The rodeo has been called "the circus of the west," but its roots are in the hard work of everyday ranching; those rodeo clowns don't just entertain the kids, they also keep the rodeo pit safe by distracting unruly broncos when the stars hit the ground. Rodeo organizers try to make the danger worth it by competing to offer the biggest purses and draw the biggest stars. Below are the 10 biggest in North America as of 1994.

SOURCE: Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, Colorado Springs, Colo.