A new global showjumping competition, the Premier Jumping League (PJL), has been launched with a guaranteed prize pot of $300 million.
The PJL is backed by McCourt Global, the investment firm of American billionaire and prolific sports team owner Frank McCourt, who previously held a 50% stake in premium show jumping series, the Global Champions Tour, and founded the show jumping team, the Miami Celtics.
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McCourt, who is named as founder and chairman of PJL, currently owns French soccer club Olympique Marseille and the Los Angeles Marathon, but previously owned baseball’s iconic Los Angeles Dodgers.
McCourt said: “For far too long, many of the world’s best riders have been forced to choose between pursuing their talent and passion and building a sustainable career.
“The PJL is changing that by creating a clear and viable path for athletes to earn a great living by competing at the highest level, without compromising the traditions and values that define jumping.
“By aligning opportunity with performance and commitment, we are reshaping the future of the sport and empowering its most talented athletes to devote themselves fully to excellence.”
The PJL will feature 16 teams competing across 14 international venues starting from next year, with McCourt aiming to create a sustainable economic model via a centralized sponsorship and broadcasting model.
The events are set to take place across Europe, North America, and the Middle East from March 2027 and involve top riders, including world number one Scott Brash.
To help attract new audiences, the league has partnered with production company Box to Box Films, the producers of the popular Formula 1 motor racing series 'Drive to Survive'.
The $300 million on offer across the 14 events is one of the biggest investments in an equestrian competition.
By comparison, show jumping’s top-tier Global Tour distributed €22 million across its final flagship events last year, the Global Champions Tour and Global Champions League finals in Riyadh, as well as the Global Champions Prague Playoffs.
Specifically, €10.5 million was distributed across the 2025 LGCT and GCL Season Championships in Riyadh, which featured the world’s best athletes, while the GC Prague Playoffs saw a prize fund of more than €11.4 million split between the GCL Super Cup (€10 million) and GC Tour Super Grand Prix (€1.25 million).
