The Ft. Worth Star Telegram is reporting that rodeo and cutting horse competitors made record amounts of money in 2008.

Three competitors in those sports surpassed $3 million in their career earnings. Phil Rapp’s career National Cutting Horse Association earnings equaled more than $6 million.

Professional Bull Riders' superstar Justin McBride became the richest rodeo cowboy ever on Sept. 12 after earning more than $5 million during his 10-year PBR career.

Trevor Brazile, a multi-event rodeo star earned $3 million. The PRCA has the widest range of events in professional rodeo, but it isn’t the most lucrative. Brazile had to participate in several events every year to earn $3 million.

McBride, who retired after this year’s PBR World Finals, earned nearly twice as much in just one event. That’s because the PBR was designed to be a big money-making organization to attract the world’s best bull riders.

According to the newspaper, the NCHA might be the fastest growing of any professional rodeo/equestrian organization. The organization has paid out more than $4 million at just one event. Open division winners earn a quarter of a million dollar paycheck.