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 recognized as a premier American competitive eater. His rise to fame started in 2007 when he secured his first win at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. As of July 4, 2023, he has claimed victory in this competition 16 times. Throughout his career, he has been recognized multiple times as the leading competitive eater in the world by the Major League of Eating.

Chestnut’s path to becoming a competitive eating legend began in 2005 with his debut at Nathan’s contest, where he consumed 32 hot dogs. He quickly ascended to prominence, taking down reigning champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007. Since this pivotal moment, Chestnut has consistently excelled in the competitive eating arena.

Beyond his achievements at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut holds multiple records across various food challenges. Notable records 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 pinnacle performance occurred in 2021 when he set a new world record by consuming 76 hot dogs and buns in a mere 10 minutes. His extraordinary talent for rapidly consuming enormous quantities of food has earned him the nickname “Jaws” and solidified his status as a celebrated figure within the competitive eating community.

Annual Earnings

The Nathan’s contest offers a top prize of $10,000. While it may not be a substantial amount, it considerably raises the profile of the competing athletes. A leading competitive eater can generally expect to earn between $250,000 and $500,000 annually through prize winnings and sponsorships. Joey’s long-time rival, Takeru Kobayashi, has withdrawn from competing at Nathan’s in recent years due to a contractual conflict with the Major League of Eating organization.

Joey also markets 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 announced that Joey entered into a 4-year, $1.2 million endorsement agreement with the vegan food company Impossible Foods. This contract, which averages out to $400,000 per year, somewhat limits Joey’s ability to participate in Nathan’s annual Fourth of July competition. However, contrary to reports circulating at the time of the announcement, he was not officially BANNED from the contest.

Netflix Kobayashi Showdown

The day following the announcement of his Impossible Foods deal, news broke that Joey had also secured a contract with Netflix for a live showdown against Kobayashi. The event, titled “Chestnut Vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” is slated 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. It was during this time in 2005 that he first began participating in eating competitions. His journey led to a delayed graduation in 2012, mainly due to frequent travels for various food contests.

One

One of Joey’s initial significant events was an asparagus-eating competition, where he triumphantly claimed first place by devouring nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in just 11.5 minutes, outpacing high-ranked eater Rich LeFevre.

Turning Professional

In 2005, he participated in his first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, marking the beginning of many such events. He secured a third-place finish after consuming 32 hot dogs, while Sonya Thomas took second place with 37 hot dogs, and Takeru Kobayashi emerged as the winner with 49. That same year, Joey established a new world record for eating 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes, winning the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

Continuing his rise in the eating stardom realm, Chestnut triumphed over Sonya Thomas at the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and placed second at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both events also occurring in 2005.

During the 2006 Nathan’s event, Kobayashi achieved a world record by finishing 53 and three-quarters hot dogs, while Joey achieved second place with 52, thereby setting the U.S. record.

The following year, Chestnut clinched victory at Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia, devouring 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes. He finally conquered the annual Nathan’s Contest by outpacing six-year champion Kobayashi, eating 66 hot dogs compared to Kobayashi’s 63. In 2007, he also won the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, consuming 103 Krystal burgers in less than eight minutes.

Joey later went on to claim victory in eight consecutive Nathan’s Contests from 2007 to 2015.

Records were set in both 2020 and 2021, with him consuming 75 and then 76 hot dogs in merely 10 minutes. In 2022, he celebrated his 15th title at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest despite an interruption by a protestor, which led to him placing the individual in a chokehold, yet he still managed to eat 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Matt Stonie clinched victory in the 2015 contest. However, Joey regained his title in 2016 by consuming 70 hot dogs, establishing a new record. He proceeded to dominate the next events from 2016 to 2020.

Joey holds the record in a single competition for eating 76 hot dogs.

In 2008, Chestnut achieved two new world records: one in February, where he consumed 241 wings in 30 minutes at the Wing Bowl, and another by eating 78 matzo balls during the Kenny & Ziggy’s World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship held in Houston. Additionally, he set a new male record at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, by consuming a 4.5-pound ribeye steak, along with salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll in under nine minutes. He also once again won the Nathan’s Contest during an eat-off against Kobayashi after tying. Just a few weeks later, Chestnut faced off against Kobayashi in a chicken satay eating contest, consuming nearly nine pounds of chicken compared to Kobayashi’s twelve.

In 2009, Chestnut set another world record by eating 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes. He also repeated his victory at the Nathan’s Contest, surpassing his previous record by eating 68 hot dogs, which was nine more than he had eaten in 2008. Nonetheless, Kobayashi emerged victorious in the Krystal Hamburger Championship. Additionally, he made an appearance on “Man v. Food,” where he consumed a massive five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Chestnut triumphed in the Shrimp Wontons eating competition held in Singapore. He also won the Nathan’s Contest for the fourth consecutive year, although he did not surpass his prior record. This year, he also claimed victory in the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship by eating 42 brats in 12 minutes, as well as the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition, where he devoured 37 slices in 10 minutes. In 2011, he again took first place in the Nathan’s Contest, but Kobayashi set a new world record by eating 69 hot dogs at an off-site event with independent judges. That same year, he did not take part in the Nathan’s Contest due to his refusal to sign the required contract.

In 2012, Chestnut achieved 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 successfully defended his title

Once again, at the Nathan’s Contest, Joey Chestnut matched his personal best by consuming 68 hotdogs. In the same year, he also took part in a wing-eating challenge on “Hell’s Kitchen” against several contestants. The following year, he surpassed his previous record at Nathan’s by devouring 69 hotdogs. Additionally, 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” alongside fellow competitive eater Tim Janus.

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

Training

According to Chestnut, he prepares for competitions through fasting and by stretching his stomach using milk, water, and protein supplements. For his specific hot dog training, he practices by eating 40 hot dogs at once and gradually increases this number daily to achieve competitive results.

Other Accolades and Records

For Joey, competitive eating is a full-time career. He engages in training throughout the year, involving regular fasting and stretching his stomach using protein supplements, water, and milk. Over the seasons, his weight tends to fluctuate between 210 and 225 pounds.

Joey has set 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 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, he ate 70 hot dogs, followed by 72 the next year, and then a record-breaking 74 the year after that. He achieved his 12th title at the 2019 Nathan’s contest with 71 dogs consumed. In 2021, Chestnut set a new world record by eating 76 hot dogs. In April 2023, on National Burrito Day, he won the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by eating 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

Personal Life

Shortly before defending his championship title in the 2014 Nathan’s competition, Chestnut proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa. Nonetheless, the couple parted ways a year later, in early 2015, prior to their planned wedding. Chestnut resides in Westfield, Indiana.