Wacey Schalla Becomes Youngest Cowboy in PRCA History to Cross $1 Million

Some cowboys take a decade to reach a million dollars in PRCA career earnings. Wacey Schalla did it in two NFR qualifications, and well before most contestants his age have even made their first trip to Las Vegas.

During Round 5 of the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, Schalla officially surpassed the $1 million lifetime earnings mark, becoming the youngest athlete in PRCA history to ever hit that milestone. 

The 19 year old Oklahoma kid is competing in both the bareback riding and the bull riding at the 2025 NFR. This alone is a challenge in itself and one that only a handful of cowboys in history have dared to take on. He is not just there in two events, but he is winning against the best. 

Wacey came into the NFR sitting #2 in the all around and the bull riding standings and #13 in the bareback. He is currently leading the average in the bareback riding, and has moved up to fourth in the world standings too. He is still hanging in there in the bull riding as well sitting #2. He is also second in the all around race. Wacey still has a chance to take home a gold buckle, or maybe even a couple if the cards fall in his favor. 

Schalla is proving why he may be the biggest long-term threat to Stetson Wright’s all-around dominance. 

Very few cowboys hit $1 million while still early in their careers. Almost none have done it before their mid-20s. Before Wacey this year, Riley Webb was the youngest cowboy to ever do it. For a roughstock guy, competing in the two most physically punishing events in rodeo makes Schalla’s accomplishment even more remarkable.

He is now the youngest to $1,000,000 in PRCA history whil only in his second NFR and sill in contention for his first gold buckle all in the same season. Schalla has proved to everyone at this years finals that he is and will remain a legitimate threat in both events.

With this earnings milestone, Schalla has made himself the most significant young star the roughstock events have seen since Stetson Wright took the stage. 

Stetson Wright still leads the all-around comfortably, but Schalla is the only cowboy in striking distance heading into the final three nights. His bareback riding average lead will help with his gaining momentum at exactly the right time.

Stetson Wright was helped out of the arena in Round 7, and although he is probable to come back strong in the next three rounds, this could be a chance for Wacey to get ahead. 

Wacey has won over $100,000 at the 2025 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo already with rounds 8-10 still to go. He also picked up his first round win in the bareback riding in round 4 with 87.25 points on Beutler & Son Rodeo's No Whiskey's Redlicious Meats. 

Regardless of how the last rounds shake out, it is clear that a new superstar has arrived.

Wacey Schalla is not just the youngest millionaire in PRCA history, he’s one of the talented future faces of rodeo. This year, Vegas is watching the rise in real time.