J.B. Mauney: The Dragon Slayer — Net Worth, Career, and Retirement

J.B. Mauney didn’t just ride bulls — he conquered them. Over nearly two decades of professional competition, the North Carolina native built a reputation as the most fearless bull rider the sport has ever seen. With two PBR World Championships, over $7 million in career earnings, and a nickname that still sends chills through the rodeo world, Mauney’s story is one of raw grit, broken bones, and an unbreakable will to win.

Early Life and Background

James Burton “J.B.” Mauney was born on January 9, 1987, in Charlotte, North Carolina. He grew up around livestock and developed a fascination with rodeo at an impossibly young age. By the time he was 3 years old, Mauney was already riding sheep in mutton busting events — the entry point for kids who dream of one day sitting atop a 2,000-pound bull.

That dream didn’t take long to materialize. At just 13 years old, Mauney climbed onto his first big bull, and it became immediately clear that he had something most riders don’t: an instinct for staying on. He wasn’t just hanging on for eight seconds — he was competing with intent.

His junior career confirmed what many suspected. In 2002, Mauney won the Southern Rodeo Association Junior All-Around title, signaling to the professional rodeo world that a serious talent was on the way. By 18, he’d made the jump to the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour, and he never looked back.

Bull Riding Career

Breaking Into the PBR

Mauney initially competed on both the PBR and Championship Bull Riding (CBR) circuits before committing full-time to the PBR in early 2006. That decision paid off immediately — he earned PBR Rookie of the Year honors in his first full season. The rodeo world took notice. Here was a rider who combined technical ability with a reckless courage that bordered on insanity, and the bulls knew it too.

Throughout the late 2000s, Mauney climbed the PBR standings consistently, racking up event wins and becoming a fixture at the PBR World Finals in Las Vegas. He earned a reputation for riding bulls that other cowboys flat-out refused to attempt.

Two-Time PBR World Champion

Mauney captured his first PBR World Championship in 2013, cementing himself among the sport’s elite. He didn’t coast on that success. Two years later, in 2015, he claimed his second world title, joining a very short list of riders to win the championship more than once.

What made Mauney’s title runs so remarkable wasn’t just the wins — it was how he won. He rode hurt. He rode angry. He rode bulls with reputations for ending careers. Fans didn’t tune in to see if Mauney would play it safe; they tuned in because they knew he wouldn’t.

Records and Milestones

Mauney’s career stats read like a highlight reel of dominance:

• Two-time PBR World Champion (2013, 2015)
• 538 qualified rides on the PBR premier series — second-most in history
• 75 rides scored 90 points or higher — among the all-time leaders
• One of only three riders to ever reach 1,000 points on a single bull ride
• Over $7 million in PBR career earnings — the first rider to cross the $7 million mark

He hit the $7 million milestone at the 2016 PBR World Finals after winning Round 4 with a 90.25-point ride. No other bull rider had reached that earning threshold at the time.

Notable Rides and Achievements

Mauney earned the nickname “The Dragon Slayer” for his willingness to take on the rankest, most dangerous bulls in the sport — and ride them to a score. He famously conquered Bushwacker, widely considered one of the greatest bucking bulls of all time, a bull that had thrown off nearly every rider who tried.

His riding style was unmistakable: aggressive, forward-leaning, and completely committed from the moment the chute gate opened. Where other riders focused on survival, Mauney focused on dominance. It’s what made him a two-time champion, and it’s also what filled his medical file with a staggering list of injuries — broken legs, broken feet, fractured shoulder blades, a shattered jaw on both sides, a broken eye socket, a broken back, and a lacerated liver.

Every time, he came back. Until he couldn’t.

Retirement: The 2023 Neck Injury

On September 12, 2023, during a Division 2 Xtreme Bulls event at the Lewiston Round-Up in Lewiston, Idaho, Mauney was bucked off a bull named Arctic Assassin. The fall broke his neck.

At 36 years old, with over 1,000 career bull rides behind him and a body that had absorbed more punishment than most people could imagine, Mauney announced his retirement from professional bull riding. The injury was severe enough that returning simply wasn’t an option.

The rodeo community reacted with an outpouring of respect. Fellow riders, commentators, and fans recognized that Mauney had given everything he had to the sport. He didn’t leave because he wanted to — he left because a bull finally did what hundreds of others had tried and failed to do: keep him down.

Mauney has since been honored at events including the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, where he was recognized for his extraordinary contributions to professional rodeo.

Personal Life

Mauney’s personal life has been shaped by the same rodeo world that defined his career. He was previously married to Lexie Wiggly, with whom he has a daughter. The marriage lasted approximately three years before they separated.

In 2016, Mauney married Samantha Lyne, a professional barrel racer with deep roots in the rodeo community. Samantha grew up riding horses on her family’s property and went on to compete at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo herself. Together, J.B. and Samantha have a son named Jagger.

The family lives in Cotulla, Texas, where they’re surrounded by the ranch life that both of them grew up with. Even in retirement, Mauney stays connected to the sport through mentorship and his involvement in the rodeo community.

J.B. Mauney Net Worth

As of 2026, J.B. Mauney’s estimated net worth is $8 million. The bulk of his wealth comes from his PBR career earnings, which exceeded $7 million — making him the highest-earning bull rider in PBR history at the time of his retirement.

Beyond prize money, Mauney earned income through sponsorship deals, event appearances, and endorsements tied to the western lifestyle and rodeo industry. His fame as one of the sport’s all-time greats has kept him relevant and in demand even after stepping away from competitive riding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is J.B. Mauney called “The Dragon Slayer”?

Mauney earned the nickname for his habit of conquering the most dangerous, highest-ranked bulls in professional bull riding — animals that other riders avoided. He treated every ride like a battle, and more often than not, he won.

When did J.B. Mauney retire?

Mauney retired in September 2023 after breaking his neck during a bull-riding event in Lewiston, Idaho. The injury ended a career that spanned nearly two decades.

How many times did J.B. Mauney win the PBR World Championship?

He won the PBR World Championship twice — in 2013 and 2015.

What is J.B. Mauney’s net worth?

His estimated net worth as of 2026 is approximately $8 million, accumulated primarily through PBR prize winnings, sponsorships, and appearances.

Who is J.B. Mauney married to?

Mauney is married to Samantha Lyne, a professional barrel racer. They married in 2016 and have a son named Jagger.

Related Celebrities

• Samantha Lyne — Professional barrel racer and J.B. Mauney’s wife