It is the largest bull riding league in the world, sanctioning hundreds of events every year in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Australia.

[1][2] The organization was founded on April 12, 1992, through the efforts of businessman Sam Applebaum and 20 professional bull riders; David Bailey Jr., Clint Branger, Mark Cain, Adam Carrillo, Gilbert Carrillo, Cody Custer, Jerome Davis, Bobby DelVecchio, Mike Erickson, David Fournier, Michael Gaffney, Tuff Hedeman, Cody Lambert, Scott Mendes, Daryl Mills, Ty Murray, Ted Nuce, Aaron Semas, Jim Sharp, and Brent Thurman; most of whom gathered in a hotel room in Scottsdale, Arizona.

"We wanted to create a better product for the fans, so that when they tuned in they were seeing the best of the best every time," said PBR co-founder and nine-time world champion rodeo cowboy Ty Murray,[3] who later served as the president.

At the beginning of the year, 22 bull teams chipped in $50,000 a piece for their opportunity to win their share of the $1.1 million total competition purse.

Out of the 33 Built Ford Tough Series stops held that year, 17 were Bull Team Challenge events, including the PBR World Finals.

[25] In April 2015, it was announced that events and talent management firm WME-IMG (now Endeavor) would acquire PBR from Spire Capital Partners, reportedly paying around $100 million.

In the spring, the PBR held three UTB events at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and all were closed to the public to avoid the spread of the virus.

From 2020 through 2022, the PBR held Cowboys for a Cause; an event that featured sponsored teams of three bull riders competing against each other in a winner-take-all format while donating money to charitable causes.

[57][58] In 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and Nevada state restrictions on large events, the World Finals were moved to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a limited and socially distanced crowd for every day of competition.

[66] In October 2024, it was announced that PBR would be sold to TKO Group Holdings—originally established as a merger between Endeavor-owned mixed martial arts promotion UFC and professional wrestling company WWE—as part of a larger, $3.25 billion agreement expected to close in 2025.

The proposed sale is connected to Silver Lake Partners' plans to take Endeavor private, and also includes IMG and sports hospitality firm On Location Experiences.

[1][2] At the end of each season, the PBR world champion receives a $1 million bonus, trophy cup, and championship gold belt buckle.

[75][76] In the past, the Premier Series schedule lasted the regular calendar year, with the concluding PBR World Finals taking place in the autumn.

The mark was originally set by Bubba Dunn, who rode Promise Land (owned by Terry Williams) at the 1999 Bud Light Cup event in Tampa, Florida.

The record was later tied in 2000 by Chris Shivers, who rode Jim Jam (owned by Logan & Williams) also at the Bud Light Cup event in Tampa.

Shivers would repeat the score in 2001 when he rode Dillinger (owned by Herrington Cattle Company) in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the PBR World Finals.

The most recent 96.5 point ride was in 2004, when Michael Gaffney rode Little Yellow Jacket (owned by Berger Bucking Bulls) at the Built Ford Tough Series event in Nampa, Idaho.

The new record for highest scored ride was originally set in the summer, when José Vitor Leme rode Woopaa for 97.75 points at the Unleash the Beast event in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[140][141] A new record for second-highest score in PBR history was later set in the autumn when Dalton Kasel rode Woopaa for 96.75 points at the Unleash the Beast event in San Antonio, Texas.

[142] The record for highest scored ride in PBR history was later broken at the World Finals in Las Vegas when José Vitor Leme rode Woopaa for 98.75 points.

[143] In September 2024, the record for second-highest scored ride in PBR history was broken when Cássio Dias rode Man Hater (owned by Jane Clark and Gene Owen) for 98.25 points at the Camping World Team Series event in Fort Worth, Texas.

For several years, the highest bull score in PBR history was 49 points, which was achieved twice; the first time being in 2000 when Hercules (owned by Flying U / Rosser Rodeo) bucked off Gilbert Carrillo at the Bud Light Cup event in Portland, Oregon, and again when Hammer (owned by Tony Sharp and Zaunbrecher) bucked off Cory Rasch at the 2003 Built Ford Tough Series event in Uncasville, Connecticut.

[145] The all-time moneys show off the PBR's claim that they have changed bull riding into a real sport that does more than just pay the riders' fees.

[146] Starting with the 2000 season,[147] this challenge sponsored by the Mossy Oak camouflage brand was a bonus ride that was featured during first night of each two-day Premier Series event.

During the Bud Light Cup Series (BLC) era, Justin McBride was the first rider to successfully conquer his bull and win the Mossy Oak Shootout bonus by riding Freckles for $15,000 in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 2000.

[149] During the Built Ford Tough Series (BFTS) era, Owen Washburn collected $90,000 on Hammer (Bossier City, Louisiana; 2003),[149] Wiley Petersen netted $20,000 on Ace of Hearts (Billings, Montana; 2003), Cory Melton secured $35,000 on Werewolf (Laughlin, Nevada; 2003),[150] Ednei Caminhas earned $65,000 on Red Alert (Tacoma, Washington; 2004),[151] Justin McBride took $15,000 on Blond Bomber (Albuquerque, New Mexico; 2004), Brendon Clark gained $40,000 on Tombstone (Laughlin, Nevada; 2004),[152] Fabricio Alves cashed $45,000 on Red Alert (Tacoma, Washington; 2005),[153] Kody Lostroh attained $35,000 on Thunder River (Uniondale, New York; 2005),[154] Mike White procured $15,000 on Leroy (Tulsa, Oklahoma; 2005),[155] Justin McBride again bagged $25,000 on Frontier Justice (Tampa, Florida; 2006),[156] Chris Shivers obtained $25,000 on Bo Kat (Reno, Nevada; 2006),[157] Guilherme Marchi captured $90,000 on Scene of the Crash (Greensboro, North Carolina; 2006),[158] and Mike Lee carried off $15,000 on Big Show (Columbus, Ohio; 2006).

In this challenge sponsored by Ford Trucks which started in 2001 and lasted through 2009, the average leader going into a BLC/BFTS regular-season event's Championship Round got a chance to win $5,000.

This challenge only lasted from the middle to the end of the 2008 BFTS regular season and points won by riders for eight-second qualified rides did not count towards the world standings.

The winners of the challenge, the top three riders and stock contractors with the most points received an RMEF outdoor adventure of their choice, which happened at the end of the season.

[167] There is one in several locations throughout the United States, including in Arlington, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Cary, North Carolina; Columbus, Ohio; Greensburg, Pennsylvania; Hampton, Virginia; Kansas City, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky; Miami, Florida; Nashville, Tennessee; Norfolk, Virginia; Orlando, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri.