The Unstoppable Legend: Unveiling the Extraordinary Feats of Hot Dog Eating Champion, Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut, the legendary competitive eater, has dominated the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest since 2005, winning a remarkable 14 times Discover more about his career, including his start in competitive eating, other competitions he's participated in, and whether he balances another job alongside his professional eating endeavors
When Did Joey Chestnut Start Competitive Eating?
: Joey Chestnut: The Man Behind the MeatChestnut began his journey in the world of eating competitions in 2005 while he was still a college student. His first notable performance took place at the deep-fried asparagus eating championship, where he astounded the audience by devouring a staggering 6.3 pounds of asparagus in just 11 and a half minutes. This impressive feat earned him victory over seasoned eater Rich LeFevre.
Following his triumph in the asparagus competition, Chestnut secured a spot in the prestigious Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest later that same year. Making his debut at Coney Island, the competitive eating prodigy managed to consume 32 hot dogs, securing a respectable third place finish, surpassed only by seasoned eaters Sonya Thomas and long-time champion Takeru Kobayashi.
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How Many Times Has Joey Chestnut Won the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest?
After two years of competing, Chestnut emerged victorious in the annual competition. In 2007, he faced off against the reigning champion, Kobayashi, in a historic hot dog eating contest. Despite Kobayashi's previous six-year winning streak, he could only consume 63 franks, while Chestnut devoured 66 hot dogs to secure the win.
Since making his debut in 2005, Chestnut has dominated the hot dog eating contest, claiming victory a remarkable 15 times. In each session, he has consumed an impressive range of 59 to 76 hot dogs.
Does Joey Chestnut Have Another Job Besides Professional Eating?
Chestnut's performance in the 2023 competition can be exclusively viewed on the ESPN app with a dedicated camera feed, commencing at 12:45 p.m. ET. (The complete event will be televised on both the app and ESPN 2.)After working with a construction management company in Northern California, Chestnut made a life-changing decision in 2010. He left his regular job behind to pursue a career as a professional eater full-time. In a July 2023 interview with USA Today Sports, Chestnut shared the challenges of this decision and disclosed that he earns $500,000 annually, with a net worth exceeding $4 million. Reflecting on his journey, Chestnut mentioned his mother's concerns and the importance of assuring her that he had a plan to address healthcare and retirement aspects.
The grand prize for winning the Nathan’s competition is $10,000 and Chestnut earns additional cash for his various sponsorships.
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Has Joey Chestnut Lost the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest?
In a surprising turn of events, Matt Stonie dethroned Chestnut in 2015, ending his eight-year winning streak. Stonie, who had just debuted in the competition the previous year, managed to consume an impressive 62 hot dogs, edging out Chestnut's 60, and securing a victory that left everyone astonished.
Has Joey Chestnut Competed in Any Other Competitions?
In addition to his success as a professional competitive eater, Chestnut has set world records in various other food challenges. These include devouring massive quantities of chicken wings, funnel cakes, tamales, Twinkies, tacos, Big Macs, chicken fingers, and many more delectable treats.
In 2018, Chestnut competed on season 30 of The Amazing Race alongside fellow professional eater, Tim Janus. The duo were the fourth team to be eliminated.
