The average adult consumes between 1,500 and 3,000 calories during a typical day. Joey Chestnut consumes about 20,000 during the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
In 10 minutes.
That generally includes over 70 hot dogs, and nearly 1,500 grams of fat, and 2,000 grams of carbohydrates, and 55,000 grams of sodium, and what must be one heck of a post-contest stomach ache.
That, and perhaps high cholesterol, is the cost of being the Michael Jordan, Tom Brady and Simone Biles of competitive eating.
The 41-year-old Chestnut, a 16-time champion, returns to the annual Fourth of July contest after being banned last year due to a partnership with Impossible Foods, a plant-based rival of Nathan’s.
He returns looking to break his own Nathan’s record of 76 hot dogs consumed during the 2021 contest — and add to his grand total of 1,219 hot dogs consumed over 19 appearances in the competition.
He’ll look to relish the moment (pun intended) when he returns to the stage in Coney Island.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest:
When is the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest 2025?
The contest is as much a part of the Fourth of July as fireworks. It will be held on Friday, July 4 in Coney Island, New York — a short walk from Nathan’s flagship restaurant.
What time is the Hot Dog Eating Contest?
The women’s contest begins at 10:45 a.m. ET and the men’s contest will be at 12 p.m. ET.
How to watch the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
The women’s contest will be televised on ESPN3 with coverage beginning at 10:45 a.m. ET. The men’s contest will air on ESPN2 at noon ET — with a dedicated “Joey Chestnut cam” airing as an alternate broadcast on ESPN3.
Both contests will stream on ESPN.com and the ESPN app.
How does the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest work?
It’s simple: whoever eats the most hot dogs in 10 minutes is the winner.
Competitors, who must be under contract with Major League Eating, make it to Coney Island through regional qualifying events around the country. While on stage at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which has taken place annually since 1916, the hot dog and bun can be consumed separately, with contestants dunking the bun in water to make it easier to swallow.
Partially consumed hot dogs are tallied in eighths. Hot dogs that are in the mouth when time runs out do count as long as they are subsequently fully consumed. Taking a drink is permitted as needed during the contest.
Competitors can be penalized for “messy eating” and even disqualified for “reversal of fortune,” which in the competitive-eating world is a fancy way of saying “vomiting.”
Hot dog eating champ Joey Chestnut helped to subdue a protester that charged the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.
What does the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest winner get?
Winners are awarded $10,000 and the Mustard Belt, a WWE-like bedazzled championship belt with the Nathan’s logo on it.
Has Joey Chestnut ever lost?
Chestnut has won 16 of the 19 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contests he has competed in. He finished third in his 2005 debut with 32 hot dogs and second in 2006 with 52 hot dogs. He then won eight consecutive contests before getting upset in 2015 by Matt Stonie, who ate 62 hot dogs to Chestnut’s 60.
Chestnut won another eight straight contests between 2016 and 2023 before being banned from the 2024 competition.
Who are the favorites in the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest?
Chestnut’s top opponent in 2025 will be the man who won the contest last year in his absence. Patrick Bertoletti returns to defend his throne after capturing the 2024 title by eating 58 hot dogs.
Miki Sudo — winner of eight women’s contests, including the last three — returns as the heavy favorite in the women’s Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Looking to end Sudo’s dynasty will be Domenica Dee, the 2021 champion, and Michelle Lesco.
What is the record for hot dogs eaten in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest?
Chestnut set the record for hot dogs eaten in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2021 with 76. He broke his previous record of 75 set in 2020.
Competitive eating legend Joey Chestnut won the world burrito eating championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday
