Joey Chestnut Net Worth (Money & Salary)

Joey Chestnut’s Net Worth and Career Earnings

With a net worth of $3 million, Joey Chestnut is recognized as one of the most accomplished competitive eaters in history. His rise to fame began in 2007 when he clinched victory in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the first time. Remarkably, on July 4, 2023, he secured his 16th title in this prestigious event. Throughout his career, Joey has reached the pinnacle of competitive eating, often being ranked as the best in the world by the Major League of Eating.

Chestnut’s venture into competitive eating commenced in 2005 at the Nathan’s contest, where he consumed 32 hot dogs. His determination and skill led him to dethrone the reigning champion, Takeru Kobayashi, in 2007. From that pivotal moment forward, he has been a leading personality in competitive eating.

Beyond his victories at Nathan’s, Chestnut holds numerous records across different food categories. Notable achievements include finishing 182 chicken wings within 30 minutes, consuming 141 hard-boiled eggs in 8 minutes, and downing 53 soft beef tacos in 10 minutes. His most extraordinary feat took place in 2021 when he devoured 76 hot dogs and buns within a mere 10 minutes, establishing a world record. This exceptional talent for quickly consuming substantial amounts of food has earned him the nickname “Jaws,” making him a prominent figure in the competitive eating realm.

Annual Earnings

Winning Nathan’s offers a top prize of $10,000. While this amount may not be overwhelming, it yields significant exposure for all the athletes involved throughout the year. A leading competitive eater can easily amass earnings between $250,000 and $500,000 annually through prize money coupled with sponsorships. Takeru Kobayashi, Joey’s longtime rival, has not participated in Nathan’s in recent years due to a contract dispute with the Major League of Eating.

Moreover, Joey markets a line of condiments that carry his name, featuring products such as mustard, dipping sauce, coney sauce, hot sauce, and more.

Endorsement with Impossible Foods

In June 2024, news broke of Joey signing a 4-year endorsement deal worth $1.2 million with the vegan food company Impossible Foods. This arrangement leads to an average annual payment of $400,000, which somewhat limits Joey’s participation in Nathan’s annual Fourth of July competition. Contrary to some reports, he was not prohibited from competing in the contest.

Showdown with Kobayashi on Netflix

The day following the announcement of his Impossible Foods deal, it was disclosed that Joey entered into an agreement with Netflix for a live contest against Kobayashi. This 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 embarked on his journey after completing high school by enrolling at San Jose State University. It was here that he first ventured into eating competitions in 2005. Although he graduated in 2012, his academic journey was significantly influenced by frequent travels for food contests.

One

One of Joey’s first significant competitions was an asparagus-eating contest, where he took first place, outpacing the well-known eater Rich LeFevre by consuming nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in a mere 11.5 minutes.

Turning Professional

In 2005, he participated in his inaugural Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which was just the beginning of many. Swallowing 32 hot dogs, he secured third place. Sonya Thomas came in second with 37, while Takeru Kobayashi took home the win with 49. That same year, he established a new world record by eating 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches within ten minutes, earning the title at the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

Joey’s fame in competitive eating soared further as he defeated Sonya Thomas at the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and claimed second place at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both also held in 2005.

During the Nathan’s event in 2006, Kobayashi shattered the world record with 53 and 3/4 hot dogs, while Joey secured second place with 52, marking a new US record.

The subsequent year, Chestnut triumphed at Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia, devouring 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes. He also celebrated his long-awaited victory at Nathan’s Contest, out-eating the six-year reigning champion Kobayashi, with 66 hot dogs compared to Kobayashi’s 63. To conclude 2007, Joey won the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, consuming 103 Krystal burgers in less than eight minutes.

Between 2007 and 2015, Joey managed to win a remarkable eight consecutive Nathan’s Contests.

Setting new records in both 2020 and 2021, he consumed 75 and 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. In 2022, amidst a protestor’s interruption—who Joey placed in a chokehold—he achieved his 15th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title by eating 63 hot dogs within 10 minutes.

While Matt Stonie took first place in the 2015 contest, Joey made a strong comeback in 2016 with 70 hot dogs, reclaiming the title and setting a new record. He continued his winning streak between 2016 and 2020.

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

In 2008, Chestnut set two remarkable world records. In February, he achieved a new record at Wing Bowl by eating 241 wings in 30 minutes. Additionally, during the Kenny & Ziggy’s World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship in Houston, he ate 78 matzo balls. By March, he established a new male record at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, devouring a 4.5-pound ribeye steak, salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll in under nine minutes. He also clinched victory at Nathan’s Contest after an eat-off against Kobayashi. However, shortly after, Chestnut faced a defeat against Kobayashi in a chicken satay eating contest, consuming nearly nine pounds to Kobayashi’s twelve.

The next year, 2009, Chestnut set another world record, consuming 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes. He also retained his title at Nathan’s Contest by breaking his previous record with 68 hot dogs, nine more than he had eaten in 2008. However, he suffered a loss to Kobayashi in the Krystal Hamburger Championship and featured on “Man v. Food,” where he devoured a massive five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Chestnut claimed victory at the Shrimp Wontons eating championship in Singapore. He also won the Nathan’s Contest for the fourth consecutive year but was unable to surpass his previous record. Additionally, he took home the title at the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship, devouring 42 brats in 12 minutes, as well as winning the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition with 37 slices in 10 minutes. In 2011, he continued his success by winning the Nathan’s Contest again. However, Kobayashi set a new world record outside the Nathan’s event, eating 69 hot dogs with independent judges. Joey opted out of the Nathan’s Contest that year, declining to sign the necessary contract.

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

At the Nathan’s Contest, Chestnut made a remarkable comeback, matching his personal best of 68 hot dogs. The same year, he participated in a wing-eating competition on “Hell’s Kitchen,” going toe-to-toe with some of the contestants. The following year, he surpassed his previous record by consuming 69 hot dogs at the Nathan’s Contest. Additionally, he claimed victory at the Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship and 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 now preparing to compete in the 2023 Jack’s Donuts World Donut Hole Eating Championship.

Training

According to Chestnut, his competition preparation involves fasting and stretching his stomach using milk, water, and protein supplements. For hot dog contests, he trains by consuming 40 hot dogs in one sitting, gradually increasing his intake each day to achieve winning numbers.

Other Accolades and Records

Joey treats competitive eating as a full-time career. He dedicates the entire year to training, which includes fasting and utilizing protein supplements, water, and milk to stretch his stomach. Throughout the year, his weight varies between 210 and 225 pounds.

The records Joey holds include 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, Joey consumed 70 hot dogs, followed by 72 the next year, and a world-record 74 the year after that. At the 2019 Nathan’s contest, he achieved his 12th title, having eaten 71 dogs. Chestnut set a new world record in 2021 by consuming 76 hot dogs. Additionally, on National Burrito Day in April 2023, he triumphed at the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, eating 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

Personal Life

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