Joey Chestnut
Joey Chestnut | |
|---|---|
Chestnut at the 2009 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest | |
| Born | Joseph Christian Chestnut November 25, 1983 Fulton County, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Other names | Jaws |
| Alma mater | San Jose State University |
| Occupations | |
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Awards | 17× Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion (2007–2014, 2016–2023, 2025) 9× World Rib Eating Champion (2006–2008, 2010–2014, 2016) 6× U.S. Chicken Wing Eating Champion (2012, 2014–2018) 3× Wing Bowl Champion (2006–2008) 2× Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Champion (2007, 2008) |
| Signature | |
Joseph Christian Chestnut (born November 25, 1983) is an American competitive eater who holds 55 world records across 55 disciplines, and is ranked first in the world by Major League Eating. He has won the Mustard Yellow Belt a world record 17 times. Chestnut is considered to be the greatest competitive eater in history.
On July 4, 2007, Chestnut won the 92nd Annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest held at New York City. He defeated six-time defending champion Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi by consuming a world record 66 hot dogs and buns (HDB) in 12 minutes, after losing to Kobayashi in 2005 and 2006. Chestnut would go on to win eight consecutive titles from 2007 to 2014, setting a Nathan's record of 69 HDB in 2013.
Chestnut lost the 2015 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest to Matt Stonie. On July 4, 2016, he regained the championship belt from Stonie by eating 70 HDB. Chestnut would win the title from 2016 to 2023, setting the current record in 2021 with 76 HDB. He was banned from participating in the 2024 contest due to a competing sponsorship with Impossible Foods, but returned to the competition in 2025, winning his 17th and current title by eating 70.5 HDB.