Nathan’s hot dog eating contest: Joey Chestnut destroys competition, nearing record with 70.5 wieners
The eating contest has been a July 4th tradition for over 50 years
The champions for this year’s annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest have been crowned.
Joey Chestnut delivered a dominating performance in his return to the competition. With 70.5 hot dogs and buns consumed, he secured his 17th title. He failed to meet or break his world record of 76 hot dogs and buns, set in 2021.
Chestnut returned to the Nathan’s competition this year after his 2024 ban following a sponsorship with Impossible Foods.
“I’ll be back next year,” Chestnut told the crowd after the huge win.
10-time winner Miki Sudo defended her women’s title after scarfing down 33 hot dogs and buns, winning her 11th title.
Contestants had just 10 minutes to devour as many hot dogs and buns as they can in the storied July 4th tradition.
How to watch the 2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest
The 2025 competition will kick off at 10:45 a.m. ET with the women’s contest, which will air on ESPN3.
Then, at 12 p.m. ET, the men will take the stage to compete on ESPN2.
You can find all the other info you need, plus color from Thursday’s weigh-in event, here:
Joey Chestnut’s back: Here’s what to expect from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Who won the contest in 2024?
The 2024 men’s champion was first-time winner Patrick Bertoletti, who ate 58 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
Miki Sudo won her tenth title after eating 51 hot dogs and buns to secure her 2024 victory.
Reigning champion Patrick Bertoletti is looking forward to contest
In the absence of Chestnut, Patrick Bertoletti took the top prize in the 2024 men’s contest. Bertoletti told me he was looking forward to competing against the world-record holder on Friday.
“Last year wasn’t the same without him,” he said. “I wouldn’t bet against me or Joey, but he’s coming to eat tomorrow, that’s for sure.”
As far as his goals for the contest go, despite wanting to break Chestnut’s world record, the reigning champ said he’d still “be happy” to clear at least 50 hot dogs.
Chestnut and Bertoletti face off
Every year, Major League Eating, the company behind the annual contest, hosts a weigh-in that serves as both an introduction to the eaters and an opportunity for the top four eaters to “stare each other down.”
However, the crowd could barely contain itself as friends, Chestnut and Bertoletti, struggled to look angry at one another and kept making funny faces.
Mother-daughter duo set to compete
Isabeau Prettyman is the youngest ever competitor in the Nathan’s hot dog eating contest at just 18 years old. She grew up watching her mother, 42-year-old Katie Prettyman, compete.
Although they’ve been training since March, neither of them is looking to break reigning champion Sudo’s record of 51 hot dogs.
“My personal best is 16 hot dogs, and I don’t think I should ever be eating 51 hot dogs,” Katie shared.
“I’ve been a summer camp counselor, so I haven’t been training lately,” Isabeau chimed in. “My personal best is eleven and a half, but I’d be happy if I ate 10.”
Crowds are packing Coney Island already
Crowds of people started lining up around 8 am, according to event organizers. As of 9:04 a.m. the line is wrapped around the block.
Pre-show festivities kick off at 10 a.m.
Most of the crowd on Coney Island has already filtered in despite pre-show festivities not starting for over half an hour.
The first contest doesn’t take place until 10:45 a.m.
No protestors have been seen yet.
Joey Chestnut famously took down a protester in 2022 as he won another hog dog eating title.
Joey Chestnut tackles protester while achieving another hot dog eating record
Everything we know about the 2025 contest
After yesterday’s weigh-in, contestants will face off on Coney Island today.
Brittany Miller reports:
Joey Chestnut’s back: Here’s what to expect from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Reigning women's champion Miki Sudo is married to another competitor
10-time Nathan’s title winner Miki Sudo and men’s contestant Nick Wehry are considered the first family of competitive eating.
The couple met the morning of the Nathan’s contest in 2018.
They were married a few years later and have welcomed a son.
According to today’s Major League Eating rankings, Sudo sits in the number five slot, while Wehry is just behind her at number six.
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