What is Joey Chestnut's Net Worth and Career Earnings?
Joey Chestnut is an American competitive eater with a net worth of $3 million. He is arguably the most successful competitive eater in history, first rising to fame in 2007 by winning the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. As of July 4, 2023, he has won the competition 16 times and has frequently been the top-ranked eater in the world by the Major League of Eating.
Chestnut's journey to stardom in competitive eating began in 2005 when he consumed 32 hot dogs at his debut Nathan's contest. He quickly climbed the ranks, dethroning champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007, and has been a dominant force since.
In addition to his Nathan's wins, Chestnut holds various records in competitive eating, including 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in 8 minutes, and 53 soft beef tacos in 10 minutes. His most impressive feat was in 2021, when he consumed 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, setting a new world record. Known as "Jaws," he has become a household name in the competitive eating community.
Annual Earnings
The top prize for winning Nathan's is $10,000, offering significant exposure to competitive eaters. A top eater can easily earn between $250,000 and $500,000 per year from prize money and sponsorships. Joey Chestnut's longtime rival, Takeru Kobayashi, has not competed at Nathan's in recent years due to a contract dispute with the Major League Eating organization.
Chestnut also has a line of condiments sold under his name, including mustard, dipping sauces, coney sauce, and hot sauce.
Impossible Foods Endorsement
In June 2024, Joey signed a 4-year, $1.2 million endorsement deal with vegan food company Impossible Foods. The deal averages $400,000 annually and somewhat precludes Joey from participating in Nathan's annual Fourth of July contest. Contrary to many reports, he was not banned from the contest.
Netflix Kobayashi Showdown
A day after announcing his Impossible Foods deal, Joey signed a deal with Netflix for a live face-off against Takeru Kobayashi. This event, titled "Chestnut Vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef," will air live on September 2, 2024.
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Early Life
Joey Chestnut was born on November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky. He attended San Jose State University, where he began participating in eating competitions in 2005. His dedication to competitive eating delayed his graduation until 2012.
One of his first major events was an asparagus-eating competition, where he consumed nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in 11.5 minutes to defeat high-ranked eater Rich LeFevre.
Turning Professional
In 2005, Joey participated in his first Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest, finishing third with 32 hot dogs. He went on to set a new world record the same year by eating 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes at the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.
His fame continued to rise as he defeated Sonya Thomas in the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and finished second in the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship in 2005. At the 2006 Nathan's event, Joey set the US record by eating 52 hot dogs, finishing second to Kobayashi’s 53 and 3/4ths.
In 2007, Joey won the Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia by eating 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes and finally won the Nathan's Contest, defeating reigning champion Kobayashi with 66 hot dogs. He also won the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship by consuming 103 Krystal burgers in under eight minutes, rounding out a successful year.
Joey won eight consecutive Nathan's Contests between 2007 and 2015. In 2020 and 2021, he set new records by consuming 75 and 76 hot dogs, respectively, in 10 minutes. Despite a protestor's interruption in 2022, Chestnut won his 15th Nathan's title, eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes while dealing with the protestor.
Matt Stonie won the 2015 contest, but Joey rebounded in 2016 by consuming 70 hot dogs, reclaiming the title and setting a new record. He won the subsequent contests from 2016 to 2020, achieving a career peak of 76 hot dogs in one competition.
In 2008, Joey set world records by eating 241 wings in 30 minutes at the Wing Bowl and 78 matzo balls at Kenny & Ziggy's World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship. He also set a new record at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, by consuming a 4.5-pound ribeye steak with sides in under nine minutes.
2009 saw Joey set another record by eating 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes. He also won the Nathan's Contest with 68 hot dogs. He appeared in "Man v. Food" in 2009, consuming a giant five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.
In 2010, Joey won the Shrimp Wontons eating competition in Singapore and repeated his wins at Nathan's, Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship, and Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition, among others. He continued his winning streak at Nathan's in 2011 but lost to Kobayashi in an off-site event where Kobayashi set a new hot dog record.
In 2012, Joey set a record by eating 20 corned beef sandwiches in ten minutes at the Toojay's Corned Beef Eating Competition and once again won the Nathan's Contest. He appeared on "Hell's Kitchen" in a wing-eating competition and set a new record at Nathan's in 2013 with 69 hot dogs. Joey also won the Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship and the Hillshire Farm Bratwurst Eating World Championship.
Joey competed in "The Amazing Race 30" in 2018 alongside fellow competitive eater Tim Janus. He is set to compete in the 2023 Jack's Donuts World Donut Hole Eating Championship.
(Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
Training
Chestnut trains for competitions by fasting and stretching his stomach with milk, water, and protein supplements. He trains for hot dog competitions specifically by eating progressively more hot dogs each day to reach competition-winning numbers.
Other Accolades and Records
Competitive eating is a full-time job for Joey. He holds records for consuming 141 hard-boiled eggs in eight minutes, 70 bratwursts in 10 minutes, 78 matzo balls in eight minutes, 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes at the 2013 Nathan's contest, a 4.5-pound steak with sides in under nine minutes, 13.76 pounds of pork ribs in 12 minutes, and 12.8 pounds of asparagus in 10 minutes. On July 4, 2016, Joey ate 70 hot dogs, a year's later 72, and then a world record of 74. At the 2019 Nathan’s contest, he secured his 12th title by eating 71 hot dogs. In 2021, Joey set a new world record by consuming 76 hot dogs. In April 2023, he won the first-ever Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship by consuming 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.
Personal Life
Just before defending his title in the 2014 Nathan's competition, Joey proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa. They split up in early 2015 before their scheduled wedding date. Joey currently resides in Westfield, Indiana.
