Chestnut, 41, ate 66 hot dogs in 10 minutes, securing his 18th Mustard Belt and a $10,000 prize in front of an estimated 25,000 spectators.
The annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest returned Saturday with familiar results, as Joey Chestnut once again took the top spot during Fourth of July festivities.
Chestnut, 41, ate 66 hot dogs in 10 minutes, securing his 18th Mustard Belt and a $10,000 prize in front of an estimated 25,000 spectators gathered along the Coney Island boardwalk.
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The event, held as part of Independence Day celebrations in New York, drew large crowds early in the day. One attendee, Thomas Leible, 19, a student at the Virginia Military Institute, said: “I’ve been watching this since I was a little kid, and knowing that Joey Chestnut is the greatest of all time, and who knows when he’s going to retire?”
He added, “I mean, there’s nobody as dominant as him in any athletic event ever. I mean if you look back at somebody like Tom Brady who’s not even close and doesn’t have nearly half the records he has.”
Chestnut’s total fell short of his own record of 76 hot dogs, set in 2021, though he remained well ahead of the field. Before the contest, he spoke on “Good Morning America,” saying, “I’m hungry, and it’s a beautiful day. This is going to be a great Fourth of July,” and also stated, “I’m feeling good.”
The men’s competition saw Patrick Bertoletti, 41, of Blue Island, Illinois, finish second after eating 50 hot dogs and earning $5,000. Australia’s James Webb, 37, placed third with 48 hot dogs and took home $2,500.
Chestnut also said in a social media post this week that competitive eating is “the most patriotic sport we’ve got,” with fans responding online, including one who called him “an American treasure” and another saying, “Joey gotta get a record for the 250.”
In the women’s contest earlier in the day, Miki Sudo once again claimed victory, eating 38.75 hot dogs to secure her 12th championship belt.
Chestnut’s win came after a turbulent year outside competition. In April, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge tied to a bar incident in which he struck a man with an open hand. Court records stated he was “pretty drunk” and “didn’t remember” parts of the altercation. At the time of the contest, he was reportedly still under probation.
He was also absent from the 2024 competition after being barred over a sponsorship agreement with Impossible Foods, which led to Patrick Bertoletti’s victory that year after eating 58 hot dogs.
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