Ty Murray
Ty Monroe Murray (born October 11, 1969, in Phoenix, Arizona) is an American former professional rodeo cowboy renowned for his dominance in the roughstock events of bull riding, saddle bronc riding, and bareback riding within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). Often called the "King of the Cowboys," he achieved a record seven PRCA World All-Around Cowboy titles from 1989 to 1994 and in 1998, surpassing the previous mark of six held by Jim Shoulders and Larry Mahan, while also securing two PRCA World Bull Riding Championships in 1993 and 1998. Joining the PRCA at age 18, Murray became the youngest competitor ever to win the All-Around title at 20 years old in 1989 and was the first to claim both the PRCA All-Around and the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) Men's titles in the same year. In addition to his PRCA accomplishments, Murray co-founded the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) in 1992 alongside 19 other top bull riders, revolutionizing the sport by focusing exclusively on bull riding and establishing it as a standalone professional circuit with global appeal. He qualified for the inaugural PBR World Finals in 1994 and won the 1999 PBR World Finals event, including a legendary 95-point ride on the bull Red Wolf during that event's second round. By age 23, Murray had become the youngest millionaire in rodeo history, concluding his career with nearly $3 million in combined PRCA and PBR earnings.[1] Murray announced his retirement from professional competition in May 2002 after a 15-year career marked by injuries and unparalleled success, having rewritten numerous records in the sport's 100-year history. Inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2000 and the PBR Ring of Honor, he continues to influence rodeo as a founding member and ambassador for the PBR, promoting the sport through events and media involvement as of 2025.Early life
Family background and childhood
Ty Murray was born on October 11, 1969, in Glendale, Arizona, into a family deeply immersed in the rodeo and ranching traditions of the American West.[2] His parents, Harold "Butch" Murray and Joy Murray (née Myers), both had backgrounds in competitive rodeo; Butch worked as a horse trainer, breaking colts for over 30 years and participating in bull riding events, while Joy achieved success as a two-time bull riding winner and all-around champion in the National Little Britches Rodeo Association, also competing in barrel racing.[3][4] He has two older sisters, Kim and Kerri, both of whom were also involved in rodeo during their youth. The family's heritage traced back to earlier generations who worked on the historic 101 Ranch in Ponca City, Oklahoma, instilling a strong connection to Western ranching life.[4] Shortly after his birth, the Murrays relocated to a rural ranch in Glendale, approximately 10 miles from Phoenix, where Ty spent his formative years surrounded by horses and the daily rhythms of ranch work.[5] This environment provided an early immersion in the Western lifestyle, with his parents encouraging hands-on involvement in horse care and rodeo-related activities from infancy. Joy, in particular, supported Ty's budding interests by fostering a home where rodeo was a central family pursuit, reflecting her own competitive past.[6] Murray's childhood fascination with horses and rodeo began remarkably early, as he started riding calves in the Arizona desert by the age of two, often under the watchful eye of his father.[5] By age eight, he assisted Butch in breaking wild horses, developing a natural affinity for the physical demands of ranching and roughstock handling that shaped his early years.[3] These experiences, free from formal competition at first, laid the groundwork for his later pursuits in structured rodeo training.[4]Introduction to rodeo and early achievements
Ty Murray was introduced to the world of rodeo through his family's deep roots in the Western lifestyle, with his father, Butch Murray, working as a rodeo hand and racetrack starter during the family's summers in New Mexico locations like Ruidoso and Santa Fe.[7] This early exposure laid the foundation for his passion, as the young Murray spent time around horses and livestock from toddlerhood. By age 2, he had begun riding calves, marking the start of his hands-on involvement in roughstock activities under familial oversight.[8] As Murray progressed, his initial training evolved from family-guided practice to more structured efforts with local trainers, honing his balance and timing on small livestock. By around age 5, he had earned his first rodeo buckle, demonstrating precocious talent in basic events.[9] At age 8, he started assisting his father in breaking colts, further developing his equestrian skills essential for rodeo.[3] Murray entered junior rodeo competitions around age 8, joining the Little Britches Rodeo Association and focusing on roughstock disciplines including bareback riding, bull riding, and saddle bronc riding. These events allowed him to build versatility across the three glamour roughstock categories, emphasizing agility and control on unpredictable animals. By age 12, he had achieved notable success, qualifying for the National Little Britches Finals where he competed in multiple events and caught the attention of rodeo legend Larry Mahan, who began mentoring him.[10] That year, Murray secured multiple titles in Arizona youth rodeos, solidifying his reputation as a promising all-around talent before transitioning to high school levels.[8]Professional rodeo career
High school and collegiate rodeo
Ty Murray attended Deer Valley High School in Glendale, Arizona, where he balanced academics with his burgeoning rodeo interests, including participation in the school's gymnastics team to enhance his athleticism for roughstock events.[5] In high school, Murray excelled in the Arizona National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA), securing multiple state championships in roughstock disciplines and qualifying for the national finals each year he competed.[11] His dominance culminated in 1987 at the NHSRA National High School Finals Rodeo in San Jose, California, where he captured the all-around cowboy title, along with individual championships in bareback riding and bull riding, marking Arizona's first team national victory and establishing him as a standout amateur talent.[12][6] He also placed highly in saddle bronc riding during these events, showcasing his versatility across the three roughstock categories.[6] Following his high school success, Murray enrolled at Odessa College in Texas on a rodeo scholarship in the fall of 1988, competing briefly in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA) circuit.[13] In 1989, during his time there, he won the NIRA all-around national championship and led the Odessa College men's team to the College National Finals Rodeo title, earning further recognition before transitioning out of collegiate competition.[2][14]PRCA debut and early seasons (1988–1990)
Ty Murray turned professional with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) in 1988 at the age of 18, shortly after beginning his collegiate rodeo career at Odessa College. In his rookie season, he quickly established himself as a standout talent, earning the PRCA Resistol Overall Rookie of the Year and Bareback Riding Rookie of the Year awards. Murray qualified for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in bareback riding and achieved strong performances there, including top finishes that contributed to his rookie accolades. His earnings exceeded $100,000 that year, marking a remarkable debut and signaling his potential as a versatile roughstock competitor in bareback riding and bull riding.[8][4][15] The 1989 season propelled Murray to unprecedented heights, as he captured his first PRCA world all-around championship at just 20 years old, becoming the youngest cowboy ever to achieve this honor. He qualified for the NFR in both bareback riding and saddle bronc riding, where he won the bareback riding average title with consistent high-scoring rides across the ten rounds. Although he did not claim individual event world titles—bareback went to Marvin Garrett and bull riding to Tuff Hedeman—Murray's earnings across multiple events totaled approximately $127,000, securing the all-around crown through his broad success in roughstock disciplines. His performances underscored a rare ability to excel in bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding simultaneously.[16][17][18] In 1990, Murray defended his all-around world championship, repeating as the PRCA titleholder. He again qualified for the NFR, winning the bareback riding average for the second consecutive year and demonstrating sustained dominance in the event. That season, Murray shattered the PRCA single-year earnings record with over $200,000, reflecting his growing prowess. A highlight was his victory as all-around champion at the prestigious Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo, where he also claimed the saddle bronc riding title at age 20, further cementing his reputation as a prodigious talent in professional rodeo.[8][19][20][21]Championship dominance (1991–1998)
During the early 1990s, Ty Murray solidified his status as the preeminent all-around cowboy in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), securing four consecutive world all-around championships from 1991 to 1994, which contributed to his record-tying streak of six straight titles starting in 1989.[4] At age 21 in 1991, he became one of the youngest cowboys to claim multiple all-around crowns, a feat that underscored his versatility across roughstock events including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding.[8] In addition to his all-around dominance, Murray captured the bareback riding world title in 1991 and 1993, as well as the bull riding world championship in 1993 and 1998, earning top money in those disciplines during those seasons.[22] His performances at the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) were pivotal, with multiple round wins across events that propelled him to these victories, including strong showings in bareback and bull riding rounds. Murray's supremacy continued through the mid-1990s despite mounting physical demands, as he qualified for the NFR for the 11th consecutive year in 1998, spanning from 1988 to 1998—a streak that highlighted his consistency at rodeo's pinnacle event.[8] He also secured the saddle bronc riding world championship in 1995, demonstrating his proficiency in yet another roughstock discipline amid a competitive field.[22] By 1993, at just 23 years old, Murray became the youngest cowboy to reach millionaire status in career earnings, amassing over $1 million in PRCA prize money faster than any predecessor, a milestone achieved through high-stakes wins at major rodeos.[23] Murray's era was marked by intense rivalries with top competitors and daring rides on legendary livestock, such as his attempts on the notoriously aggressive bull Bodacious at the 1993 NFR, where he scored in round 10 despite the bull's reputation for bucking off elite riders.[17] In 1996, he added a bareback riding championship, further cementing his record as the only cowboy to win seven PRCA all-around crowns, with his final triumph coming in 1998 after overcoming injuries to break the previous record of six held by legends like Larry Mahan and Jim Shoulders.[4] These achievements not only elevated Murray's personal legacy but also expanded the sport's visibility, drawing larger audiences to witness his blend of athleticism and strategy in multiple events.[8]PBR involvement and later years (1994–2005)
In 1992, Ty Murray co-founded the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) alongside 19 other elite bull riders, establishing the organization to exclusively promote and professionalize the sport of bull riding separate from traditional rodeo circuits.[24] The PBR's inception aimed to create dedicated events, higher purses, and greater visibility for bull riding, with Murray serving as a key visionary and early participant.[25] Murray's PBR career gained momentum in the mid-1990s as he qualified for the inaugural PBR World Finals in 1994, winning the event championship that year, and made consistent appearances through 2001, competing in the Bud Light Cup Series, the organization's primary tour at the time.[26] During this overlap period with his PRCA commitments, where he continued pursuing all-around titles until 2002, Murray balanced multi-event rodeo with specialized bull riding, though he increasingly prioritized bulls following his record seventh PRCA all-around championship in 1998.[8] A pinnacle of Murray's PBR tenure came in 1999 when he captured the World Finals event championship in Las Vegas, riding Panhandle Slim for a 94-point score in the championship round to secure the victory and $265,000 in earnings—the largest single payout in PBR history at that point.[7] That year, he also finished as the reserve world champion in the Bud Light Cup standings. He repeated as reserve champion in 2000 and 2001, showcasing sustained excellence amid the rise of international competitors.[7] In the early 2000s, Murray's PBR participation continued through 2005, marked by notable event wins such as high-scoring rides exceeding 90 points on bulls like Perfect Storm (95 points in 2002) and Blueberry Wine (2001), though accumulating injuries limited his pursuit of additional titles.[26] His efforts helped solidify the PBR's growth into a premier bull riding league, with Murray earning over $787,000 in career PBR prize money across 263 outs.[26]Injuries, retirement, and career statistics
Throughout his rodeo career, Ty Murray endured a series of severe injuries that highlighted the physical demands of competing in roughstock events like bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he suffered multiple broken bones—more than a dozen in total—along with dislocated shoulders on both sides and concussions from high-impact falls.[4][27] In 1995, Murray underwent reconstructive surgeries on both knees after tearing his posterior cruciate ligaments (PCL) in each, sidelining him for nearly a year.[22] He also had operations on both shoulders and his neck to address accumulated damage from wrecks.[28] A notable incident occurred in 2001 during a PBR event in Nampa, Idaho, where Murray dislocated his left shoulder upon landing but still scored 87.5 points to win the round.[29] These injuries culminated in Murray's retirement from professional rodeo in May 2002, at age 32, following a neck strain sustained during a PBR Bud Light Cup Series event in Billings, Montana.[30] Despite attempts to return, the cumulative toll on his body made full competition untenable, allowing him to conclude his career with nearly $3 million in combined PRCA and PBR earnings—the highest at the time for any cowboy.[7] Murray's professional statistics underscore his dominance across organizations. In the PRCA, he secured seven all-around world championships (1989–1994, 1998) and two bull riding world titles (1993, 1998), while qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo (NFR) 11 consecutive times from 1988 to 1998.[8] In the PBR, where he competed from its inception in 1994, Murray won one world championship at the 1999 World Finals and made five appearances overall (1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001), including a reserve world title finish in 2001.[11] Over his career, he amassed victories in more than 50 major rodeo events, including four wins at Cheyenne Frontier Days, six NFR event averages, and five at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.[20]Post-retirement endeavors
Broadcasting and media roles
Following his retirement from competitive rodeo in 2002, Ty Murray leveraged his extensive experience as a nine-time world champion to transition into broadcasting, serving as a color commentator for Professional Bull Riders (PBR) events from 2005 to 2020.[31] His role provided expert analysis during televised broadcasts that highlighted the technical and strategic elements of bull riding.[31] Murray's commentary work prominently featured on CBS Sports Network, where he contributed as a color analyst for PBR events under multiyear agreements starting in 2011, including coverage of major competitions like the World Finals.[32] He joined the broadcast team in various capacities, such as an additional color commentator in 2018 alongside play-by-play announcers and fellow experts, enhancing viewer understanding through insights drawn from his career as a PBR co-founder and competitor.[33] This involvement extended to specific events, like the 2014 PBR Beach House Invitational, where he provided on-air analysis during CBS telecasts.[34] In recent years as of 2025, Murray has remained active in media through interviews and podcasts, such as the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum's "This Week in the West" podcast, where he shared reflections on his rodeo career and contributions to modern bull riding.[4]Business ventures and philanthropy
Following his retirement from professional rodeo, Ty Murray expanded into ranching operations, acquiring the TY Ranch, a 2,700-acre property in Stephenville, Texas, in the early 2000s. The ranch serves as a working cow-calf operation grazing over 200 head of cattle and includes facilities for horse care, with Murray maintaining a herd of around 10 quarter horses used for ranch work and training.[35][6] He has dedicated portions of the land to the retirement and care of aging bucking horses from his rodeo career, providing a sanctuary for animals that contributed to the sport.[6] Murray's entrepreneurial efforts include his leadership role in the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), where he served as president from 2004 to 2007 and helped transform bull riding into a major professional league with global reach.[7] Beyond PBR, he has secured endorsements with Western brands such as Wrangler, appearing in advertisements that leverage his status as a rodeo icon, contributing to annual earnings exceeding $1 million from such partnerships during his active years and continuing post-retirement. In the 2010s, he collaborated on rodeo equipment lines, including the Ty Murray-branded bull riding gloves produced by Jerry Beagley, designed for enhanced grip and safety in roughstock events.[6][36] On the philanthropy front, Murray co-founded the National Day of the Horse in 2004 to promote equine welfare and education about horses' historical role in American culture.[37] He has supported rodeo youth programs through PBR initiatives, including charity fundraisers tied to events like the Legends Reunion, which have benefited organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.[35] In recent years, Murray has focused on mentoring initiatives, hosting horsemanship clinics at the TY Ranch to teach natural training methods to aspiring riders, often in partnership with clinicians like Martin Black to address horse stress and improve rider-horse communication. These efforts extend to youth through PBR's educational outreach. In 2024 and 2025, PBR recognized his industry contributions via the Ty Murray Top Hand Award, presented annually to rodeo legends during the Heroes & Legends Ceremony—honoring Casey Tibbs in 2024 and Roy Cooper in 2025—and through the ongoing Ty Murray Invitational event in Albuquerque, a premier bull riding competition that supports PBR's growth and community programs.[38][39][40]Personal life
Marriages and relationships
Ty Murray's most notable romantic partnership began in 1999 when he met singer-songwriter Jewel (born Jewel Kilcher) at the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo in Denver, Colorado.[41][42] The couple dated for nearly a decade before marrying in a private ceremony at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas on August 7, 2008.[41][43] During their relationship, Murray and Jewel collaborated on music projects, including the 2001 album This Way, where Murray co-wrote the track "Till We Run Out of Road," and Murray's appearance in the music video for Jewel's song "I Do" in 2008.)[44] Murray and Jewel announced their separation in July 2014, after six years of marriage and 16 years together, citing a need for personal growth that had become "undeniably stifled" in their partnership.[45][41] The divorce was finalized later that year.[43] They share one child from the marriage.[41] Following his divorce, Murray began a relationship with Paige Duke, a cookbook author and former sideline reporter for the Elite Rodeo Athletes (ERA) series on Fox Sports, whom he met at the 2014 National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.[46][41] The couple started dating around 2015 and married on September 30, 2017, at the Quarry at Carrigan Farms in North Carolina, in a ceremony that reflected their shared passion for rodeo and rural life.[47][48] They have one child together.[41] Prior to his relationship with Jewel, Murray's romantic history included brief partnerships in the pre-2000s, none of which resulted in children, though details remain limited in public records.[49]Family, health challenges, and residences
Ty Murray has two children from his marriages. His son, Kase Townes Murray, was born on July 11, 2011, to Murray and singer Jewel Kilcher.[41] His daughter, Oakley Monroe Murray, was born in September 2018 to Murray and wife Paige Duke.[41] Following his 2014 divorce from Jewel, Murray and his ex-wife have maintained an amicable co-parenting relationship for their son Kase, emphasizing their ongoing friendship and shared commitment to his well-being.[41] In his current marriage to Paige Duke since 2017, the family operates as a blended unit on their ranch, where Duke serves as stepmother to Kase, and the children participate in ranch activities together, fostering close sibling dynamics. Murray has faced ongoing health challenges stemming from his rodeo career, including chronic pain from major injuries such as torn ligaments in both knees, extensive shoulder surgeries, and a neck injury.[27] These long-term effects have required continued management, though specific details on recent therapies or operations remain private. Murray primarily resides on the TY Ranch, a 2,800-acre property in Stephenville, Texas—known as the Cowboy Capital of the World and near Professional Bull Riders headquarters—where he has lived since the early 2000s with his family and manages a cow-calf operation.[50] He maintains ties to his Arizona roots, where he was raised on a ranch near Glendale, but no current secondary property there is documented.[41]Legacy and honors
Major awards and championships
Ty Murray's dominance in professional rodeo is exemplified by his record seven PRCA All-Around World Championships, won consecutively from 1989 to 1994 before adding a seventh in 1998, surpassing the previous mark of six held by Jim Shoulders.[4] These victories highlighted his versatility across roughstock events, including bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, and bull riding, where he consistently ranked among the top money earners.[8] In addition to his all-around accolades, Murray secured two PRCA Bull Riding World Championships in 1993 and 1998.[51] He extended his bull riding success into the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) circuit, winning the PBR World Finals in 1999 with a 95.5-point ride on Red Wolf, and serving as three-time reserve PBR World Champion (1999–2001).[52][11][7][53] Murray's early prowess earned him the PRCA Rookie of the Year award in 1988, both overall and in bareback riding, marking the start of his ascent at age 18.[8] At the National Finals Rodeo (NFR), he claimed six consecutive All-Around Average titles from 1989 to 1994, along with the Bareback Riding Average in 1993 and the Bull Riding Average in 1998.[8] Murray shattered earnings barriers, becoming the youngest rodeo cowboy to surpass $1 million in career winnings in 1993 at age 23, and setting the single-season earnings record with $297,896 that year.[23][54] His career total exceeded $3 million, cementing his status as one of rodeo's top earners.[30]| Award/Championship | Years |
|---|---|
| PRCA All-Around World Champion | 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998 |
| PRCA Bull Riding World Champion | 1993, 1998 |
| PBR World Finals Winner (Bull Riding) | 1999 |
| Reserve PBR World Champion (Bull Riding) | 1999–2001 |
| PRCA Rookie of the Year (Overall & Bareback) | 1988 |
| NFR All-Around Average Champion | 1989–1994 |
| NFR Bareback Riding Average Champion | 1993 |
| NFR Bull Riding Average Champion | 1998 |