Bull riding looks dangerous - but can it pay like other pro sports? Let's buck the myths

[{"selector":"#anim-52a85065-6811-45e9-875a-52ad8c24451d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c933dd64-0dee-4a73-b29a-37b2757c7b14","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2123.01787%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] A Million-Dollar Question Swipe to see real numbers Arrow Image source: chatgpt

$20K to $1M+ Per Year

[{"selector":"#anim-9b4a36f8-4f2f-4657-bc30-7a49035e6865","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.06)","scale(0.994)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":3000,"duration":1450,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-3370337f-e168-47b3-adcf-484e622e47b2","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(1)","scale(1.01)","scale(0.999)","scale(1)"],"offset":[0,0.33,0.66,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"ease-in-out","fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-fc9fe224-d07e-49c3-a46d-69863a1cdab5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d07a6254-ab41-467f-a40c-641d87f73081","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 508.73058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Bull Rider might earn $20K,while PBR champions earn $1M + . Most pros fall in the $50K−$300K range. Image source: chatgpt

Winning Pays Big

[{"selector":"#anim-e60ca045-02c8-407e-8501-ccdab7aeb266 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-11.874589244448808%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-806677aa-eda7-46c3-8ace-560b128008ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd3465f3-03f2-472b-bf27-7405808d4c0d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 919.51876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2ae38b6-0b61-418f-88b5-1d4f3bd7b96f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7fadbae4-52c9-4bfc-96a1-2269c8077d50","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 244.05462%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-63dda3f6-cf6b-4379-93fa-2bd2424f7417","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c003afe-ca5e-4be3-a257-d4d6c1271a6f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 551.58804%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] PBR events award 50K−300K per competition. The World Finals champ wins $1M alone! Image source: PBR

Brands Love Cowboys

[{"selector":"#anim-2677fd1b-5935-45a9-a2ba-f8ce4a2100bf","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e2f56e30-532a-4294-98bc-320aa0d9f11d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -98.34163%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4c33531-cd02-41ae-9fb8-8a8ffac20125","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-020fca7d-a6e3-4c5b-b224-686e64e055a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 804.2139%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fbf8e888-f3cb-4bf0-8608-83c207bb2707","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":3,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3fab979a-e461-4d32-8e7b-c34d6b8f500d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 272.78579%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":3,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e2944c7-3059-4276-a7bc-4a289dfff3f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-809201fb-5472-4d6f-8442-88ebd5ce59a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 1968.15193%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Top riders earn $ 100K+ from boot companies, energy drinks, and western brands. Image source: ebay

The Cost of Competing

[{"selector":"#anim-64ac00b4-52b6-414e-b7ca-d2b575ea1f14","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-55589a1d-de3c-498a-8bce-0e3c3aeaa4e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100.24331%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bc46a8f1-a82c-4c1a-bb80-fa4f03eea4c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7e4783d7-7be4-46bd-b079-a6799ac42402","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 886.0087%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4ce95047-84a7-42e1-bb6a-bf1b0248fb2d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3667c067-9fae-4502-b3cc-a051a415d64e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 274.23505%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bea103ad-bedd-4e0e-b32a-373dcf87df8c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ce697d91-0b93-4b72-a913-fc65b3088563","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2173.01809%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Travel, gear, and medical bills cost $30K+/year. Many riders break even early in careers. Image source: PBR

Championship vs. Average

[{"selector":"#anim-f4c38ddb-c86f-4f81-a8ef-b5e5d4bc2f0c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4fe0eb9-24db-4557-bd58-66297749bb8a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 187.91425%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a5efbae7-5ad6-46a2-b531-2db264f447d4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b06f1840-feec-4f97-ae11-44e91cc7a502","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.2173%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-631f851c-9961-4d39-857f-1278390bff5a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bc8705b-719a-4ca7-b368-6cb2bc3d773d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 970.08547%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c98ee62d-a52d-4dc1-a710-8fcbe746bf22","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3438d1c8-c6b2-417f-86cc-b23854b9feb5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2114.81884%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] While the top 5 riders earn 1M+,mostfull−time pros make about 1 M +, most Average make about 75K - like skilled tradesmen. Image source: mensjournal Learn More

Ranch Life Pays the Bills

[{"selector":"#anim-fb682e50-ae49-4795-8c59-6ca8ede0121d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e2bd151-4b01-42f1-8be7-c756948e8d76","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 908.23085%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f9a8bdb8-526b-4bd6-a960-d64a51345b35","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-09833636-37d5-4c63-a89d-9285ee633cda","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 290.17712%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-402f3964-48c8-4834-8728-f3a84abe3ae6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0704a444-85fc-4f6b-ab3a-8d9aafdf30a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-64b6dd41-ce50-46ab-8624-e58e1b19b0c3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c752688b-d1c8-4fd2-8b0a-50a605289070","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 534.81571%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Many riders work as ranch hands or rodeo schools when not competing. Image source: doublebarrelentertainment

No Ride, No Pay

[{"selector":"#anim-febc692a-dce7-42bb-a21b-473d8eb26f78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bba8a937-f102-4f3f-b012-521df65b1c74","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81e6ca67-468e-4766-b432-444b8dcc43dd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f7020501-85d4-496a-b032-670d7d6b466a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 882.93745%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7efb5c8b-2887-411c-80fe-fa7429b868f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1cde134-aafc-4c55-bdbe-af3db7c91533","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 294.52497%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27bf46ea-4f12-4c02-985e-48efbbc7fb4f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5fb0ec6-0418-4f93-8893-7ac2e99d9600","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 573.01633%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Most have no guaranteed contracts. Broken bones mean $0 income during recovery. Image source: nypost

Women in Bull Riding

[{"selector":"#anim-8782f1a3-a317-4d06-87a3-d58dcb5a7614","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5e876426-d555-4ffe-a8a4-8ae9635f02f0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44559ab5-7a13-4704-8b81-276d51e391f4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a3c4449a-1986-46dc-b3ce-ff82b6b6dffe","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 835.24856%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de6a30f8-85aa-4be3-b6dc-dd56c7897206","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d98d081-bd1e-4826-a9f9-a49c554bb520","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 293.07562%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c70aa17b-a27f-4831-8d54-279d1480ed37","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f613d9eb-8564-48f5-81e0-099f81680049","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 481.48221%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Female riders earn 30-50% less prize money but are gaining equal pay ground. Image source:live-production.wcms

Omak Stampede Earnings

[{"selector":"#anim-44fd7244-c224-4720-bdd3-60f053789bce [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.347778759443788%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6f98f103-dbe6-46f8-b669-a2958c444f39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8500060-a96c-4527-bb44-c9cda49c53bf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 577.18245%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b99c367b-8e3d-4a95-a787-2def7f83ec3a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9126eaf-fb48-4599-9693-958dc0c43b91","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 358.29307%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0d1c4c4-66e0-45c2-88ad-39e53ea2b05d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-86d3c498-9dff-4ad5-8e27-c46a2567a712","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 515.87335%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Omak's champion wins $15K + - a career-changing payday for rising stars Image source: countrycaller.com See future champs live. Get Tickets Now Arrow

8 Seconds of Fame

[{"selector":"#anim-988960dd-4e4e-4e11-8bbe-b519c29c2b33","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70a8f576-bd3b-4637-a1cf-579113b19f86","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.43855%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e3ee704-6fc2-4165-be82-1e9ac5762962","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bb3e9ed5-859a-4fd1-a9a5-87914207bbdb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 869.73123%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":1,"duration":700,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3c488e7d-bf5b-47f2-826f-e4357020e27c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5f8fc4a-ea57-46bd-bdc5-23fb072a9a91","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 306.11909%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":2,"duration":900,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dc4d9d31-c279-40ed-bcdd-bf1929c9732c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-983940f8-0c5c-4b8d-92ea-63c8e37e2026","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 2215.87511%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tag a friend who thinks they could last 8 seconds! #OmakStampede Image source: i.pinimg.com Read More