Few human beings have ever climbed to the pinnacle of their profession in the way Joey Chestnut has in the competitive eating space.
There was plenty of pomp and circumstance as Chestnut made his return to the Nathan’s Hot Dog stage for the 2025 contest. After a one-year absence due to sponsorship complications, the 41-year-old stepped back on the stage, earning his 17th Mustard Belt by consuming 70.5 hot dogs in the 10-minute allotted timeframe. Last year’s champion, Patrick Bertoletti, finished second in the contest with 46.5 hot dogs consumed.
Chestnut was a commanding -2000 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook to win the contest. His over/under for hot dogs eaten opened at 69.5 but crept up to 71.5 leading up to the start.
Watching Chestnut perfect his craft and consume as many hot dogs as possible should not be taken for granted. He pushes the boundaries of human limitations for caloric intake and cuisine consumption. It is like watching Picasso paint or Beethoven tickle the keys of a piano in his prime. Rightfully discussed as a larger-than-life figure on the broadcast and coined “The Michelangelo of Mastication” on the broadcast, the dominance of Chestnut still has not been put on the proper scale.
Joey Chestnut’s Career Acolades:
Chestnut is the most prolific eater in Hot Dog Eating Contest history. He has tallied 1,284.5 hot dogs eaten in his career and consumed 70+ hot dogs seven times across his 20 appearances. Nicknamed Jaws, Chestnut holds the world record with 76 hot dogs across the 10-minute competition period. He cruised to his 17th Mustard Belt title and has won the competition 17 of the 18 times he has entered.
During his absence from the competition last year, Chestnut competed in a one-on-one matchup with Takeru Kobayashi in a partnership with Netflix. Chestnut put down 83 hot dogs across the 10-minute competition to earn the $100K prize.
But his competitive eating success is not exclusive to just hot dogs. Per the Major League Eating database, Chestnut holds 55 world records across 55 disciplines. This includes putting down 14 pounds of Bologna slices, 17.5 pounds of Cherry Pie, 257 Hostess Donettes, 1.875 gallons of gumbo, 390 shrimp wontons, and 182 chicken wings all within the allotted timeframe.
His former rival, Takeru Kobayashi, holds the next most Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating contest titles with six since the modern rules were introduced. This year’s runner-up, Patrick Bertoletti, holds the next most active world records with 35 in the competitive eating space.
Why Joey Chestnut is the GOAT of Active Athletes:
It is impossible to compare a competitive eater to the likes of a team sport athlete. But it is fair to at least ask the question of whether Chestnut is better at his respective craft compared to these other competitors?
LeBron James is almost universally recognized as one of the two greatest basketball players of all time. He is a 21-time All-Star, four-time MVP, and four-time NBA Champion. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each have a case in the soccer world, while Scottie Scheffler is producing results on the PGA tour that have not been seen since Tiger Woods. Patrick Mahomes has also already collected three Super Bowl rings and has yet to turn 30.
But none of these players are synonymous with their sport in the same way Chestnut is with competitive eating. From the crowd’s pop after his announcement, to the elite performances when on the clock, Chestnut has injected an energy and attention level to competitive eating that many thought was impossible.
Anyone who perfects their craft to the level that Chestnut has deserves credit. He will never be viewed in the same light as the mainstream sports. But we are witnessing greatness in their prime, with the 41-year-old showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.
His resume is still far from complete, with Chestnut declaring he will be back next year immediately when accepting the belt. But he has already accomplished more than most competitors ever do in their careers. Don’t take this level of greatness for granted.
