Pawn Stars' Most Expensive Item Bought Was Just Some Scribbles—Or So They Thought

Over the years, fans have seen everything from samurai swords to Super Bowl rings, with Rick Harrison holding court behind the counter, ready to lowball anyone bold enough to walk through the door. But one quiet moment from a later season managed to outdo them all—not with gold or guns or Elvis memorabilia, but with a stack of paper.

And no, this isn't a setup for a punchline. This was the real deal.

A Bunch of "Kid's Drawings"… Worth a Quarter Million?

The item in question? A set of original Maurice Sendak sketches—the same ones that would become the basis for Where the Wild Things Are, one of the most iconic children's books ever made. The seller brought them in with full documentation, and Rick immediately recognized what he was looking at.

"This was the greatest book ever written," Rick said, staring at the pages like he was eight years old again. "When I was a kid I was fascinated by the pictures... It was so different from any other children's book."

According to Rick's art expert, the lot could pull in up to $310,000 at auction. But Rick—doing what Rick does—talked the seller down to a final price of $250,000.

And just like that, the shop's most expensive purchase in history wasn't a car, or a coin, or some Civil War antique—it was a few pieces of paper with monsters on them.

Fans Were Floored… and a Little Skeptical

Reddit got a hold of the clip, and reactions ranged from impressed to incredulous. The top comment summed up what a lot of people were thinking:

"TIL the most expensive item purchased on Pawn Stars was a series of original sketches of Where the Wild Things Are. Rick paid $250,000 for the sketches."

Another user chimed in to confirm the expert's appraisal:

"He brought in an art guy who said they'd go for $310K. So Rick jumped at it."

But of course, no Pawn Stars moment goes unchallenged. Some fans were quick to cast doubt on the whole thing, questioning whether the transaction actually happened or if the whole scene was staged for the cameras.

One common thread in the debate: the show's blurred line between reality and "reality TV." As one user put it:

"It's not scripted, it's staged. They schedule these transactions in advance, then film them to make it watchable."

Which seems to be the general consensus. The items are real. The people are real. But don't kid yourself—it's still a TV show. Just maybe don't take the haggling at face value.

Not the Only Big Deal That Almost Happened

For comparison, there was an even wilder item that didn't get sold: a full three-piece suit worn by George Washington. The seller asked for $3 million. Rick offered $2.5 million. The deal fell through.

That missed opportunity only puts the Sendak purchase into sharper focus. Rick was willing to shell out seven figures for a founding father's coat, but when it came to a few monster doodles from a children's book, he actually closed.

Real Transaction or TV Theater?

Here's the thing. Whether or not the deal went through in real life, the show aired it. The shop gave it airtime, Rick gave it weight, and most importantly, the viewing public believed it. That's all Pawn Stars really needs to stay relevant: the illusion of discovery, a familiar set of faces, and the occasional quarter-million-dollar wild card.

And if you think buying Maurice Sendak sketches for $250,000 is wild, just remember—Rick once tried to buy a samurai sword using a handful of silver coins and a box of Slim Jims.