Latest news with #HotDogEatingContest
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Joey Chestnut is prepping for Nathan's Hot Dog contest. Here's how much prize money he can win
Joey Chestnut, the 16-time champion of the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, is set to compete in the 2025 event next month at Coney Island, New York. Days ahead of the contest, the 41-year-old told The New York Post that he's hungry and is staying that way 'no matter what'. He is coming off a 2024 ban due to a sponsorship conflict with Impossible Foods. Joey Chestnut is returning to Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest this year(X) 'I'm hungry. That's all it is. I'm staying hungry no matter what. I'm expecting to eat uncomfortable and bloated and I'm ignoring whatever feelings it takes to get there,' Chestnut told The Post. When asked if he feels the pressure, the 41-year-old added: "I wouldn't say pressure, it's more of support. Every once in a while you get a little bit of pressure from people who are betting. Like, 'Oh, you need to get this Over.' I'm like, 'Oh my god, the Over's really high this year (laugh).' Joey Chestnut will be fighting (rather eating) for a massive prize money on July 4. Here are details about how much he can win. Prize money for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2025 Total Purse: The contest offers a $40,000 purse, split evenly between the men's and women's divisions, with $20,000 allocated to each. Payout structure: 1st Place (Winner): $10,000 for both the men's and women's champions. 2nd Place: $5,000, awarded to the runner-up in each division. 3rd Place: $2,500, for third-place finishers. 4th Place: $1,500, for fourth-place competitors. 5th Place: $1,000, for fifth-place finishers. Historically, Nathan's has offered non-cash prizes, such as a 2004 travel package from Orbitz, but no such awards are confirmed for 2025. How is Joey Chestnut preparing? Chestnut began training in April 2025, as he typically does, with practice contests simulating the 10-minute event. His regimen involves overcoming the psychological barrier of feeling full, a skill honed since his 2007 debut. With a record of 76 hot dogs and buns (HDB) in 2021 and 83 HDB in a 2024 Netflix special against Takeru Kobayashi, Chestnut is projected to exceed 71.5 HDB in 2025.
Time Out
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Goats are returning to Riverside Park this summer, with a free graze-off next month
Riverside Park's most beloved (and hungriest) summer staffers are hoofing it back to Harlem for their sixth seasonal residency—and this time, they're kicking things off with a side of showbiz. On Saturday, July 12, the Riverside Park Conservancy will welcome five invasive-plant-gobbling goats back to the West 143rd Street slopes. But before they clock in to clear mugwort, poison ivy and other green pests, they'll face off in an unprecedented battle of the bellies: The Great Goat Graze-Off, New York City's first-ever professional eating competition between goats. Hosted by none other than George Shea of Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest fame, the free event promises 2.5 hours of pure goat-fueled chaos, complete with brass band fanfare from Nice Brass, photo ops with the herd and enough leafy greens to make a vegan jealous. The showdown will take place on the lawn just north of Ten Mile Playground (at West 151st Street and the West Side Highway) from 11 am–1:30 pm. RSVP is encouraged here. This year's roster of ruminant athletes includes returning favorites like Romeo (a total snugglebug) and Mallomar (quiet but mighty), plus flashy newcomer Butterball, regal Rufus and Kash, a cashmere goat with serious model energy. Together, they'll munch through knotweed and kudzu with a level of determination most New Yorkers reserve for rush-hour commuting. Why goats? These four-legged landscapers are cute and crucial. With steep park slopes too treacherous for human crews, goats excel at chewing down hard-to-reach invasive species. They eat constantly, can consume 25% of their body weight in a day and even improve the soil as they go. It's eco-friendly, cost-effective and deeply entertaining. Last year, the herd cleared a particularly gnarly patch near 143rd Street, transforming it from an overgrown jungle into a lush, plantable slope. This summer's work continues that restoration as part of the Conservancy's larger North Park Initiative to revitalize under-resourced areas of the park.
Scottish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Who is Joey Chestnut and why was the competitive eater banned from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2024?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JOEY Chestnut is most dominant competitive eater in the sport's history. He practically owned the trophy for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest over the last two decades — that is until he was banned. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Competitive eater Joey Chestnut has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest a record 16 times Credit: Andrew Schwartz / Who is Joey Chestnut? Joey Chestnut was born on November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky. As of June 2025, he is ranked No 1 in the world by Major League Eating - a group that organizes professional competitive eating events and television specials. Joey's first Nathan's Hot Dog Eating championship was in 2007. He beat six-time defending champ Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi consuming a record-breaking 66 hot dogs and buns. In July 2009, he set a new world record by downing 68 hot dogs and went on to break his record again in 2013 after consuming 69. Joey broke his own contest record again in 2020, consuming an astounding 75 hot dogs. He also took home the 2023 trophy to make it 16 wins out of 17, so since triumphing over Kobayashi in 2007, Joey has only lost once at the annual event — in 2015. Joey was once engaged to Neslie Ricasa — he proposed to her at the 2014 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The pair split before their planned wedding day and Neslie is now married to Drew Ely, who she shares two children with. However, the hot dog eating king did NOT defend his crown in 2024. Why was Joey Chestnut banned from the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest? Despite his position as the contest's most famous participant, record winner and record holder, Joey didn't taking part in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024. That was because he was BANNED by organisers over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods — which promotes meat-fee products. What's the beef? Joey Chestnut will not be allowed to compete in this year's Hot Dog Eating Contest because of a new sponsorship. Chestnut has won 16 Fourth of July contests and in 2021 ate 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The hot dog eating competition is run by Major League Eating and sponsored by Nathan's - a famous wiener brand. And Chestnut has signed a deal with plant-based Impossible Foods. That makes it impossible for him to now compete in the Nathan's contest, unless something changes. Chestnut said he was "gutted" by the news he wouldn't be allowed to defend his title. The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed in June 2024, Joey wasn't actually banned and was eligible to come back to the contest, but only if he ditched his Impossible Food deal. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest MC George Shea told The U.S. Sun: "We would never ban Joey Chestnut — we are not banning him. "What happened is after 20 years with Nathan's he signed with a rival brand, a plant-based meat brand which is selling hot dogs which runs into a conflict with Nathan's. "As a result that conflict makes it that he can't [take part on July 4] and that's always been the case." However, he decided against ditching his sponsors and instead appeared at an eating contest against American soldiers held at Fort Bliss, Texas. But in June 2025, Joey and Major League Eating announced that the 41-year-old will return to compete in the Fourth of July tradition. "I will be thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest," Joey wrote on X. How many hotdogs did Joey Chestnut eat during the 2023 Hot Dog eating contest? Chestnut was not able to set a new world record at the 2023 contest, but he was still able to put on an impressive show. On the way to his 16th title, he was able to consume 62 hot dogs and buns following a long delay for rain. He set the record in 2021 — with a massive 76 hot dogs and buns — while in 2022 he had to FIGHT OFF a protester who ran on stage. According to Fox News, the champ was interrupted by protesters about halfway through the 10-minute event. Joey reportedly grabbed a man around the neck and helped pull him to the ground before returning to his position. One fan told the media outlet: "Joey was on a record pace. We should have witnessed history. "That guy totally messed with [Joey's] momentum." A man was arrested shortly after the altercation, Fox News reported. But in September 2024, Joey did manage to break his own world record. He downed 83 hot dogs to defeat Kobayashi once again in Netflix's Unfinished Beef event held on Labor Day in Las Vegas — 15 years after the two last competed against each other.
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Who is Joey Chestnut and why was the competitive eater banned from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2024?
JOEY Chestnut is most dominant competitive eater in the sport's history. He practically owned the trophy for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest over the last two decades — that is until he was banned. Advertisement 1 Competitive eater Joey Chestnut has won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest a record 16 times Credit: Andrew Schwartz / Who is Joey Chestnut? Joey Chestnut was born on November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky. As of June 2025, he is ranked No 1 in the world by Major League Eating - a group that organizes professional competitive eating events and television specials. Joey's first Nathan's Hot Dog Eating championship was in 2007. He beat six-time defending champ Takeru "Tsunami" Kobayashi consuming a record-breaking 66 hot dogs and buns. Advertisement In July 2009, he set a new world record by downing 68 hot dogs and went on to break his record again in 2013 after consuming 69. Joey He also took home the 2023 trophy to make it 16 wins out of 17, so s ince triumphing over Kobayashi in 2007, Joey has only lost once at the annual event — in 2015. Joey was once engaged to Neslie Ricasa — he proposed to her at the 2014 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Advertisement Most read in Sport The pair split before their planned wedding day and Neslie is now married to Drew Ely, who she shares two children with. However, the hot dog eating king did NOT defend his crown in 2024. Why was Joey Chestnut banned from the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest? Despite his position as the contest's most famous participant, record winner and record holder, Joey didn't taking part in Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024. That was because he was BANNED by organisers over a sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods — which promotes meat-fee products. Advertisement What's the beef? Joey Chestnut will not be allowed to compete in this year's Hot Dog Eating Contest because of a new sponsorship. Chestnut has won 16 Fourth of July contests and in 2021 ate 76 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. The hot dog eating competition is run by Major League Eating and sponsored by Nathan's - a famous wiener brand. And Chestnut has signed a deal with plant-based Impossible Foods. That makes it impossible for him to now compete in the Nathan's contest, unless something changes. Chestnut said he was "gutted" by the news he wouldn't be allowed to defend his title. The U.S. Sun exclusively revealed in June 2024, Joey wasn't actually banned and was eligible to come back to the contest, but only if he ditched his Impossible Food deal. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest MC George Shea told The U.S. Sun: "We would never ban Joey Chestnut — we are not banning him. "What happened is after 20 years with Nathan's he signed with a rival brand, a plant-based meat brand which is selling hot dogs which runs into a conflict with Nathan's. "As a result that conflict makes it that he can't [take part on July 4] and that's always been the case." Advertisement However, he decided against ditching his sponsors and instead appeared at an eating contest against American soldiers held at Fort Bliss, Texas. But in June 2025, Joey and Major League Eating announced that the 41-year-old will return to compete in the Fourth of July tradition. "I will be thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest," Joey wrote on X. How many hotdogs did Joey Chestnut eat during the 2023 Hot Dog eating contest? Chestnut was not able to set a new world record at the 2023 contest, but he was still able to put on an impressive show. Advertisement On the way to his 16th title, he was able to consume 62 hot dogs and buns following a long delay for rain. He set the record in 2021 — with a massive 76 hot dogs and buns — while in 2022 he had to FIGHT OFF a protester who ran on stage. According to Joey reportedly grabbed a man around the neck and helped pull him to the ground before returning to his position. Advertisement One fan told the media outlet: "Joey was on a record pace. We should have witnessed history. "That guy totally messed with [Joey's] momentum." A man was arrested shortly after the altercation, Fox News reported. Read more on the Irish Sun But in September 2024, Joey did manage to break his own world record . Advertisement He downed 83 hot dogs to defeat Kobayashi once again in Netflix's Unfinished Beef event held on Labor Day in Las Vegas — 15 years after the two last competed against each other.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Who is Joey Chestnut? 16-time Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest winner to make a comeback
Joey Chestnut, the competitive eating superstar, is set to return to Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest this year. The 16-time champion missed the contest last year due to a dispute with Major League Eating over his sponsorship deal with plant-based hot dog manufacturer Impossible Foods. Joey Chestnut and Major League Eating were in negotiations last week regarding his return to the competition, according to the New York Post. In a series of posts on X, Joey Chestnut celebrated his return to Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. He stated that the event 'means the world' to him, calling it a 'cherished tradition' and 'a celebration of American culture.' Regarding last year's controversy about his sponsorship deal with Impossible Foods, Chestnut said, 'While I have and continue to partner with a variety of companies, including some in the plant-based space, those relationships were never a conflict with my love for hot dogs. To be clear: Nathan's is the only hot dog company I've ever worked with.' He is a competitive eater who has won Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest every year from 2015 to 2023. The Indiana native first participated in the competition in 2005. His dispute with Major League Eating last year caused him to miss the chance to add another title to his tally. The 41-year-old has now agreed to endorse only Nathan's hot dogs as part of a three-year deal with the company and the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) Inc., which runs the annual competition, USA Today reported. The contract was signed earlier in June. The outlet also reported that Chestnut is still working with Impossible Foods. He declined to share the financial details of Nathan's contract. ALSO READ: Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2024: Time, competitors, prizes and more It is an annual contest held at Coney Island on the Fourth of July. Chestnut will return to the competitive eating event in an attempt to defeat last year's champion, Patrick Bertoletti, who scarfed down 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Bertoletti became the first person since 2015, other than Chestnut, to win the contest. In the women's category, Miki Sudo ate 51 hot dogs and buns to win the title. Chestnut still holds the overall contest record, eating 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021. Joey Chestnut told USA Today that he hopes to set a new record this year, aiming to consume 80 hot dogs at the contest. He is known for winning Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest consecutively from 2015 to 2023. The competition will be aired on ESPN. He ate a record 76 hot dogs and buns in 2021.
