https://preview.redd.it/va70nf0l3h1d1.png?width=1920&format=png&auto=webp&s=021d936ee0a724ca428d8559f5823592404d1822

As Reddit doesn't allow posts to exceed 40,000 characters, Eastwood's edition had to be split into two parts because his whole career cannot be ignored. The first part was posted yesterday.

Million Dollar Baby (2004)¨

"Beyond his silence, there is a past. Beyond her dreams, there is a feeling. Beyond hope, there is a memory. Beyond their journey, there is a love."
His 25th film. Based on stories from the 2000 collection Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner by F.X. Toole, it stars Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman. The film follows Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, an underdog amateur boxer who is helped by an underappreciated boxing trainer to achieve her dream of becoming a professional.
Paul Haggis wrote the script on spec, and it took four years to sell it. The film was stuck in development hell for years before it was shot. Several studios rejected the project even when Eastwood signed on as actor and director. Even Warner Bros., Eastwood's longtime home base, would not agree to a $30 million budget. Eastwood persuaded Lakeshore Entertainment's Tom Rosenberg to put up half the budget (as well as handle foreign distribution), with Warner Bros. contributing the rest.
The film had an incredible run in limited release, breaking many records for Eastwood's career. It eventually earned a fantastic $216 million worldwide, becoming his highest grossing film ever. It received critical acclaim, and it was named as one of his greatest films. It won four Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Swank), and Best Supporting Actor (for Freeman). Eastwood became one of the very few directors to make two films to win both Best Picture and Best Director.

• Budget: $30,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $100,492,203. ($166.8 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $216,763,646.
  

Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

"A single shot can end the war."
His 26th film. Based on the book written by James Bradley and Ron Powers, it stars Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, John Benjamin Hickey, John Slattery, Paul Walker, Jamie Bell, Barry Pepper, Robert Patrick and Neal McDonough. The film follows the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima, the five Marines and one Navy corpsman who were involved in raising the flag on Iwo Jima, and the after effects of that event on their lives.
The film received positive reviews, but it bombed at the box office with just $65 million against its huge $90 million budget.

• Budget: $90,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $33,602,376. ($52.2 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $65,900,249.
  

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)

"The completion of the Iwo Jima saga."
His 27th film. Based on Picture Letters from Commander in Chief by Tadamichi Kuribayashi, it stars Ken Watanabe, Kazunari Ninomiya, Tsuyoshi Ihara, Ryō Kase and Shidō Nakamura. It's a companion film to Flags of Our Fathers, and portrays the Battle of Iwo Jima from the perspective of the Japanese soldiers.
In the process of reading about the Japanese perspective of the war for Flags of Our Fathers, in particular General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Eastwood decided to film a companion piece with this film, which was shot entirely in Japanese. The film was shot back-to-back, starting filming just one month after Flags of Our Fathers wrapped filming.
Despite being seen as the least accessible of both films, this film was much more successful at the box office than the previous film (including a colossal $42 million in Japan alone). It also received critical acclaim, particularly for how it handed the depiction of good and evil from both sides. It received 4 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.

• Budget: $19,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $13,756,082. ($21.3 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $68,673,228.
  

Changeling (2008)

"To find her son, she did what no one else dared."
His 28th film. It stars Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich, and is based on real-life events, specifically the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop murders in Mira Loma, California. It follows a woman united with a boy who she realizes is not her missing son. When she tries to demonstrate that to the police and city authorities, she is vilified as delusional, labeled as an unfit mother and confined to a psychiatric ward.
The film earned $113 million worldwide, barely breaking even at the box office. The film received mixed reviews, but Jolie received praise for her performance. She was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress.

• Budget: $55,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $35,739,802. ($52 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $113,398,237.
  

Gran Torino (2008)

"Ever come across somebody you shouldn't have messed with?"
His 29th film. It stars Eastwood, and follows Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran alienated from his family and angry at the world, whose young neighbor, Thao Vang Lor, is pressured by his cousin into stealing Walt's prized Ford Torino for his initiation into a gang. Walt thwarts the theft and subsequently develops a relationship with the boy and his family.
The film received great reviews, as well as praise from the Hmong community. It ended up becoming a sleeper hit, and it earned $270 million worldwide, becoming his highest grossing film.

• Budget: $25,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $148,095,302. ($215.6 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $269,958,228.
  

Invictus (2009)

"His people needed a leader. He gave them a champion."
His 30th film. It stars Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Following the aftermath of the apartheid, President Nelson Mandela decides to unite his people by supporting a rugby team in their bid to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup.
The film earned $122 million worldwide, barely breaking even. It received positive reviews, and Freeman and Damon received Oscar nominations for their performances.

• Budget: $50,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $37,491,364. ($54.7 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $122,426,792.
  

Hereafter (2010)

"Touched by death. Changed by life."
His 31st film. It stars Matt Damon, Cécile de France, Bryce Dallas Howard, Lyndsey Marshal, Jay Mohr and Thierry Neuvic. An American with a special connection to the afterlife, a woman with a near-death experience and a young English boy, who lost his loved ones, cross paths in an effort to find closure in their lives.
Despite mixed reviews, it managed to earn $107 million, turning a small profit.

• Budget: $50,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $32,746,941. ($47 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $106,956,330.
  

J. Edgar (2011)

"The most powerful man in the world."
His 32nd film. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Naomi Watts, Josh Lucas, and Judi Dench, and follows the career of FBI director J. Edgar Hoover, focusing on Hoover's life from the 1919 Palmer Raids onward.
The film received mixed reviews; while DiCaprio received praise, the technical aspects of the film were criticized. It earned $84 million, making it a box office success, but far below what DiCaprio usually makes at the box office.

• Budget: $35,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $37,306,030. ($52 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $84,920,539.
  

Jersey Boys (2014)

"Everybody remembers it how they need to."
His 33rd film. Base on the 2004 jukebox musical, it stars John Lloyd Young, Erich Bergen, Michael Lomenda, Vincent Piazza and Christopher Walken, and tells the story of the musical group The Four Seasons.
It received mixed reviews, with praise for the musical numbers but criticism for the narrative and runtime, and failed at the box office.

• Budget: $40,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $47,047,013. ($62.3 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $67,647,013.
  

American Sniper (2014)

"The most lethal sniper in U.S. history."
His 34th film. It is based on the memoir by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice, and stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. The film follows the life of Kyle, who became the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history with 255 kills from four tours in the Iraq War, 160 of which were officially confirmed by the Department of Defense. While Kyle was celebrated for his military successes, his tours of duty took a heavy toll on his personal and family life.
In 2012, Cooper and Warner Bros. bought the rights to the memoir. Cooper wanted Chris Pratt to star as Kyle, but WB told him they would only greenlight the film if he stars in it. After Kyle's murder in 2013, Steven Spielberg signed to direct. Spielberg had read Kyle's book, though he desired to have a more psychological conflict present in the screenplay so an "enemy sniper" character could serve as the insurgent sharpshooter who was trying to track down and kill Kyle. Spielberg's ideas contributed to the development of a lengthy screenplay approaching 160 pages. Due to Warner Bros.' budget constraints, Spielberg felt he could not bring his vision of the story to the screen. So Eastwood was brought in to direct.
The film attained a solid, but not extraordinary response from critics. It also attracted some controversy over its portrayal of both the Iraq War and Kyle himself.
The box office though?
To say that the film had a fantastic run would be selling it short.
It opened on Christmas Day in 4 theaters, and it earned a huge $633,456 ($158,364 PTA). But the following weekend, it actually increased despite playing at the same amount of theaters, adding $676,909. That translated to a $169,227 PTA, becoming the highest second weekend PTA in history for a live-action film. And on its third weekend, it earned $579,518 ($144,879 PTA), becoming the first film to have three weekends above $100,000 PTA. In the 22 days it played in just 4 theaters, it earned $3,424,778.
On its first wide weekend, the film shook the industry by opening with a colossal $89 million. That was almost as much as the other 2014 blockbusters, and given that the film didn't have 3D pricing, it's very likely it sold far more tickets than them. It broke the January opening weekend record by twice as much, and the second biggest for an R-rated title. With insane word of mouth ("A+" on CinemaScore), this film had the legs. In less than one week, it became Eastwood's highest grossing film domestically. On its second weekend, it dropped just 28% and made $64 million, which was the biggest second weekend for an R-rated film (a record it still maintains) and crossed $200 million domestically. And by March, the film overtook The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 ($334 million) as the highest grossing 2014 film in North America.
After an insane run in theaters, it closed with a gigantic $350 million domestically, which made it the second highest grossing R-rated film in North America. Overseas, it was also very strong, and it made a huge $547 million worldwide. It was easily Eastwood's highest grossing film, even adjusted for inflation. One of the greatest box office runs in recent memory. It received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Cooper, ultimately winning one for Best Sound Editing.
The biggest surprise of the 2010s? Perhaps. Cause let's face it, when 2014, did any of you had this as the top film of the year? Or even in the Top 20? Please.

• Budget: $59,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $350,159,020. ($463.7 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $547,659,020.
  

Sully (2016)

"The untold story behind the miracle on the Hudson."
His 35th film. Based on the autobiography Highest Duty by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger and Jeffrey Skiles, it stars Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Anna Gunn, Autumn Reeser, Holt McCallany, and Jamey Sheridan. The film follows Sullenberger's 2009 emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River, in which all 155 passengers and crew survived and the subsequent publicity and investigation.
The film received strong reviews, and earned over $240 million worldwide, becoming one of his highest grossing films.

• Budget: $60,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $125,070,033. ($163.3 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $243,870,033.
  

The 15:17 to Paris (2018)

"The real heroes."
His 36th film. Based on the autobiography by Jeffrey E. Stern, Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler, and Alek Skarlatos, it stars Stone, Sadler, and Skarlatos as themselves and follows the trio through life leading up to and including their stopping of the 2015 Thalys train attack.
Despite choosing Kyle Gallner, Jeremie Harris and Alexander Ludwig as the leads, Eastwood decided to cast the heroes to play themselves, which was met with confusion as they lacked acting experience. And that was reflected on the final film; it received negative reviews for its acting, and it bombed at the box office.

• Budget: $30,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $36,276,286. ($45.2 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $57,176,286.
  

The Mule (2018)

"Nobody runs forever."
His 37th film. Based on the 2014 The New York Times article The Sinaloa Cartel's 90-Year-Old Drug Mule by Sam Dolnick, it stars Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Wiest, and Andy García. Due to financial issues, horticulturist Earl Stone becomes a courier for a drug cartel. Slowly, he grows closer to his estranged family, but his illegal activities threaten much more than his life.
It received good reviews (although some questioned its story and tone), and earned over $173 million worldwide.

• Budget: $50,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $103,804,407. ($129.6 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $174,804,407.
  

Richard Jewell (2019)

"The world will know his name and the truth."
His 38th film. The film stars Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, and Olivia Wilde. The film depicts the July 27 Centennial Olympic Park bombing and its aftermath, as security guard Richard Jewell finds a bomb during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, and alerts authorities to evacuate, only to later be wrongly accused of having placed the device himself.
The film received positive reviews, but several journalists criticized the critical portrayal of the reporter that first accused Jewell: Kathy Scruggs (specifically for trading sex for stories). The film marked another commercial failure for Eastwood.

• Budget: $45,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $22,345,542. ($27.4 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $44,645,542.
  

Cry Macho (2021)

"A story of being lost and found."
His 39th film. Based on the novel by N. Richard Nash, it stars Eastwood and Dwight Yoakam. Set in 1979, it follows a former rodeo star hired to reunite a young boy in Mexico with his father in the United States.
Nash tried to get this film made all the way since 1970s, but no studio was willing to pick it up. He restructured his films as a novel, was successful and studios were now interested. There were a few candidates for the leading role; Robert Mitchum, Roy Scheider, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Eastwood himself. Arnie was willing to star in the film back in 2003, but put it on hold when he was elected Governor. He was set to star after leaving office, but the project was scrapped after his affair scandal was made known. In 2020, Eastwood signed to return.
The film received mixed reviews, particularly for its writing and acting. It was also a huge flop at the box office, and marked Eastwood's least attended film as leading man. David Zaslav criticized the studio's decision to finance the film. Warner executives allegedly said that although they knew the film was unlikely to turn a profit, they felt indebted to Eastwood for his decades-long relationship with the studio and his consistent ability to deliver films under budget and on time.

• Budget: $33,000,000.
  
• Domestic gross: $10,310,734. ($11.9 million adjusted)
  
• Worldwide gross: $16,510,734.
  

The Future

He recently wrapped post-production on his 40th film, Juror No. 2. It stars Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Zoey Deutch, Leslie Bibb, Chris Messina, J. K. Simmons and Kiefer Sutherland, and follows a juror serving on a murder trial who realizes he may be at fault for the victim's death.

MOVIES (FROM HIGHEST GROSSING TO LEAST GROSSING)

No.	Movie	Year	Studio	Domestic Total	Overseas Total	Worldwide Total	Budget
1	American Sniper	2014	Warner Bros.	$350,159,020	$197,500,000	$547,659,020	$59M
2	Gran Torino	2008	Warner Bros.	$148,095,302	$121,862,926	$269,958,228	$25M
3	Sully	2016	Warner Bros.	$125,070,033	$118,800,000	$243,870,033	$60M
4	Million Dollar Baby	2004	Warner Bros.	$100,492,203	$116,271,443	$216,763,646	$30M
5	The Bridges of Madison County	1995	Warner Bros.	$71,516,617	$110,500,000	$182,016,617	$22M
6	The Mule	2018	Warner Bros.	$103,804,407	$71,000,000	$174,804,407	$50M
7	Unforgiven	1992	Warner Bros.	$101,167,799	$58,000,000	$159,167,799	$14.4M
8	Mystic River	2003	Warner Bros.	$90,135,191	$66,460,000	$156,595,191	$25M
9	Sudden Impact	1983	Warner Bros.	$67,642,693	$83,000,000	$150,642,693	$22M
10	A Perfect World	1993	Warner Bros.	$31,130,999	$104,000,000	$135,130,999	$30M
11	Space Cowboys	2000	Warner Bros.	$90,464,773	$38,419,359	$128,884,132	$60M
12	Invictus	2009	Warner Bros.	$37,491,364	$84,935,428	$122,426,792	$55M
13	Heartbreak Ridge	1986	Warner Bros.	$42,724,017	$78,975,983	$121,700,000	$15M
14	Changeling	2008	Universal	$35,739,802	$77,658,435	$113,398,237	$55M
15	Hereafter	2010	Warner Bros.	$32,746,941	$74,209,389	$106,956,330	$50M
16	Absolute Power	1997	Sony	$50,068,310	$42,700,000	$92,768,310	$50M
17	J. Edgar	2011	Warner Bros.	$37,306,030	$47,614,509	$84,920,539	$35M
18	Letters from Iwo Jima	2006	Warner Bros.	$13,756,082	$54,917,146	$68,673,228	$19M
19	Jersey Boys	2014	Warner Bros.	$47,047,013	$20,600,000	$67,647,013	$40M
20	Flags of Our Fathers	2006	Warner Bros.	$33,602,376	$32,297,873	$65,900,249	$90M
21	The 15:17 to Paris	2018	Warner Bros.	$36,276,286	$20,900,000	$57,176,286	$30M
22	Firefox	1982	Warner Bros.	$46,708,276	$0	$46,708,276	$21M
23	Richard Jewell	2019	Warner Bros.	$22,345,542	$22,300,000	$44,645,542	$45M
24	Pale Rider	1985	Warner Bros.	$41,410,568	$0	$41,410,568	$6.9M
25	The Gauntlet	1977	Warner Bros.	$35,400,000	$0	$35,400,000	$5.5M
26	The Outlaw Josey Wales	1976	Warner Bros.	$31,800,000	$0	$31,800,000	$3.7M
27	Blood Work	2002	Warner Bros.	$26,235,081	$5,559,637	$31,794,718	$50M
28	Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil	1997	Warner Bros.	$25,105,255	$0	$25,105,255	$30M
29	Bronco Billy	1980	Warner Bros.	$24,265,659	$0	$24,265,659	$6.5M
30	The Rookie	1990	Warner Bros.	$21,633,874	$0	$21,633,874	$30M
31	True Crime	1999	Warner Bros.	$16,649,768	$0	$16,649,768	$55M
32	Cry Macho	2021	Warner Bros.	$10,310,734	$6,200,000	$16,510,734	$33M
33	High Plains Drifter	1973	Universal	$15,700,000	$0	$15,700,000	$5.5M
34	The Eiger Sanction	1975	Universal	$14,200,000	$0	$14,200,000	$9M
35	Play Misty for Me	1971	Universal	$10,600,000	$0	$10,600,000	$950K
36	Honkytonk Man	1982	Warner Bros.	$4,484,991	$0	$4,484,991	$2M
37	White Hunter Black Heart	1990	Warner Bros.	$2,319,124	$0	$2,319,124	$24M
38	Bird	1988	Warner Bros.	$2,181,286	$0	$2,181,286	$14M
39	Breezy	1973	Universal	$200,000	$17,753	$217,753	$750K

Across those 39 films, he has made $3,536,687,297 worldwide. That's $90,684,289 per film.

The Verdict

Insanely profitable.
Even the bombs do not taint this kind of reputation. Eastwood has made all these films under budget and never past its deadline. That's something that has to be treasured for studios, no wonder he's been staying with Warner Bros. since 1976. His ability to get films ready in short notice is impressive; Richard Jewell started filming in June and it was on theaters in December. One of the most impressive actors who transitioned into directors. You can tell that Sergio Leone and Don Siegel taught him well.
Now of course, his method of directing can also have its setbacks: he's often known for not asking for multiple takes and he skips rehearsals. So that means the performances of his actors aren't always the best they could've done. Which is why, despite making some masterpieces or fantastic films, he's also made a few films with weak technical aspects: poor lighting (J. Edgar), questionable logic (Cry Macho), obvious props (the fake baby in American Sniper), and some bad acting (Gran Torino and The 15:17 to Paris). At the same time, it's clear he can also get extraordinary performances through these methods; Gene Hackman, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman won Oscars for starring in his films.
He also proved old age doesn't prevent you from continuing to work. He's turning 94 in a few weeks, and he's still directing films. Manoel de Oliveira directed films until he was 104, so perhaps we still have a few more years with Eastwood behind the camera.
P.S. Ever since I started this series, there's been suggestions that I should do "Actors at the Box Office" multiple times. While the idea is intriguing, that doesn't seem feasible for me. I'd have to categorize whether the actor is leading, supporting, original IP, adaptation, remakes, etc. Besides, with the continuing decline of star power, it's tough to decide what actor is truly moving the needle at the box office. That's why I'm making solely "Directors at the Box Office", because the director is responsible for the production. If the film succeeds, the director will get credit. And if the film flops, the director will be blamed. So this is the closest you'll get to "Actors at the Box Office".
Hope you liked this edition. You can find this and more in the wiki for this section.
The next director will be Robert Zemeckis. One of the biggest falls from grace.
I asked you to choose who else should be in the run and the comment with the most upvotes would be chosen. It had to be a controversial filmmaker. Well, we'll later talk about... Zack Snyder. Oh, BoxOffice chose fuego 🔥
This is the schedule for the following four:

Week	Director	Reasoning
May 20-26	Robert Zemeckis	Can we get old Zemeckis back?
May 27-June 2	Richard Donner	An influential figure of the 70s and 80s.
June 3-9	Ang Lee	What happened to Lee?
June 10-16	Zack Snyder	RIP Inbox.

Who should be next after Snyder? That's up to you.

[ Casino Mishaps and Unforgettable Moments ]
Casinos are often seen as glamorous venues filled with excitement, luxury, and the promise of life-changing winnings. However, behind the glittering facade, they are also the setting for a myriad of unexpected mishaps and unforgettable moments. From colossal blunders to astonishing strokes of luck, these stories add an intriguing layer to the world of gambling. Here, we explore some of the most remarkable casino mishaps and memorable events that have become legendary in the gaming world.

The Great Casino Heists

The Bellagio’s $1.5 Million Chip Heist

In 2010, the Bellagio in Las Vegas witnessed one of the most audacious casino heists in history. A man, later identified as Anthony Carleo, rode up to the casino on a motorcycle, walked in, and proceeded to rob the poker room at gunpoint. He made off with $1.5 million in casino chips. Despite the initial success, his plan unraveled when he tried to sell the high-value chips online, leading to his capture.

The Crown Casino's Inside Job

In 2013, Melbourne’s Crown Casino fell victim to an inside job that saw a gambler and a casino staff member collude to cheat the casino out of $32 million. The staff member had access to the casino’s surveillance system and fed the player crucial information. The scheme was eventually discovered, and both perpetrators faced severe legal consequences.

Unbelievable Winning Streaks

Archie Karas’s Unstoppable Run

One of the most famous winning streaks in casino history is that of Archie Karas. Starting with just $50 in 1992, Karas managed to turn this modest sum into an incredible $40 million over a span of three years. His streak involved high-stakes poker, pool, and dice games. However, Karas’s luck eventually ran out, and he lost all his winnings, showcasing the volatility and unpredictability of gambling.

The Woman Who Broke the Bank

In 2016, a woman named Cynthia Jay-Brennan experienced an unforgettable moment when she hit the largest Megabucks slot machine jackpot ever recorded at the time, winning $34.9 million at the Desert Inn Casino in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, her story took a tragic turn when she was involved in a car accident that left her paralyzed. Her win remains one of the most bittersweet stories in casino history.

Bizarre and Comical Moments

The Pigeon Heist at Caesars Palace

In a rather unusual incident, Caesars Palace in Las Vegas was targeted by a flock of pigeons trained to pick up casino chips. The bizarre theft was orchestrated by a man who trained the birds to snatch high-value chips from the gaming tables. While the scheme didn’t yield significant financial gain, it certainly added a strange chapter to the casino’s history.

The Man Who Gambled His Prosthetic Leg

In 2015, a gambler at a casino in France took a desperate measure after running out of money. He bet his prosthetic leg in a game of poker. Amazingly, he won the hand and managed to walk away with his leg and some winnings. This bizarre bet became a legendary tale of the lengths some will go to keep playing.

Near-Miss Jackpots

The $100,000 Missed Jackpot

One of the most painful casino moments involves near-miss jackpots. In 2012, a man playing a slot machine at the Wynn Las Vegas thought he had won $100,000. However, upon review, it was discovered that he hadn’t placed the maximum bet required to qualify for the jackpot. This oversight cost him the six-figure payout, a harsh reminder to always check the betting requirements.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Casinos are places of both fortune and folly, where dreams can be made and shattered in the blink of an eye. The mishaps and unforgettable moments that occur within these walls create a rich tapestry of stories that add to the allure and mystique of gambling. Whether it’s a high-stakes heist, a record-breaking win, or a bizarre bet, these tales remind us of the unpredictable and often thrilling nature of the casino world.

May 10, 2024 03:09 PM
The Texas Swing gave athletes plenty of opportunities to separate themselves from the field, and a handful did just that. Looking at the leaders across all events, their earnings range from over $124,000 down to $68,000.
Here is a look at each event’s leader as we near the Summer Run.

Bareback Riding: Leighton Berry, $89,560

Leighton Berry leads the way in Bareback Riding with nearly $90,000 earned this year. His current lead is just over $10,000 over Coop Cooke who has totaled $78,110 this season.
Berry made his big move in mid-March thanks to a win at RodeoHouston where he was 91.5 points in the finals on Calgary Stampede’s Agent Lynx which earned him $50,000.
Following his win in Houston, Berry went to Rodeo Austin and posted an 86.5-point ride. Berry’s great run to the top of the standings wasn’t done there. He headed to Clovis where he took home the win on C5 Rodeo’s, Virgil. The win in Clovis was worth another $10,000 and how he took the top spot back from Coop Cooke.

Saddle Bronc Riding: Damian Brennan, $124,230

No other cowboy has had the success Damian Brennan has had this year. He has earned the most of any athlete across all events with over $124,000 earned already this season.
Brennan, who is coming off a career-best fifth-place finish in 2023, is now in the No. 1 spot by nearly $50,000. Brennan has won five rodeos this year, including RodeoHouston and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
Fort Worth was his first rodeo of the year, which he won with a 91.5-point ride in the Finals. On the way to the Finals, Brennan posted three scores over 89 points to get the win.
Moving to Houston, Brennan posted back-to-back 90-point rides for the win. In the Semis he was 90 points and in the Finals he would go for 91 points on R.Watson’s Ed Bishop.

Bull Riding: Creek Young, $108,292

Creek Young worked his way to the top of the standings thanks to a win at RodeoHouston, which earned him nearly half of his season earnings. Young rode just one of his first three bulls in Houston, but took advantage in the Semis with an 82.5-point ride that locked in his spot in the Finals.
In the Finals, he was marked 87 points to get the win and earn the biggest payday of his career at $50,000. Throughout the Texas Swing, Young was 12-for-17 overall.

Steer Wrestling: Dalton Massey, $68,137

Dalton Massey has a tight lead in the standings at less than $3,000. Massey spent the majority of last season in the No. 1 spot and is back after a big Texas Swing. Massey was the fastest Bulldogger in the Finals in Fort Worth to earn a nice payday earlier in the season.
Since then he cashed over $6,000 in Clark County after finishing second in the Average. He would also pick up a Round win and finish second in the Average at the Clovis Rodeo, which made him another $14,000.

Team Roping Headers: Dustin Egusquiza, $70,234

Dustin Egusquiza has the smallest lead of any No. 1 athlete at under $100 over J.C. Yeahquo. Egusquiza was No. 3 in the World Standings last week, but a big showing at the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo propelled him into the No. 1 spot. In total, Egusquiza and his partner Levi Lord earned over $5,000 at the rodeo.
Egusquiza and Lord also won the Angelina Benefit Rodeo (Texas) and won two rounds in San Angelo. Combined, those two events paid him $14,693. In March, the pair won the Finals and the Average in Austin.

Team Roping Heelers: Buddy Hawkins, $74,716

Buddy Hawkins holds a small $4,000 lead over Levi Lord and has RodeoHouston to thank. Hawkins posted five runs at RodeoHouston under seven seconds, including a 4.5-second run in his third go and a 4.8-second run in the Finals to get the win and the $50,000 check that goes along with it.

Tie-Down Roping: Shad Mayfield, $137,922

Shad started off the season on a torrid pace, winning the first two Texas Swing Rodeos of the season in Fort Worth and San Antonio. Mayfield won over $30,000 between the two rodeos and posted six times under 8 seconds between the two.
Mayfield added to his earnings by taking home the average at the Guymon Pioneer Days where he was 23.9 seconds in the Average. In total, Mayfield earned just under $14,000 in Guymon.

Barrel Racing: Wenda Johnson, $72,599

Wenda Johnson jumped to the top of the WPRA Barrel Racing World Standings thanks to several big wins this season. Her most recent came in Clovis where he took the win and over $12,750 along with it.
Johnson also had a second-place finish at the Clark County Fair and Rodeo which made her $6,700. Her big win this season came at the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo where she was crowned Champion which earned her over $11,700.