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 is an American competitive eater. He is widely considered the most successful competitive eater of all time, gaining fame in 2007 after winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the first time. As of July 4, 2023, he has claimed victory in this prestigious competition 16 times. Throughout various points in his career, Joey has held the title of the top-ranked eater in the world by the Major League of Eating.

Joey’s rise to fame in competitive eating commenced in 2005 when he made his debut at the Nathan’s contest with an impressive consumption of 32 hot dogs. He swiftly ascended the ranks, ultimately defeating the reigning champion, Takeru Kobayashi, in 2007. Since then, he has consistently demonstrated his dominance in the competitive eating arena.

Beyond his accomplishments at the Nathan’s event, Chestnut has established numerous records across different food challenges. Notable records include eating 182 chicken wings within 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in 8 minutes, and 53 soft beef tacos in 10 minutes. His crowning achievement occurred in 2021 when he consumed a staggering 76 hot dogs and buns in merely 10 minutes, setting a new world record. This extraordinary talent for quickly devouring vast quantities of food has led to his nickname “Jaws,” solidifying his status in the competitive eating world.

Annual Earnings

The Nathan’s competition awards a top prize of $10,000. While this amount may not seem substantial, it significantly elevates the visibility of the athletes throughout the year. A leading competitive eater can earn between $250,000 – $500,000 annually from both prize money and sponsorship deals. Joey’s long-term challenger, Takeru Kobayashi, has not participated in Nathan’s contests in recent years following a contract dispute with the Major League of Eating organization.

Additionally, Joey markets a range of condiments bearing his name, which includes mustard, dipping sauce, coney sauce, hot sauce, and more.

Impossible Foods Endorsement

In June 2024, it was announced that Joey had entered into a 4-year endorsement contract with Impossible Foods worth $1.2 million. This deal averages an annual payment of $400,000, which somewhat limits Joey’s ability to compete in Nathan’s annual Fourth of July contest, though it should be noted he was not BANNED from participating, contrary to reports at the time of the announcement.

Netflix Kobayashi Showdown

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

Early Life

Born on November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky, Joey Chestnut completed his high school education before enrolling at San Jose State University. His participation in eating competitions began in 2005. Although he did not graduate until 2012, his frequent travels for food competitions contributed to the delay.

One

of Joey’s first major competitors was an asparagus-eating contest. In this event, Joey secured first place by devouring nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in just 11.5 minutes, outperforming high-ranked eater Rich LeFevre.

Turning Professional

His initial foray into competitive eating came in 2005 when he participated in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the first time, which became a recurring event for him. He claimed third place after consuming 32 hot dogs, while Sonya Thomas finished second with 37 and the champion, Takeru Kobayashi, ate 49. That same year, Joey established a new world record by eating 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes, triumphing at the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

Joey Chestnut’s ascent in the eating world continued as he outpaced Sonya Thomas in the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and took second place at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both events occurring in 2005.

During the Nathan’s event in 2006, Kobayashi set the world record at 53 and 3/4ths, while Joey finished in second with 52, setting a new US record.

In 2007, Chestnut emerged victorious in the Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia, consuming 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes. He also achieved success at the annual Nathan’s Contest, defeating the six-year champion Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs compared to Kobayashi’s 63. The year concluded with Joey winning the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, where he consumed 103 Krystal burgers in under eight minutes.

Between 2007 and 2015, Joey won Nathan’s Contests consecutively for eight years.

In both 2020 and 2021, he broke records by eating 75 and then 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. In 2022, he earned his 15th title of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, despite interruptions from a protestor, whom Chestnut managed to place in a chokehold while still managing to eat 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Matt Stonie was the champion of the 2015 contest. However, Joey redeemed his title in 2016 by consuming 70 hot dogs, establishing a new record, and subsequently winning every contest from 2016 to 2020.

Joey’s personal competition record stands at 76 hot dogs.

In 2008, Chestnut achieved two more world records. In February, he set a record at the Wing Bowl with 241 wings consumed in 30 minutes. He also devoured 78 matzo balls at the Kenny & Ziggy’s World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship in Houston. In March, he claimed a new male record at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, by eating a 4.5-pound ribeye steak, salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll in under nine minutes. He again won the Nathan’s Contest during an eat-off after tying with Kobayashi. A few weeks later, however, Joey lost to Kobayashi in a chicken satay eating contest, eating almost nine pounds to Kobayashi’s twelve.

In 2009, he again set a world record, this time consuming 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese within seven minutes. He also won the Nathan’s Contest for the second consecutive year, surpassing his previous record with 68 hot dogs, nine more than his 2008 feat. Unfortunately, Kobayashi defeated him in the Krystal Hamburger Championship. On top of that, he made an appearance on “Man v. Food,” where he finished a giant five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Chestnut took the crown at the Shrimp Wontons eating competition in Singapore. He also clinched the Nathan’s Contest title for the fourth consecutive year, though he was unable to surpass his previous record. Additionally, he won the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship by consuming 42 brats in 12 minutes, along with being victorious in the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition with 37 slices in 10 minutes. The following year, in 2011, he once again claimed victory at Nathan’s Contest. However, Kobayashi set a world record of 69 hot dogs at a separate event with independent judges, while Joey chose not to participate in Nathan’s Contest that year due to a contract dispute.

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

Joey Chestnut again participated in the Nathan’s Contest, matching his personal best with 68 hot dogs consumed. In the same year, he made a guest appearance on “Hell’s Kitchen,” competing in a wing-eating challenge against several contestants. The following year, he surpassed his Nathan’s Contest record by devouring 69 hot dogs. Additionally, he claimed victory at the Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship and at the Hillshire Farm Bratwurst Eating World Championship.

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

He is scheduled to compete in the 2023 Jack’s Donuts World Donut Hole Eating Championship.

Training

According to Chestnut, his training regimen includes fasting and expanding his stomach capacity with milk, water, and protein supplements. To prepare for hot dog competitions, he practices by consuming 40 hot dogs at once, gradually increasing his intake daily to achieve numbers that can win competitions.

Other Accolades and Records

For Joey, competitive eating is a full-time profession. He maintains a training routine year-round, consistently fasting and elongating his stomach with protein supplements, water, and milk. Throughout the year, his weight varies between 210 and 225 pounds.

Chestnut has established records for consuming hard-boiled eggs (141 in eight minutes), bratwurst (70 in 10 minutes), Matzoh balls (78 in eight minutes), hot dogs (69 in 10 minutes during the 2013 Nathan’s contest), steak (4.5 pounds plus sides in under nine minutes), pork ribs (13.76 pounds in 12 minutes), and asparagus (12.8 pounds in 10 minutes). On July 4, 2016, he ate 70 hot dogs, and a year later, he increased that number to 72. The subsequent year, he achieved a world record by eating 74. At the 2019 Nathan’s Contest, he captured his 12th title by eating 71 hot dogs. In 2021, Chestnut set a new world record with an incredible 76 hot dogs. On National Burrito Day in April 2023, he triumphed in the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, finishing 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

Personal Life

Shortly before defending his title at the 2014 Nathan’s competition, Chestnut proposed to his long-term girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa. Unfortunately, the relationship ended in early 2015, a year later, ahead of their planned wedding date. Currently, Chestnut resides in Westfield, Indiana.