Joey Chestnut Net Worth (Money & Salary)

What is Joey Chestnut’s Net Worth and Career Earnings?

With a net worth of $3 million, Joey Chestnut stands out as an American competitive eater, often hailed as the most accomplished in the sport’s history. His rise to fame traces back to 2007, when he clinched victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the first time. Most recently, on July 4, 2023, he achieved a remarkable 16th win in the contest, during which he has frequently been acknowledged as the leading competitive eater globally by the Major League of Eating.

Chestnut’s path to becoming a legend in competitive eating commenced in 2005 at his first Nathan’s contest, where he devoured 32 hot dogs. He swiftly ascended the competitive ranks, taking down reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007. Since then, Chestnut has remained a formidable presence within the competitive eating arena.

Apart from his Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest successes, Chestnut boasts an impressive array of records across various food categories. Noteworthy feats include consuming 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in 8 minutes, and 53 soft beef tacos within 10 minutes. The pinnacle of his achievements occurred in 2021, setting a new world record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes. This extraordinary talent for rapid food consumption has earned him the nickname “Jaws” and solidified his status as a household name among competitive eaters.

Annual Earnings

The Nathan’s competition offers a top prize of $10,000, which, although not substantial in itself, provides significant exposure for these athletes throughout the year. A top-tier competitive eater could rattle off earnings between $250,000 and $500,000 annually, thanks to a mix of prize winnings and endorsements. Takeru Kobayashi, Joey’s long-standing rival, has been absent from the Nathan’s contest in recent years due to a contract dispute with Major League Eating.

Additionally, Joey has launched a line of condiments marketed under his name, which includes mustard, dipping sauce, coney sauce, and hot sauce among others.

Impossible Foods Endorsement

In June 2024, news broke that Joey had entered into a 4-year endorsement contract worth $1.2 million with the vegan food brand Impossible Foods. Averaging $400,000 per year, this deal might limit Joey’s participation in Nathan’s annual Fourth of July contest, although he was not officially banned, despite many reports suggesting otherwise.

Netflix Kobayashi Showdown

The day following the announcement of his Impossible Foods contract, it was disclosed that Joey had inked a deal with Netflix for a live competitive showdown against Kobayashi. This live event, titled “Chestnut Vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” is set to premiere on September 2, 2024.

Early Life

Born on November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky, Joey Chestnut pursued higher education at San Jose State University after completing high school, where he began engaging in eating competitions in 2005. He ultimately graduated in 2012, primarily due to the extensive travel required for food competitions.

One

One of Joey’s significant early events was an asparagus-eating contest where he secured first place, surpassing top competitor Rich LeFevre by consuming nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in only 11.5 minutes.

Turning Professional

In 2005, he participated in his first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which marked the beginning of many. He finished third, having devoured 32 hot dogs, while Sonya Thomas came in second with 37, and Takeru Kobayashi emerged as the winner with 49 hot dogs. That same year, he made a mark by setting a new world record for eating 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes, claiming victory at the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

Joey’s ascent in the competitive eating scene continued in 2005, where he triumphed over Sonya Thomas at the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and secured a second-place finish at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.

During the 2006 Nathan’s contest, Kobayashi achieved a world record by completing 53 and 3/4ths hot dogs, while Joey finished with 52, establishing a new U.S. record.

The following year, Chestnut emerged victorious at Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia by eating 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes. He also won the annual Nathan’s Contest for the first time by defeating six-time champion Kobayashi with 66 hot dogs against Kobayashi’s 63. Joey rounded out 2007 by winning the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, finishing 103 Krystal burgers in under eight minutes.

Between 2007 and 2015, Joey continued his dominance by winning eight consecutive Nathan’s Contests.

Setting new records in both 2020 and 2021, he devoured 75 and then 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. In 2022, he claimed his 15th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title, even though he had to handle a protester who interrupted the contest and whom Chestnut placed in a chokehold. Nevertheless, he ate 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Although Matt Stonie claimed victory in the 2015 contest, Chestnut made a comeback in 2016, consuming 70 hot dogs to reclaim his title and establish a new record, then continued his winning streak from 2016 through 2020.

Joey’s record for a single competition is an impressive 76 hot dogs.

In 2008, Chestnut achieved two new world records. In February, he set a record at the Wing Bowl by eating 241 wings in 30 minutes. He also consumed 78 matzo balls at the Kenny & Ziggy’s World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship in Houston. Additionally, in March, he established a new male record at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, by finishing a 4.5-pound ribeye steak, salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll in just under nine minutes. Again, he won the Nathan’s Contest in a tiebreaker against Kobayashi. A few weeks later, Chestnut faced defeat to Kobayashi in a chicken satay eating competition, eating nearly nine pounds of chicken compared to Kobayashi’s twelve pounds.

In the following year, 2009, Chestnut set yet another world record by consuming 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in just seven minutes. He also defended his title at the Nathan’s Contest, surpassing his previous record by eating 68 hot dogs, nine more than his 2008 performance. However, he was bested by Kobayashi at the Krystal Hamburger Championship. Additionally, he made an appearance on “Man v. Food,” where he consumed a five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Chestnut triumphed in the Shrimp Wontons eating competition in Singapore and claimed his fourth consecutive Nathan’s Contest title, although he didn’t beat his previous record. He also won the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship by eating 42 brats in 12 minutes and took home victory at the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition, finishing 37 slices in 10 minutes. In 2011, he once again emerged victorious at the Nathan’s Contest. However, Kobayashi set a new world record by eating 69 hot dogs at an off-site event with independent judges, as he did not participate in that year’s Nathan’s Contest due to his refusal to sign the required contract.

In 2012, Chestnut established a new record at the Toojay’s Corned Beef Eating Competition in Palm Beach Gardens by consuming 20 corned beef sandwiches in ten minutes. He also successfully defended his title…

At the Nathan’s Contest, Chestnut once again matched his personal best by consuming 68 hot dogs. That same year, he also took part in a wing-eating competition on “Hell’s Kitchen,” facing off against several contestants. The following year, he surpassed his own record at Nathan’s by eating 69 hot dogs. Furthermore, he triumphed at both the Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship and the Hillshire Farm Bratwurst Eating World Championship.

In 2018, Chestnut participated in “The Amazing Race 30,” teaming up with fellow competitive eater Tim Janus.

Joey Chestnut is preparing to compete at the 2023 Jack’s Donuts World Donut Hole Eating Championship.

Training

To prepare for competitions, Chestnut has mentioned that he engages in fasting and stretches his stomach using milk, water, and protein supplements. He focuses specifically on hot dog contests by consuming 40 hot dogs in one sitting, gradually increasing the quantity each day to hit competitive targets.

Other Accolades and Records

Joey treats competitive eating as a full-time occupation. He undergoes training year-round by continuously fasting and stretching his stomach with protein supplements, milk, and water. His weight varies throughout the year, ranging between 210 and 225 pounds.

Chestnut holds multiple records for various eating feats: 141 hard-boiled eggs in eight minutes, 70 bratwursts in ten minutes, 78 Matzoh balls in eight minutes, and 69 hot dogs in ten minutes (achieved at the 2013 Nathan’s contest). He has also devoured 4.5 pounds of steak plus sides in under nine minutes, 13.76 pounds of pork ribs in twelve minutes, and 12.8 pounds of asparagus in ten minutes. On July 4, 2016, he consumed 70 hot dogs; the following year, he managed to eat 72. The next year brought him to a world-record 74 hot dogs. At the Nathan’s contest in 2019, he clinched his 12th title with 71 hot dogs eaten. In 2021, Chestnut set a new world record by consuming 76 hot dogs. Additionally, on National Burrito Day in April 2023, he achieved victory at the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, eating 14.5 burritos in ten minutes.

Personal Life

Just prior to defending his title in the 2014 Nathan’s competition, Chestnut proposed to his long-time girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa. Unfortunately, they separated a year later, in early 2015, before their planned wedding date. Currently, Chestnut resides in Westfield, Indiana.