Rick had an easy childhood, but got into fights in middle school with Sally and Clarke's son, C.J Garrison. Rick revealed that he was being bullied at school because of Brooke's relationship with Ridge, which had made Ridge both his half-brother and stepdad. Rick's rage came in full force when he and C.J. had a fistfight at Thorne and Macy's wedding. In 1997, Ridge was disturbed to find that Rick had indulged in video games and music with violent overtones. Unable to accept Grant and Brooke's engagement, Rick shot Grant and blocked the act from his mind. After much speculation as to who had committed the crime, Ridge was almost convicted, but James and Taylor counseled the young lad into a confession. Rick also ran away from home, hoping to reunite Ridge with Taylor, and Eric with Brooke.

In 1998, Brooke hired Amber as a live-in babysitter, and Amber set her sights on Rick. One night, Amber pushed Rick to challenge C.J. in a drag race. After Rick lost control of the car, he was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. When Rick needed a new kidney and no family members were viable donors, Amber insisted they use hers. Rick and Amber later slept together at Big Bear. After C.J. revealed to Rick that Amber was going to abort Rick's child, the two best friends rushed to stop her. Rick proposed to Amber to give his child his name. Kimberly moved into the neighborhood with her father and shared an attraction with Rick. Rick had feelings for Kimberly, but he married Amber, and he and Kimberly parted ways. In 1999, a furious Rick threw Amber out after Brooke revealed that Amber had also been with Raymond. Eventually, for the sake of his baby boy and his wedding vows, Rick gave Amber another chance.

Amber's lies were exposed when Becky discovered that Amber tried to pass off Becky's baby as Rick's son. Rick was shocked to learn that his biological baby had died. Rick reunited with Kimberly, but the relationship slowly deteriorated in the wake of Brooke and Thorne impending marriage. Rick competed with C.J. for Amber and baby Eric's affections.

As C.J. and Amber prepared for their wedding, Rick tracked down baby Eric's biological father in an attempt to gain custody. He and Deacon stopped C.J. and Amber's nuptials from taking place. Rick spent his first year at college fighting to win back Amber and Little Eric. He realized that pulling Deacon into his life had been a disastrous error, because Deacon had tried to undermine his relationship with Amber and had married his sister, Bridget, as a ploy to get at the Forrester family. Amber announced that she was once again pregnant.

Rick took an interest in his family's business, Forrester Creations, when his mother took a leave of absence, and Ridge took over. Rick became furious when Ridge dropped the Brooke's Bedroom Line from Forrester's collection, and he began going to board meetings to stop Ridge from destroying all of his mother's work. Ridge tried to make a fool out of Rick, but Massimo Marone tutored Rick in business and made him into a cutthroat business man. With the help of his brother-in-law Deacon, Rick stopped Ridge from taking over Forrester Creations. His mother rewarded him by making him vice president of the company. Just when things were starting to look great for Rick, Amber lost their child and discovered she might never be able to have another. Amber got hooked on pain killers and went to rehab. Rick was very supportive of his wife in her time of need. After returning from rehab, Amber was drugged by Lance (who was being paid by Sheila) and thought she had relapsed and slept with Lance. She confessed to Rick, and they separated.

Rick found a sounding board with Erica, Little Eric's new nanny. The two became very good friends, and Erica even moved in after she was injured in a fight with Amber. Erica then tried to seduce Rick and get pregnant with his child, so she could be in Rick's life forever. Rick refused to sleep with Erica. Rick discovered that Erica was really Sheila's daughter, and he kicked her out of his life and reconciled with Amber. Rick and Amber again separated after they lost custody of Little Eric to the tot's birth father, Deacon.

Rick concentrated on working for Forrester Creations for a few years and, after a brief and failed relationship with Caitlin Ramírez, Rick left Los Angeles and headed to Europe to lead the European division of Forrester Creations, where he had a brief affair with Ashley Abbott. He returned to Los Angeles after Dominick Marone purchased the company, and he immediately clashed with Ridge, who was about to remarry Brooke. Rick began working with his parents on a new company, Forrester Originals. He also fell in love with Ridge's virginal daughter, Phoebe, much to Ridge's dismay.

Ridge's anger toward Rick turned violent, and Rick was thrilled when Brooke broke off her engagement to Ridge after Ridge punched Rick. Ashley accepted a job developing a new fragrance for Forrester Originals and pursued Rick, who remained true to Phoebe, even though he was frustrated that Phoebe wanted to wait to have sex. Rick and Phoebe began singing karaoke together at Insomnia, and an Internet video of their performance drew the attention of Constantine, a record producer.

Rick suspected that Ridge had been behind the shooting of Phoebe's friend, Shane, and when Phoebe caught Rick searching for evidence against Ridge, the couple broke up. Rick hooked up with Ashley on a business trip, but clearly still had feelings for Phoebe, and he returned to Phoebe's side when Ridge was arrested for murder. Since Ridge had a prior record for shooting Grant, Brooke wanted Taylor to help unlock Rick's repressed memory of committing the crime, but Ridge blurted the truth to Rick instead. Though Rick didn't remember shooting Grant, he testified that he had after Phoebe begged him to save her father. Rick demanded that in return, Ridge accept his relationship with Phoebe.

Rick and Phoebe's relationship hit the skids when the truth about Rick's affair with Ashley surfaced. He briefly reunited with Phoebe after they sang in a contest together, but Phoebe's mixed signals about sex led to another estrangement. Rick tried to win back Ashley, but she had become involved with Ridge.

Rick consoled Taylor after she had learned that due to a lab mix-up, she had given birth to a baby that had been conceived using Brooke's egg. After Taylor lost custody of baby Jack to Nick, Rick supported her when she was tempted to resume drinking, and the two developed feelings for one another. Ridge and Brooke disapproved of the couple's budding relationship, and Taylor pushed Rick away for fear of hurting Phoebe, who had declared that she was still in love with Rick. Rick and Taylor kept their growing closeness from Phoebe, who went on tour with Constantine.

Rick stood by Taylor when she tried to win back custody of Jack, and he proposed marriage, but she couldn't give him an answer. When Brooke condemned Rick and Taylor's relationship in court, Rick blurted out that he and Taylor were engaged. The judge agreed to joint custody between Taylor and Nick. Rick proposed again, but Taylor wanted time to explain things to her children. Rick and Taylor began to make love, but they were interrupted by a devastated Phoebe, who had returned to town. Despite Rick's pleas, Taylor ended her relationship with Rick.

Ultimately, Phoebe calmed down and encouraged Taylor and Rick to follow their hearts. Rick proposed a third time, and Taylor accepted, much to Brooke's consternation. Rick and Taylor finally became lovers. They were blissfully engaged for several months, but Taylor realized that her affection for Rick couldn't compare to the life she'd shared with Ridge, and she broke off their engagement. Rick blamed Ridge for the breakup, and when the men scuffled on the Forrester Creations rooftop, Rick accidentally toppled over the edge, leaving him paralyzed.

Rick used his condition to manipulate Brooke into asking Ridge to move out while Rick recuperated at her home. Rick harbored great personal and professional resentment toward Ridge. Rick continued to drive a wedge between Ridge and Brooke, and he refused to return to Forrester Creations as long as Ridge was in charge. Rick hid his improving condition from everyone. Rick made Eric feel guilty for favoring Ridge over the years, and Eric named Rick co-president of Forrester Creations. Ridge refused to share the position, so Eric declared Rick the president of the company, and Rick "miraculously" recovered from his paralysis.

During the press conference to announce Rick's presidency, Brooke gushed about Ridge's contributions to the company. Rick hacked into the video and edited it so it appeared that Brooke had only praised Rick, with no mention of Ridge. Rick was livid when his antics didn't work, and Brooke asked Rick to move out. Rick clashed with Steffy at the office, but he soon realized that it would drive Ridge crazy if Rick pursued Steffy.

Rick tried to bond with Steffy, but she quickly realized that he was trying to use her when he attempted to kiss her, and she slapped him. Phoebe returned to town for Brooke and Ridge's wedding, and she angrily confronted Rick about his treatment of Taylor and Steffy. Rick left for the rehearsal dinner, but Phoebe jumped into the car with him, and she caused him to lose control of the car, resulting in a crash. A bloodied Rick ran to the Forrester home for help, but Phoebe ended up dying in Ridge's arms, and Ridge and Stephanie blamed Rick for her death.

Rick felt great remorse that his actions had inadvertently led to Phoebe's death, and he confessed all of his misdeeds to Brooke. Stephanie pushed Ridge to press charges against Rick, but Ridge refused, because he wanted his family to heal. Brooke urged Rick to return to Paris, but Rick felt that she was choosing Ridge over him once again. Brooke got Ridge to agree to let Rick stay in town, as long as Rick kept his distance from Thomas and Steffy.

Steffy initially blamed Rick for Phoebe's accident, until Bridget revealed DNA evidence showing Phoebe had physically attacked Rick while he had been driving. Steffy was drawn to Rick, and they shared some passionate kisses. Stephanie blasted Rick in the press, and she and Rick tried to fire one another from Forrester, but Eric implored them to work together peacefully. Rick learned that Marcus had whisked Steffy off to Big Bear, and he followed them to the cabin. Steffy informed him that Marcus had proposed, and Rick begged her not to accept and declared his love. Rick and Steffy made love.

Rick and Steffy agreed to keep seeing one another in secret. Back at work, Rick offered Steffy a ride to pick up some fabric, and Ridge had a flashback to Phoebe's accident. Ridge demanded that Rick never go near Steffy again. Steffy tried to break things off with Rick, but they couldn't stay away from one another. Rick attempted to make peace with Ridge, who only agreed to work with Rick.

Rick revealed himself to Nick to be the anonymous tipster who had supplied Jackie M with stolen designs from Forrester Creations. In exchange, Nick agreed to make Rick president of Jackie M. Steffy urged Rick to confess to Eric, who forgave his son and pleaded with him to stay on at Forrester. Stephanie suspected that Rick had stolen the designs, and while trying to prove it, she discovered Rick and Steffy's affair.

Stephanie confronted Rick and demanded that he end his relationship with Steffy, but he refused. Gradually, everyone learned of their involvement, and nearly everyone disapproved. Eric gathered the family to determine Rick's fate at Forrester Creations, and he left the decision in Brooke's hands. Brooke felt she had no choice but to fire Rick, after all the trouble he'd caused. Rick made a beeline for Steffy and asked her to marry him. She was worried about his impulsive actions, and he vowed to show her that he could be the man she deserved. He subsequently tried to in the U.S. Army, but was rejected because he had been paralyzed.

Ridge was irate when he caught Steffy and Rick embracing at Forrester, and he followed Rick up to the roof. Ridge attempted to attack Rick, who dodged, and Ridge tumbled over the ledge, but Rick caught his arm and pulled Ridge to safety. Ridge admitted to Brooke that his fall had been his own fault. Brooke tried to convince Ridge to allow Rick to keep his job, but Ridge refused. Steffy offered to leave Forrester Creations if it meant Rick stayed on board, and at the last minute, Brooke reversed her decision to fire Rick.

Steffy and Rick shared a passionate evening at the beach house. After Steffy left, someone set the front door of the beach house on fire, and virtually no one had a solid alibi regarding their whereabouts that evening. The next day, Rick earnestly asked Ridge for Steffy's hand in marriage, but Ridge refused and ordered him to leave the office. Steffy and Brooke watched as Rick approached his car, which exploded. Rick later found a threatening letter in his desk drawer.

The police arrested Pam after finding yarn fibers on Rick's desk. Taylor, Ridge, and Thomas forcibly took Steffy from Rick's house to Big Bear, where Thomas confessed to Taylor that he had been behind the fire and the bomb, but only to scare Rick. Steffy struggled with whether or not to tell Rick the truth, but Rick figured it out for himself and used it as leverage against Ridge. Rick and Steffy got engaged, but Ridge and Taylor vowed not to let the wedding happen. Ridge secretly recorded Rick admitting that he planned to marry Steffy to seek revenge on Ridge. After Steffy heard the tape, she angrily broke up with Rick.

Steffy forgave Rick after he gifted her with a tribute DVD he'd created in Phoebe's memory. After Rick went to therapy, he begged Steffy for another chance, and she agreed. Rick felt guilty when their reunion caused a rift in Brooke and Ridge's marriage. Eventually, Rick and Steffy's romance fizzled when they realized their families would never be at peace as long as they were together. Ridge finally acknowledged that Phoebe's death was an accident and agreed to put his animosity toward Rick aside. In turn, Rick forgave Thomas for his past misdeeds.

Rick moved in with Eric when the Forresters had to sell the beach house to avoid filing for bankruptcy. When Bill took over Forrester Creations and appointed Katie as CEO, she put Rick in charge of Forrester International. Rick divided his time between Paris and L.A. Amber returned to town and flirted with Rick, but he was intrigued by Jackie. In an effort to give Bridget time to bond with Owen, Rick wooed Jackie, even going so far as to propose, but Jackie remained true to her husband.

Rick spent extensive time in Paris, then moved back to L.A. and immediately took a dislike to Hope's fiancé, Liam.