Get to Know the World of PBR
Every rodeo lover knows that one of the greatest moments is bull riding, but do you know a little about its history?
PBR (Professional Bull Riders) is an American company, now multinational, responsible for international bull riding competitions. Founded in 1992 by a group of 20 visionary cowboys who broke with the traditional rodeo scene, it is headquartered in Pueblo, Colorado, USA.
Seeking attention from the general public, new wealth, and a means of subsistence for future generations of cowboys in the most popular rodeo modality, bull riding has become the main attraction of rodeo festivals, and a multi-million dollar sport that generates hundreds of jobs and thousands of opportunities for cowboys who enjoy pure adrenaline.
"We wanted to create a better product for the fans, so that when they tune in, they would always see the best of the best," said Ty Murray, co-founder of the PBR and nine-time world champion." Those expectations have been far exceeded, and the fact that this sport continues to grow is gratifying, as it demonstrates all the hard work and dedication of each member of the PBR."
The founders believed that bull riding deserved to be in the spotlight and could thrive as an independent sport. Each competitor invested $1,000, the result of hard work, some even borrowing from family and friends, to start the PBR.
In 2007, Spire Capital Partners finalized an agreement with the PBR to acquire the stakes of many of the retired founding cowboys and invest in the organization's growth. Those first 20 cowboys turned their $1,000 into many millions.
In May 2015, PBR was acquired by Endeavor and is now a subsidiary of IMG, a global leader in sports, fashion, events and media.
More than 800 rodeo riders from around the world, including the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico, are members of PBR. They compete in more than 200 bull riding events per year, broadcast nationally on television, such as Unleash The Beast, the Pendleton Whisky Velocity Tour and the Touring Pro Division, in addition to events held by international divisions in Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico.
Today, PBR promotes around 250 events wherever it goes, such as in Las Vegas, in the United States, and in Barretos, in Brazil, and its broadcasts reach more than half a billion households in 40 nations and territories around the world.
The world championship in this category is the Built Ford Tough Series, which brings together 35 of the best athletes in the sport, from different nationalities, who travel throughout the United States competing in stages in search of points for the coveted title and the million-dollar prize of US$1 million.
In Brazil, the PBR has been present since 2006, where our three-time champion Adriano Moraes is the president and his wife Flávia Moraes, the brains behind the organization, brilliantly work to make the sport grow exponentially each year, promoting championships in arenas in the states of Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás and Paraná. Its main stages are held within the largest agricultural and rodeo events in these regions, with the grand final in Barretos.
Brazilians are the biggest champions in the PBR. The pioneer, considered by many to be the Pelé of rodeos, is Adriano Moraes, a three-time champion and the first in history to win a world title in 1994, 2001, and 2006. Then came Silvano Alves in 2011, 2012, and 2014, and in 2025, the third to enter the Hall of Fame is Brazilian José Vitor Leme, in the 2020, 2021, and 2025 seasons. He is also recognized for scoring records, including the highest score in PBR history (98.75 points), and MVP of the PBR Teams in 2022 and 2023, as well as champion of the PBR Team Series in 2024 with the Austin Gamblers.
Sources and image: PBR and PBR Brazil.