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, widely recognized as the most successful in the history of the sport. His fame skyrocketed in 2007 when he clinched his first victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. On July 4, 2023, he marked his 16th win in this competition. Throughout his career, he has frequently held the title of the top-ranked eater worldwide according to the Major League of Eating.

Chestnut’s rise to fame in competitive eating started in 2005 when he made his debut at the Nathan’s contest, consuming 32 hot dogs. He quickly advanced, overcoming the reigning champion, Takeru Kobayashi, in 2007. From that moment forward, Chestnut has dominated the competitive eating arena.

Beyond his accolades at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut has shattered numerous records across various food categories. Notable achievements include devouring 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in just 8 minutes, and 53 soft beef tacos in 10 minutes. His most remarkable feat occurred in 2021 when he set a world record by consuming 76 hot dogs and buns in merely 10 minutes. His extraordinary capacity to rapidly eat large amounts has earned him the moniker “Jaws,” solidifying his status as a household name within the competitive eating community.

Annual Earnings

The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest offers a top prize of $10,000, which, while not substantial, provides significant exposure for the athletes throughout the year. A leading competitive eater can rake in earnings between $250,000 and $500,000 annually from prize money and sponsorships. Joey’s longtime competitor, Takeru Kobayashi, has withdrawn from Nathan’s contests recently following a contract dispute with the Major League of Eating organization.

Additionally, Joey has launched a range of condiments under his brand, including mustard, dipping sauce, coney sauce, hot sauce, and more.

Impossible Foods Endorsement

In June 2024, it was disclosed that Joey had entered into a 4-year endorsement deal worth $1.2 million with the vegan food brand Impossible Foods. This agreement, which averages $400,000 in annual payments, somewhat restricts Joey from partaking in Nathan’s annual Fourth of July contest; however, he was not banned from competing, as was inaccurately reported by several outlets at the time.

Netflix Kobayashi Showdown

Following the announcement of his Impossible Foods deal, news broke the next day of Joey’s agreement with Netflix for a live showdown against Kobayashi. This live event, titled “Chestnut Vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” is set to air 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 first engaged in eating competitions in 2005. His graduation in 2012 was delayed, partly due to his frequent travels for food contests.

One

of an asparagus-eating competition was one of Joey’s first significant events. After eating almost six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in only 11.5 minutes, Joey secured first place, outpacing accomplished eater Rich LeFevre.

Turning Professional

In 2005, he participated in his inaugural Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which marked the beginning of many more to come. Joey achieved a third-place finish, having consumed 32 hot dogs, while Sonya Thomas took second place with 37. Takeru Kobayashi won that year with a total of 49 hot dogs. During the same year, he set a new world record, devouring 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes, securing victory at the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

Joey’s fame as an eater continued to ascend, as he triumphed over Sonya Thomas in the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and secured second place in the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both of which also took place in 2005.

During the 2006 Nathan’s event, Kobayashi achieved a world record by eating 53 and 3/4ths hot dogs, while Joey finished in second place with 52, thus setting a new US record.

The following year, Chestnut emerged victorious at Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia, consuming 182 chicken wings within 30 minutes. He also claimed the title at the annual Nathan’s Contest, surpassing the six-year reigning champion Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs compared to Kobayashi’s 63. To wrap up 2007, Joey won the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, finishing 103 Krystal burgers in under eight minutes.

Between 2007 and 2015, Joey went on to capture the Nathan’s Contest title eight consecutive times.

In both 2020 and 2021, he achieved new records by consuming 75 and then 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. In 2022, despite being interrupted by a protestor whom Chestnut placed in a chokehold, he won his 15th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title, eating 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Matt Stonie won the 2015 contest, but Joey made a comeback in 2016, eating 70 hot dogs, reclaiming the title with a new record set. He then won consecutively from 2016 to 2020.

Joey’s highest record in a single competition stands at 76 hot dogs.

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

In 2009, Chestnut set another world record by consuming 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes. He also triumphed in the Nathan’s Contest again, surpassing his own previous record by eating 68 hot dogs—nine more than in 2008. However, Kobayashi outperformed him in the Krystal Hamburger Championship. Chestnut also appeared on “Man v. Food,” where he consumed a massive five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Chestnut secured victory in Singapore at the Shrimp Wontons eating competition. He also won the Nathan’s Contest for the fourth consecutive year but did not surpass his prior record. Additionally, he won the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship, finishing 42 brats in 12 minutes, along with the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition, consuming 37 slices in 10 minutes. In 2011, he captured the Nathan’s Contest title again. Nevertheless, Kobayashi achieved a new world record off-site, eating 69 hot dogs with independent judges overseeing the event. Joey did not partake in that year’s Nathan’s Contest, as he declined to sign the necessary contract.

In 2012, Chestnut broke 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 once again participated in the Nathan’s Contest, equaling his own record of 68 hot dogs. In the same year, he made an appearance on “Hell’s Kitchen,” where he engaged in a wing-eating competition against some contestants. The following year, he surpassed his Nathan’s record by consuming 69 hot dogs. Additionally, he triumphed at the Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship and the Hillshire Farm Bratwurst Eating World Championship.

In 2018, Chestnut teamed up with fellow competitive eater Tim Janus to compete on “The Amazing Race 30.”

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

Training

Chestnut has shared that his training routine for competitions involves fasting and gradually stretching his stomach using milk, water, and protein supplements. To prepare specifically for hot dog contests, he consumes 40 hot dogs at once and gradually increases the amount he eats each day to achieve the competitive numbers required for success.

Other Accolades and Records

For Joey, competitive eating constitutes a full-time endeavor. He maintains training year-round through ongoing fasting and stomach stretching with protein supplements, water, and milk. His weight varies throughout the year, typically ranging from 210 to 225 pounds.

He holds several records including those for eating hard-boiled eggs (141 in eight minutes), bratwurst (70 in 10 minutes), Matzoh balls (78 in eight minutes), hot dogs (69 in 10 minutes at 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, Chestnut consumed 70 hot dogs, then 72 the following year, and a world-record 74 the year after that. At the 2019 Nathan’s contest, he secured his 12th title by eating 71 hot dogs. In 2021, he achieved a new world record with 76 hot dogs. Most recently, in April 2023, on National Burrito Day, Joey claimed victory at the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by eating 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

Personal Life

Shortly before defending his title at the 2014 Nathan’s competition, Chestnut proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa. However, the couple separated a year later, in early 2015, prior to their planned wedding date. Currently, Chestnut resides in Westfield, Indiana.