John Crimber Claims PBR World Championship at Just 20 Years Old

Monster Energy’s John Crimber delivers a clutch 92.9-point ride to secure the 2026 PBR World Championship — and a $1 million payday — in Fort Worth.

On the strength of two round-winning rides Sunday afternoon, Monster Energy’s John Crimber etched his name into the history books, becoming the second-youngest World Champion in the 33-year history of Professional Bull Riders (PBR).

The 20-year-old phenom sealed the deal in emphatic fashion inside Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, delivering a massive 92.9-point ride aboard Tigger in the Championship Round. It was the kind of moment riders dream of—and Crimber knew it.

“These are the moments we live for,” he said before his final ride.

Minutes later, make-believe became reality.

With the arena roaring and the pressure at its peak, Crimber stayed composed, dominating the final ride to secure the 2026 PBR World Championship, a coveted gold buckle, a place on the Jerome Robinson Cup, and a $1 million bonus. The victory, dedicated to his father, marked a defining chapter in one of the fastest-rising careers in modern bull riding.

“This is what I dreamed of ever since I was a little kid playing in the living room pretending I was a bull rider,” Crimber said after being crowned champion.

In a third of a century of PBR, only fellow Monster rider Jess Lockwood managed to bag a title at a younger age: He clinched the 2017 championship aged 20 years and one month, compared to Crimber’s 20 years and nine months.

Even with that extra 8 months of life experience, Crimber’s championship didn’t come easy.

Despite entering the PBR World Finals ranked No. 1 in the standings, Crimber faced early adversity, bucking off his first five bulls in Fort Worth. Doubts crept in from outside voices, but not from within.

“These last couple weeks, it was a rough start,” Crimber admitted. “I didn’t ride the bulls I was supposed to ride, and it was rough. I had a lot of critics—a lot of people saying stuff I’m not—and I just stayed true to myself.”

That resilience became the turning point.

Crimber regrouped and stormed back in dominant fashion, covering four consecutive bulls when it mattered most. His late surge proved enough to secure the overall title, even as he finished sixth in the Finals average—underscoring just how important consistency across the season had been.

The 2026 title caps an incredible third season for Crimber.

Earlier this year, he became the youngest rider ever to surpass $1 million in career earnings. Now, with a world title under his belt, he’s pushed his total career earnings past $2.5 million, becoming just the 18th rider in PBR history to reach that milestone.

Not bad for a rider who was still “finding my way” just a couple seasons ago.

Crimber’s rapid ascent has been fueled by a combination of natural talent, unshakable confidence, and a willingness to learn from adversity. Every ride, every buck-off, and every comeback has helped shape a competitor who now stands at the very top of the sport.

At just 20 years old, Crimber’s story is only beginning.

Already a World Champion. Already a record breaker. Already one of the most dangerous riders in the game.

And if his performance in Fort Worth proved anything, it’s that John Crimber thrives when the lights are brightest and the stakes are highest.

“I do know how to stay on some bulls,” he said with a grin.

Yeah — he knows.

The rest of the world just got a front-row seat.