The campaign kicked off Monday with an $18,000 goal and surpassed $8,000 by Friday afternoon.
Harrison’s father, “Pawn Stars” founder Rick Harrison, says Corey Harrison’s bills have been paid.
“I paid all of Corey’s medical bills long before he put the GoFundMe out. He is a grown man in his 40s and is responsible for how he handles his finances,” Harrison said in a statement issued by his rep, Laura Herlovich. “It’s always nice to be paid back, but there is no repayment schedule in place.”
The statement mirrors what Harrison issued to TMZ earlier in the day. The pawn proprietor has declined further comment.
Corey Harrison, 42, learned of those comments and said, “If Rick Harrison’s heart grew twice its size and he decided to pay all my hospital bills, holy hell, did I win the lottery? This is my dad, and I can promise you, Rick Harrison never said I don’t have to give him back money he gave me.”
The younger Harrison has been heavily medicated throughout this experience. He allows that his account has been delivered while he’s been heavily sedated.
“I just, five days ago, stopped taking all the morphine and s–t they were giving me, right?” Harrison said. “I’m getting asked a lot of questions. I promise you, I had a Mexican buddy with a wallet paying four different hospital bills the same day I wrecked.”
Harrison has said he owes $130,000, then said Friday, “Have you ever written a $150,000 check in your life? I haven’t. This ain’t easy.” Harrison says he still receives residual payments for past “Pawn Stars” work, but notes that money goes to Gold and Silver Pawn, which his father owns.
Harrison has been unapologetic about asking for help from the public, posting a photo of him smiling on Instagram with the message, “Community rallies to help cover medical bills for Pawn Stars’ Corey Harrison after accident.” The GoFundMe account is tagged on the post.
Harrison suffered 11 fractures to his ribs, a concussion, a cut hand requiring 10 stitches and some scrapes to his head and torso in the Jan. 23 motorcycle accident that touched off this saga.
“Less than two weeks ago, they clipped my ribs back together,” he says. “They took 3 liters of blood out of my lungs. This is painful. I’m not Wolverine over here, brother.”
Harrison has been hosting “The Corey Harrison Show” podcast from Tulum since July. His father and Austin “Chumlee” Russell are returning to “Pawn Stars” on History. Filming is ongoing, with a planned 2027 relaunch.
Corey Harrison was among the show’s quartet of original, odd-fitting stars, along with his dad, Chumlee and his grandfather, the late Richard “Old Man” Harrison.
Asked if there was a possibility of returning to the show to chronicle the real drama of his bike accident, Harrison said, “Right now? No way. There is no way that’s going to happen.”
John Katsilometes’ column runs daily in the A section. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow @johnnykats on X, @JohnnyKats1 on Instagram.