‘ Pawn Stars’ answer questions from Sun readers

"Pawn Stars": Behind the Scenes Austin "Chumlee" Russell gives us a behind-the-scenes tour of the wacky collection in the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop, where History Channel's hit TV show "Pawn Stars" takes place. While business is booming, Rick and The Old Man tell us why they're better than the competition and how they're dealing with their new-found fame.

As part of our blowout coverage of "Pawn Stars," we let readers submit questions to the crew on the show. Here are their answers:

**

I love your show. How much has your business increased since being put on TV?

From Rick Harrison, with a laugh: "It's good, suffice it to say."

**

How hard is it to get a job at your shop? Do you guys even hire?

From Corey Harrison, who oversees hiring: “Yes, it's hard to get hired and we are fully staffed right now, we have gone from 12 to 38 employees this year."

Dear crew, do you plan to have your wives included in any of the future episodes?

From Corey: "No, wives will not be on the show."

**

Do you pay your experts when they come in to appraise items?

From Rick: "We don't pay the experts and most live right here in Las Vegas."

**

What is the largest amount money you have ever loaned against an item?

Rick and Corey agree: $140,000 for gold bars.

**

Did anyone buy the hot-air balloon?

From Rick: “Yes, it was sold.”

**

A guy named Chris brought a twin engine jet boat to sell on a previous show. I don't believe he owned the boat. Was this purchase staged or real?

From Rick: "Yes, everything on the show is real.”

**

What was the one deal that was consummated by any crew member that later turned out to be financially catastrophic?

From Rick: "There's been more than one.”

**

My question is for Richard. He talks about being in the service, and talks about the south. I would like to know If he ever lived down south before he went to Las Vegas. And what branch in the service he was in.

"I was in the Navy, then to North Carolina then San Diego, back to North Carolina, then Virginia, back to San Diego, and then to Vegas."

**

What kind of car does Chumlee drive?

“A Harley.”

**

Ask the Old Man to relate his favorite sea story from his time in the Navy.

“That's a hard one, there's too many to choose just one.”

**

My husband and I watch you all all the time and are curious if Rick has any siblings, if so how many, and if Corey has any as well?

From Rick: "None that I'll admit to," adding that Corey has two brothers.

**

I'm from south of Boston MA, I always watch your show, and I always see a Patriots Super Bowl ring. I want to know if it's still for sale, and if so what is the asking price?

From Rick, chuckling: "It's still for sale at $100,000, it's overpriced because I really don't want to sell it."

**

When someone takes you some jewelry, how do you know if it is real diamonds or zircons?

From Rick: "Years of training are how we tell the difference."