Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut is an American competitive eater best known for his dominance at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Joey Chestnut is an American competitive eater who dominates Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. He holds the men's record and has won the event 18 times as of 2026.
What it is
Joey Chestnut, nicknamed 'Jaws,' is the most successful competitive eater in the sport's history. Major League Eating credits him with 55 world records across different disciplines. His signature event is the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest held each July 4 in Coney Island.
Key details
Chestnut set the men's hot dog record of 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in 2021. He won his 18th Nathan's title in 2026 by eating 66 hot dogs and buns. He was barred from the 2024 contest due to a sponsorship dispute with Impossible Foods, but returned to win in 2025 and 2026.
Why it matters
Chestnut's performances make him a fixture in North American sports media, especially around the July 4 holiday. His 2024 exclusion and subsequent return drew widespread coverage, highlighting the business side of competitive eating. For Canadian readers, he's a recognizable international sports figure.
In short
- Chestnut has won Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 18 times.
- His men's record is 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes (2021).
- He was excluded from the 2024 contest over a sponsorship dispute.
- He holds 55 world records across multiple eating disciplines.
Chestnut is mainly relevant to Canadian readers as an internationally known sports figure in competitive eating, especially through coverage of Nathan's July 4 contest and broader North American sports media.
Quick questions
How many hot dogs did Joey Chestnut eat?
Why was Joey Chestnut banned from the contest?
What is Joey Chestnut's record?
Sources
- Major League Eating — https://majorleagueeating.com/eaters/106/Supports: Chestnut's titles, world records, and competitive eating profile.
- USA Today — https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2026/07/04/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-2026-results/90786486007/Supports: 2026 Nathan's result, 66 hot dogs, 18th title, 2024 ban context, and 2021 record.
- Yahoo Sports — https://sports.yahoo.com/article/many-hot-dogs-did-joey-152409438.htmlSupports: 2025 return, 70.5 hot dogs, sponsorship dispute, and aggregate contest totals.
- ESPN — https://www.espn.com/sportsnation/story/_/id/37940564/joey-chestnut-nathan-hot-dog-dominanceSupports: Chestnut's Nathan's dominance, record total, and 2024 absence context.
- ESPN — https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/45631936/joey-chestnut-eating-recordsSupports: Chestnut's eating records and broad world-record count.
- ESPN — https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/49269981/joey-chestnut-miki-sudo-devour-field-defend-hot-dog-titlesSupports: 2026 Nathan's win and title count.
- ABC News — https://abcnews.com/US/joey-chestnut-feeling-good-ahead-hot-dog-eating/story?id=134472186Supports: 2026 Nathan's win, 66 hot dogs, and 2021 men's world record.