The Real Reason Pawn Stars' Corey Harrison Lost Ownership
For years, Corey Harrison—aka "Big Hoss"—wasn't just a TV personality on Pawn Stars, he was a key figure behind the counter of the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop.
But while fans saw him wheeling and dealing on-screen, what they didn't see was a much messier behind-the-scenes journey that ultimately led to him losing his ownership stake in the family business.
It all started during Season 7 of Pawn Stars, when Corey issued an ultimatum to his father Rick Harrison and grandfather Richard "The Old Man" Harrison: give him a 10% stake in the shop, or he'd walk away. Corey had been working at the store since childhood, managing day-to-day operations and overseeing 30 employees. He believed—rightfully—that he had earned a real piece of the business.
Rick and Richard responded with a compromise. Corey was offered a 5% partnership, with the possibility of more later. He accepted.
But that was then.
Corey quietly lost that stake in the years following, and the real reason appears to come down to the Old Man's will.
When Richard Harrison passed away in June 2018, the reading of his will revealed a notable exclusion: Corey was cut out of any inheritance from his grandfather's estate.
Richard's will made it explicitly clear that only Rick Harrison—Corey's father—would retain control of his share of the shop.
This single move effectively undid any leverage Corey had gained years earlier.
While Corey still appeared on Pawn Stars and continued contributing to the business publicly, legally and financially, the ownership line stopped with Rick. No explanation was ever given publicly about why Richard chose to exclude Corey from the will. But it was final—and binding.
The situation was never addressed directly on the show, but Corey has acknowledged in interviews that family tensions and complicated business dynamics made for tough decisions behind the scenes.
So despite being a fan favorite and a daily face at the pawn counter, Corey Harrison's official status at the Gold & Silver Pawn Shop shifted from part-owner to employee. And the reason had nothing to do with his TV persona—it came down to family decisions made in private, and one very deliberate clause in a will.