Bull riding is the most well-liked and exciting rodeo activity, which calls for riders to maintain their balance atop a tamed bull for a specified amount of time. To compete in one of the riskiest rodeo sports, where injuries are a given, it takes flexibility, coordination, courage, and a high level of spirit. Correspondingly, today's article revolves around the life story of a renowned rodeo rider, Eli Vastbinder.
The winner of the North Carolina state bull riding and all-around championships in 2009, Eli has made a significant impact in the particular sports arena. However, many might not know where he has come from and the struggles behind his hard work; hence we present you with this article covering all the essential details, including Eli Vastbinder's professional and personal life; as we believe his story deserves a fair chance to be known to the world.
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Aspired To Be A Cowboy Since Little
The 5 feet 11 inches tall cowboy was born on April 17, 1991, in his hometown, Statesville, North Carolina. He was welcomed into this world by his father, Mike Vastbinder, and his mother, April Vastbinder. While his dad worked as a truck driver, Eli's mom was a dental hygienist.
Furthermore, Vastinder started riding rough stock sheep ever since he was three. He was first exposed to rodeo via his mother's side of the family. His cousins rode bulls, while his older brother Coy Vastbinder engaged in team roping and steer wrestling. However, Eli's brother Coy currently works as a farmer.
Moreover, the North Carolinian native always dreamt of being a cowboy and loved doing everything to do with the Western way of life. Born and raised near Dayton, the 5 feet 11 inches tall cowboy was the Ohio Little Britches Junior Bull Riding Champion alongside the Ohio State champion in high school rodeo. Then he moved to North Carolina after high school for better opportunities to practice and be around bull riders. Later, Vastbinder began to compete in bull riding associations.
Gained Recognition With PBR
Eli's first professional PBR career started in 2009, when he competed with the organization in October in Ottawa, Ontario, at the Canadian Touring Pro Division. After working hard in 2010 and 2011, Vastbinder finally qualified for a ride with the PBR 2012 in July in Ft. Myers, Florida, where he finished third in the Touring Pro Division.
Furthermore, he recorded six Top 10 finishes in 2014 and five Top 10 efforts in 2015 after being shut out of his limited competitive schedule in 2013. After becoming a PBR rider, he gained international fame, and since then, there has been no looking back as he went on to win several competitions and made a place in World Finals. Similarly, his achievements have also helped him gain notable salary earnings.
Hence, wouldn't it be interesting to discover more about Eli Vastbinder's net worth and career earnings?
Eli Vastbinder Net Worth And Career
Vastbinder took a one-year break from the PBR in 2016, after which he competed in just two events each in the seasons of 2017 and 2018. In 2020, after taking another year off from the PBR competition in 2019, he started to find his footing again, riding to a then-career-high seven Top 10 finishes across all levels of competition. Likewise, in mid-February 2021, the North Carolinian recorded his first PBR event win, topping the field in Lexington, Kentucky.
After the victory, Vastbinder rode to a 15th-place finish in Glendale, Arizona, where he made his premier series debut. Later, Eli entered the Touring Pro Division event in Columbus, Ohio, and earned his career-first Touring Pro Division victory. Moreover, with a third-place result in Manchester, New Hampshire, Vastbinder wrapped up the regular season and earned his first spot in the PBR World Finals.
Unfortunately, during the World Finals, he separated his right shoulder and broke his ribs, leading to a severe injury. However, Eli capped his World Finals in 2021 and clinched the Rookie of the Year title. Moreover, he concluded the 2021 season with a career-high No. 9 ranking after more than ten years. Now, let's look at Eli's career stats and salary earnings from recent years in the table below.
| Season | Event Name | Points | Earnings |
| 2022 | Bonus Round | 0 | $4,250 |
| 2021 | PBR World Finals: Unleash The Beast | 390 | $135,500 |
| 2020 | PBR Lucas Oil Invitational | 15 | $4,323.56 |
| 2018 | Kearney, NE | 0 | $143.99 |
Table Source: PBR.com
Looking at Eli's prize money, we can conclude that he has been cashing out thousands of dollars in the past few series. In addition, he is also sponsored by several brands such as Wrangler, Brunt Work Wear, WSM Auctioneers, and R2M petroleum equipment that might have added to his fortune. Therefore, with his expectational riding career, wins, and earnings, Eli Vastbinder's net worth is expected to be a commendable sum. Kyler Oliver is another rodeo ride with remarkable career earnings.
Has A Cheering and Loving Wife
Eli is gifted, hardworking, and dedicated. Many of the rodeo rider's admirers are interested in finding out who he is married to, given his impressive professional background, pleasing personality, and exceptional talents. Even though it might hurt some fangirls' feelings, the cowboy is happily married to his spouse, Paige Futrell Vastbinder.
The duo exchanged their wedding vows on November 10, 2018, and have been together for several years. Before they tied the knot, they dated for a long time.
Eli Vastbinder has been happily married to his wife, Paige Futrell Vastbinder. Image Source: Paige Vastbinder Instagram.
Furthermore, Eli Vastbinder's wife has always stood by his side as he was following his dreams. Similarly, his partner, Paige, is a real estate agent who works at the Wilkinson ERA Real Estate. She is a very cheerful and supportive wife and always believes in her partner. Not just that, the duo are head over heels in love as evidenced by the fact that most of their posts on social media are dedicated to one another. Their love inspires many of us, and we hope their marriage lasts a lifetime.
Loving Father To Twin Daughters
The handsome rodeo rider, alongside his wife, Paige, welcomed twin daughters on October 25, 2021. Eli Vastbinder's daughters, Whitney Blair, and Vicki Blake were born seven weeks earlier than expected. Furthermore, his babies arrived just days before his PBR World Finals debut.
Eli Vastbinder and his spouse, welcomed their twin daughters on October 25th, 2021. Image Source: Paige Vastbinder Instagram.
Well, Eli's babies are young and growing up, so it is too early to talk about their professional careers. Nonetheless, Vastbinder is a loving dad who has been raising his daughters with unconditional love, affection, and care. He always visits his kids and has been co-parenting with his wife, Paige, to look after them. Nonetheless, we hope his two adorable baby girls grow healthy and kind.
To conclude, at his career-opening World Finals in 2021, Vastbinder, who has been competing in the PBR for more than ten years, overcame a broken rib and a separated shoulder to tie the record for the most 90-point rides ever and win the PBR Rookie of the Year award. Vastbinder, a rugged cowboy from North Carolina, has demonstrated his ability to compete against the sport's most promising young athletes and seasoned veterans while in his 30s.
Undoubtedly, Eli Vastbinder has come a long way from dreaming of becoming a rodeo rider to establishing himself among the top cowboys.
Trivia And Facts
- His rodeo idols are Gary Leffew and Tuff Hedeman.
- Eli has around 14.9K followers on his Instagram account.
- Vastbinder is the only Rookie and non-World Champion to produce four 90-point rides in a single World Finals.
- His favorite sports team is Carolina Panthers.
