JB Mauney is one of the most respected names in the history of professional bull riding, and his story keeps drawing new readers even though he no longer competes. He won two PBR World Championships, became the first rider to pass $7 million in PBR earnings, and earned a reputation for choosing the hardest bulls in the pen whenever he had the choice. This guide brings together his early life, his biggest records, the injury that ended his riding days, his time as a coach, and where he is today, so you can understand why so many fans call him one of the greatest of all time.
Who Is JB Mauney?
James Burton Mauney was born on January 9, 1987, in North Carolina, and he grew up in the Mooresville area, where he attended Lake Norman High School. His last name is pronounced “MOO-nee,” which is a question many new fans ask. He is a former professional rodeo cowboy who specialized in bull riding, and at 5 feet 10 inches and about 140 pounds, he proved that technique, balance and nerve matter far more than size in this sport. As of October 2026, he is 39 years old.
Mauney is often described as a cowboy with a rare mix of natural talent and stubborn grit. He rode with a helmet in the early years of his career and switched to a cowboy hat by 2013, a change that fans noticed and that matched his old-school image. His simple belief, which he repeated often, was that if you want to be the best, you have to ride the best.
Early Life and Rise in Bull Riding
Mauney rode his first big bull at about thirteen years old, and he quickly began winning in amateur and regional rodeo. He took the junior all-around title in the Southern Rodeo Association in 2002 and the adult all-around title in 2004, which showed that he could compete with grown cowboys while still a teenager. He turned professional in 2005, riding for a short time in both the PBR and Championship Bull Riding before committing to the PBR full time in early 2006.
That decision paid off right away. In 2006 he was named PBR Rookie of the Year, and he also won the Challenger Tour title that year. From that point on, he became a regular at the sport’s biggest events, and he qualified for the PBR World Finals fifteen years in a row, from 2006 through 2020.
JB Mauney Career Highlights and Records
The numbers behind Mauney’s career explain his legend better than any nickname. Official PBR records list his career earnings at $7,419,474.90, which is the highest total in the history of the organization. He was the first rider to reach the $7 million mark, doing so on November 5, 2016. When you add his PRCA earnings, his combined career total passes $7.6 million, and he is widely described as the highest-earning athlete in Western sports history.
Other major milestones include:
- Two PBR World Championships: He won his first gold buckle in 2013 and his second in 2015.
- Two World Finals event titles: He won the event championship at the PBR World Finals in 2009 and again in 2013.
- A perfect World Finals in 2009: He rode all eight of his bulls, a rare feat that few riders have matched.
- 538 qualified rides on the premier series: This is the second-highest total ever recorded.
- 75 rides of 90 points or more: This ranks third all-time behind Chris Shivers and José Vitor Leme.
- 32 premier series event wins: He is tied for first all-time with Justin McBride.
- The American Rodeo title in 2014: He won the bull riding championship at the first edition of this event.
In January 2018, he became only the third rider in PBR history to reach 500 rides on the premier series, doing it at Madison Square Garden. The PBR also ranked him ninth on its list of the top 30 bull riders of all time in 2023.
Why They Call Him “The Dragonslayer”
Mauney earned his famous nickname because he kept choosing the toughest bulls available, especially in championship rounds, and he often rode them. The most famous example came in August 2013 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he rode the legendary bull Bushwacker for 95.25 points and ended a record streak of 42 consecutive buck-offs. That ride is still counted among the highest scores of his career, and it helped shape the image of a rider who never ducked a challenge.
His record against top bulls goes well beyond that single night. In 2012 he became one of only a handful of riders to cover the bull Asteroid, scoring 93.5 points on him, and he rode nearly every active world champion bull during his career. This habit of picking the hardest draw is a big reason his fans trust his reputation as more than just a statistics story.
The Move to the PRCA and the National Finals Rodeo
After a slow start to the 2021 PBR season, Mauney decided to try something new and focus on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in July 2021. He had joined the PRCA back in 2009 but only competed there occasionally until then. His goal was to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, the sport’s biggest stage in Las Vegas.
He reached that goal in 2021, making his first and only NFR and splitting the win in Round 1 with an 87.5-point ride. It was a fitting debut for a rider who had already proved himself in the PBR, and it showed that he could adapt to a different style of event and a different group of competitors.
The Neck Injury That Ended His Career
Mauney’s career was full of injuries, and he was known for riding through pain, including a serious right arm surgery in 2017. The injury that finally ended his career happened on September 6, 2023, at the Lewiston Round-Up in Lewiston, Idaho. A bull named Arctic Assassin bucked him off, and he landed on his head, breaking his neck.
He had surgery two days later, and doctors placed a rod, plates and screws in his neck and removed a disc. Days afterward, he announced that his bull riding career was over. He was 36 years old, and he said it was not the way he wanted to go out but that everything happens for a reason. His calm response was widely praised by fans and fellow riders. In a surprising twist, he later bought Arctic Assassin after the bull retired, and the animal now lives out its days on his ranch in Stephenville, Texas.
From Rider to Coach: The Oklahoma Wildcatters Years
In 2024, Mauney returned to the PBR in a new role as head coach of the Oklahoma Wildcatters, one of two expansion teams in the PBR Teams league. The team is owned by golfer Talor Gooch, and longtime PBR voice Brandon Bates served as general manager. In their first season, the Wildcatters finished the regular season with an 11-16-1 record.
The team had memorable moments under his leadership. In March 2025 the Wildcatters beat the Arizona Ridge Riders to win the Monster Energy Team Challenge in Thousand Palms, California. Reports from that season also describe Mauney running into the arena to shield his young rider, Clay Guiton, during a dangerous wreck, a moment that reminded fans of the toughness he showed as an athlete.
Mauney and the team agreed to part ways in February 2026, with the reason given that he wanted more time with his family and his ranch. The Wildcatters then named Greg Rhodes, a longtime Western Texas College rodeo coach, as their new head coach in April 2026. So if you read that Mauney is still the Wildcatters coach, that information is out of date.
Honors and Hall of Fame Recognition
Mauney’s list of honors has grown steadily since he stopped riding. He was inducted into the Bull Riding Hall of Fame in 2024. In 2025 he was inducted into the Iredell County Sports Hall of Fame in North Carolina, and on July 10, 2025, he received the PBR Ring of Honor at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. The Ring of Honor is the highest award a bull rider can receive after retiring, and it is symbolized by a custom gold-and-diamond ring.
Fellow champion Justin McBride once said Mauney was in a class of his own and that the Ring of Honor would be his destination as soon as he decided to stop riding. That prediction came true. At the ceremony, Mauney posed for photos with his son, Jagger, and the ring, a moment that showed how much the honor meant to his family.
JB Mauney Family and Personal Life
Mauney was married to Lexie Wigley from 2012 to 2015. In 2017 he married Samantha Lyne, a barrel racer and the daughter of five-time PRCA world champion Phil Lyne. The couple welcomed their first son, Jagger, in January 2019, and Mauney also has a daughter born in 2011.
After years in North Carolina and a short stay in Cotulla, Texas, the family moved to Stephenville, Texas, in early 2022. There he runs the BuckTown XV Ranch, where he raises bucking bulls, hosts bull riding events and schools, and offers a practice arena for upcoming riders. Since 2020 he has also been part owner of Ultimate Bullfighters, a freestyle bullfighting organization. In April 2026 he appeared as one of several celebrity cameos in the music video for Ella Langley’s song “Choosin’ Texas.”
What Is JB Mauney’s Net Worth?
Many readers search for his net worth, but no official figure has been confirmed by Mauney or the PBR. What can be verified is his prize money, which totals about $7.4 million from the PBR alone and more than $7.6 million when PRCA earnings are included. His real income likely differs from that number because sponsorships, appearances, ranching and coaching are not part of official prize records, and online net worth estimates should be treated as rough guesses.
Frequently Asked Questions About JB Mauney
Is JB Mauney retired?
Yes. He retired from bull riding in September 2023 after breaking his neck, and he has not competed since.
How many world championships did JB Mauney win?
He won two PBR World Championships, in 2013 and 2015.
What happened to JB Mauney?
He suffered a broken neck on September 6, 2023, in Lewiston, Idaho, and had surgery that ended his riding career.
Where does JB Mauney live now?
He lives in Stephenville, Texas, with his family and runs his ranch there.
Is JB Mauney still coaching the Oklahoma Wildcatters?
No. He coached the team from 2024 until February 2026, when both sides agreed to part ways.
Who is JB Mauney’s wife?
He has been married to Samantha Lyne, a barrel racer, since 2017.
What is JB Mauney’s biggest career achievement?
Fans often point to his two world titles, his perfect 8-for-8 World Finals in 2009, and his 95.25-point ride on Bushwacker, but his PBR earnings record and Ring of Honor induction are equally important parts of his legacy.
Final Thoughts
JB Mauney’s career shows what happens when talent, courage and consistency stay together for almost two decades. He retired earlier than he wanted, but he has stayed connected to the sport through coaching, ranching and mentoring young riders, and his records remain among the strongest in PBR history. Whether you first heard his name from a highlight reel or a family member, his story is a reminder that greatness in bull riding is measured not only in scores but also in how a rider handles the biggest challenges.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information and entertainment purposes only. It was written using information that was publicly available at the time of writing (October 2026), and details such as team roles, honors, earnings and personal circumstances may change. The author is not affiliated with JB Mauney, the PBR, the PRCA or any team or organization mentioned. Readers should check official sources, such as the PBR and PRCA websites, for the latest confirmed information. Bull riding is a dangerous sport, and nothing in this article is advice to attempt it.
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