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Image Credit: Getty Images for Netflix � 2024 Who is Joey Jaws Chestnut ? The 41-year-old is the undisputed GOAT of competitive eating. As a 16-time Nathans Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest champion, hes turned gluttony into an art. But after skipping the 2024 contest due to a sponsorship disagreement, hes back for July 4, 2025.
Im thrilled to be returning to the Nathans Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut wrote on X. This event means the world to me. Its a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life.
Chestnuts 76-hot-dog world record, set in 2021 at Coney Island, still stands. In his absence, rival Patrick Bertoletti claimed the title in 2024 with 58 hot dogs, only to be overshadowed when Chestnut, in a Netflix livestream, devoured 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes, besting even his own previous feat.
Beyond hot dogs, Chestnut has demolished competitive eating records across the boardfrom burritos to popcorn and chicken fingers. And despite leg surgery in 2021 and other health setbacks, his appetite and determination remain unbreakable.
Now that hes resolved his differences over the Impossible Foods deal and signed a new three-year exclusive contract with Nathans and Major League Eating, Chestnut isnt just backhes hungrier than ever. Read on to learn more about the man behind the mustard-stained record belt.
Joey has won countless competitions
Joey won his very first Nathans Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2007, defeating champion Takeru Kobayashi. He won every year until he was beaten by Matt Stonie in 2015. Since that one shocking loss to Matt, Joey has yet to be beaten again in the annual hot dog eating contest on July 4. Joey has become the face of eating contests.
He has no plans to retire
I know eventually I will give it up for one reason or another, Joey told HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY. Either if I have a family eventually. If I want to live a more normal life and cant travel as much or if ever my health changes or if I have a health issue that would be a reason. But I would love& I mean these past three years I have been trying to eat healthier and running more and I hope I can continue that trend so I could prolong this as long as I can because I have had a normal job and I have had to answer to bosses and have had nasty emails and checked schedules and changed orders and I mean I could go back to all of that!
Hes open to his kids following in his footsteps
When asked whether or not hell train his kids in competitive eating, Joey told HollywoodLife: I dont know about training them but I would tell them to do whatever makes them happy and I chose a degree I wanted to do and a company I wanted to work for and it made me happy and then it grew into something I would have never imagined so I think do whatever makes you happy. Always try new things and never close any doors.
He once proposed to an ex at a competition
Right before winning the Nathans 2014 Hot Dog Eating Contest, Joey proposed to his longtime girlfriend. Sadly, they split in early 2015.
He doesnt just eat hot dogs
Joey is a professional eater. Hes competed in eating contests of grilled cheese sandwiches, waffles, burgers, wings, pizza, macaroni and cheese, bratwursts and more. What a life!
