Reality television personality Corey 'Big Hoss' Harrison, best known for his role on the hit series Pawn Stars, has launched a public fundraising campaign to help cover extensive medical bills following a devastating motorcycle crash in Mexico earlier this year.
Serious Accident in Tulum
The 42-year-old star was involved in a major motorcycle accident in Tulum, Mexico, in January that left him with horrific injuries requiring multiple life-saving surgeries. According to his friend Aron Chambers, who organized the GoFundMe campaign, Harrison suffered 11 fractured ribs, a punctured lung, a concussion, and significant internal bleeding from the crash.
Fourteen Days in Hospital
Harrison spent an initial 14 days in hospital immediately following the accident, with his condition so severe that doctors had to drain nearly three liters of blood from his chest cavity. The reality star underwent three separate life-saving surgeries during this critical period.
In a particularly harrowing account, Chambers described transporting Harrison to a more affordable hospital in Mérida, a journey of four and a half hours from their location in Playa del Carmen. "Every bump on that road felt like a brutal kick to his already shattered chest — there were moments when we weren't sure we'd make it in time," Chambers wrote on the fundraising page.
Financial Strain and Emotional Toll
The medical crisis has created overwhelming financial pressure for Harrison, who has reportedly emptied his entire bank account to cover what he could of the mounting expenses. Friends, including Chambers, have maxed out credit cards to keep his treatment progressing.
"In a heartbreaking moment that shook all of us to our core, Corey looked at us and said, 'I'm just going to die out here. I don't have the money to keep paying these people,'" Chambers revealed in the GoFundMe description.
Despite his television fame from Pawn Stars, Harrison lacks what Chambers described as a "built-in safety net" for such medical emergencies. "Medical crises don't care about celebrity status," he emphasized.
Ongoing Recovery Challenges
Now back in Tulum where he currently resides, Harrison requires ongoing follow-up care and medications as he continues his recovery. The situation has been further complicated by his reluctance to take heavy painkillers following the tragic death of his brother Adam Harrison from a fentanyl overdose in January 2024.
Fundraising Efforts
The GoFundMe campaign has set a target of $18,000 to help cover Harrison's medical expenses, with nearly $5,000 raised at the time of reporting. The reality star faces more than $100,000 in total medical bills and related expenses from the accident and subsequent treatment.
Life After Pawn Stars
Harrison confirmed to TMZ that he is now completely removed from Pawn Stars, the History Channel series that chronicled the daily activities at the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas. The show featured patriarch Richard 'Old Man' Harrison, his son Rick Harrison, Rick's son Corey, and Corey's childhood friend Austin 'Chumlee' Russell.
In 2025, Harrison announced he had not renewed his contract with the long-running series, telling the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "At this stage of the game, we're all playing a character on Pawn Stars. I can't play another season of 41-year-old me pretending to be 23."
He also addressed his departure from his father's podcast Pawn After Dark, stating: "They told me what they are doing and I said, 'Alright, cool. I'll pack it up. I'm moving to Mexico. You guys have a fun time out here and do what you want to do.'"
The History Channel show is currently on indefinite hiatus after concluding its 23rd season in 2025, with plans for a revival yet to be announced. Harrison continues to receive some residual checks from the series but faces significant financial challenges as he recovers from his life-altering accident.
