Joey Chestnut is as reliable as the Fourth of July fireworks. On Saturday, he delivered once again, securing his 18th title at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing 66 hot dogs and buns on Coney Island. The 42-year-old obliterated the competition in brutal conditions, with humidity pushing the heat index to around 100 degrees. His total fell ten short of his own world record of 76, but it was more than enough to dominate.
The 10-minute men’s contest saw Chestnut take an early lead, consuming 28 hot dogs in the first three minutes. Pat Bertoletti finished second with 50, and Australian James Webb took third with 48. Chestnut has been unbeaten since 2015, when he lost to Matt Stonie, with one exception: a ban in 2024 over a sponsorship dispute with Impossible Foods. Other than that, he has beaten the field by at least ten hot dogs every year.
In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo claimed her 12th title in 12 attempts, overcoming the scorching heat to eat 38 3/4 hot dogs and buns. Michelle Lesco, pouring water down her back to cool off, finished second with 22. Sudo, 40, remains the contest’s only undefeated champion, a feat not even Chestnut can claim.
Chestnut’s relentless drive for perfection was on display. He wore a Polymarket medallion around his neck, with betting odds giving him a 150% chance of winning. He trained obsessively, focusing on fitness, but even he couldn’t simulate the 92-degree heat and 63% humidity. Despite the conditions, his lead was never in doubt.
The contest drew massive attention, with ratings nearly doubling when Chestnut returned after his 2024 ban. He holds 55 records with Major League Eating, including 103 Krystal burgers in eight minutes and 17 1/2 pounds of cherry pie in eight minutes. At 6-1, he was dwarfed by Gideon Oji, the 6-9 tallest competitor in contest history, but height meant little as Chestnut devoured the field.
The total prize purse was $40,000, with $10,000 for the winners of each division. Chestnut, a multimillionaire from endorsements and fan engagement, called Nathan’s his biggest payday of the year. As he put it, “I’m very lucky they are keeping me active.”
