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 as an American competitive eater who is widely regarded as the most successful in his field. His rise to fame began in 2007 when he first clinched victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Most recently, on July 4, 2023, he achieved his 16th victory in the event. Over time, Joey has often been recognized as the world’s top-ranked eater by the Major League of Eating.

He made his competitive eating debut at the Nathan’s contest in 2005, finishing by eating 32 hot dogs. His ascent was rapid, as he dethroned previous champion Takeru Kobayashi in 2007, and since then, Joey has remained a powerhouse in competitive eating.

Chestnut has set multiple records across different food categories, such as consuming 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in just 8 minutes, and 53 soft beef tacos in 10 minutes. His standout moment came in 2021 when he set a world record by eating 76 hot dogs and buns within 10 minutes. Known as “Jaws,” his phenomenal ability to eat vast amounts of food quickly has made him a prominent figure in the competitive eating scene.

Annual Earnings

The Nathan’s contest offers a top prize of $10,000, which, while not significantly high, provides the most visibility that competitive eaters can obtain throughout the year. Top competitors can earn easily between $250,000 to $500,000 annually through prize winnings and sponsorships. In recent years, Joey’s rival Takeru Kobayashi has stopped participating in Nathan’s, reportedly due to a contract dispute with the Major League of Eating organization.

Additionally, Joey has his line of condiments marketed under his name, featuring products like mustard, dipping sauce, coney sauce, hot sauce, and more.

Impossible Foods Endorsement

In June 2024, news broke of Joey signing a 4-year endorsement deal valued at $1.2 million with vegan food brand Impossible Foods. The agreement, translating to an average of $400,000 per year, somewhat limits Joey’s participation in Nathan’s yearly Fourth of July contest. However, as reported by various news outlets at the announcement, he was not actually BANNED from the event.

Netflix Kobayashi Showdown

The day following the announcement of his Impossible Foods contract, Joey secured a deal with Netflix to engage in a live confrontation against Kobayashi. The event, titled “Chestnut Vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” is scheduled 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 following high school. He began competing in eating contests in 2005, though he graduated in 2012, partly due to frequent travel for competitions.

One of his initial significant competitions was an asparagus-eating event, where he outperformed top eater Rich LeFevre by devouring nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in just 11.5 minutes, securing first place.

Turning Professional

Chestnut participated in his first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2005, placing third with 32 hot dogs consumed. Sonya Thomas took second with 37, while Takeru Kobayashi won with 49. That same year, he established a world record by consuming 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes at the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

His rise continued as he defeated Sonya Thomas in the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and secured a second-place finish at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both in 2005.

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

In 2007, Joey won the Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia by eating 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, and he also claimed victory at Nathan’s Contest, beating six-time champion Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs compared to Kobayashi’s 63. He rounded off the year with a win at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship by consuming 103 Krystal burgers in less than eight minutes.

Joey dominated the Nathan’s Contest, winning eight consecutive years from 2007 to 2015.

In 2020 and 2021, he set new records by eating 75 and then 76 hot dogs in only 10 minutes. Following a protestor disruption during the 2022 contest, he still managed to win his 15th title by consuming 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Though Matt Stonie claimed victory in the 2015 contest, Joey reclaimed his title in 2016 by eating 70 hot dogs, while setting a new record. He continued to dominate competitions until 2020.

Joey holds the record in one competition for consuming 76 hot dogs.

Chestnut set two new world records in 2008, including eating 241 wings in 30 minutes at the Wing Bowl and 78 matzo balls during the Kenny & Ziggy’s World Matzoh Ball Eating Championship in Houston. In March, he further broke the male record at The Big Texan Steak Ranch by finishing off a 4.5-pound ribeye steak, salad, baked potato, shrimp cocktail, and roll in under nine minutes. In another tie with Kobayashi at the Nathan’s Contest, he eventually won in an eat-off. Despite this, he lost to Kobayashi in a chicken satay contest, finishing with almost nine pounds of chicken compared to Kobayashi’s twelve.

The subsequent year, in 2009, he set a new world record by consuming 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes. Additionally, he won the Nathan’s Contest again, surpassing his previous record by eating 68 hot dogs, nine more than last year. Nevertheless, Kobayashi bested him in the Krystal Hamburger Championship and he later featured in “Man v. Food,” where he consumed a five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Joey triumphed in the Shrimp Wontons eating contest in Singapore. He maintained his Nathan’s Contest win streak for the fourth consecutive year, although he did not surpass his prior record that year. Concurrently, he secured victory at the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship, finishing off 42 brats in 12 minutes, as well as the Upper Crust Pizza Eating…

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In 2011, he again emerged victorious at the Nathan’s Contest after previously winning a competition by consuming 37 slices in 10 minutes. However, Kobayashi set a new world record at an independent event, where he ate 69 hot dogs. He chose not to participate in that year’s Nathan’s Contest due to his refusal to sign the necessary contract.

Chestnut achieved a remarkable feat in 2012 at the Toojay’s Corned Beef Eating Competition in Palm Beach Gardens, devouring 20 corned beef sandwiches in just ten minutes. He also successfully defended his title at the Nathan’s Contest, equaling his personal best of 68 hot dogs. That same year, he made an appearance on “Hell’s Kitchen,” where he competed in a wing-eating contest against several contestants. In the following year, he surpassed his own record at the Nathan’s Contest by consuming 69 hot dogs. 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” with fellow competitive eater Tim Janus.

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

Training

Chestnut has mentioned that he prepares for competitions by fasting and stretching his stomach using milk, water, and protein supplements. For hot dog competitions specifically, he trains by consuming 40 hot dogs at once and gradually increasing that number each day to achieve competition-winning totals.

Other Accolades and Records

For Joey, competitive eating is a full-time pursuit. He trains rigorously throughout the entire year, practicing fasting and expanding his stomach capacity with protein supplements, water, and milk. His weight fluctuates between 210 and 225 pounds throughout the year.

Joey holds numerous records, including those 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, Joey devoured 70 hot dogs, and a year later, he increased that number to 72; then in 2018, he set a world record by eating 74. At the 2019 Nathan’s contest, he clinched his 12th title by consuming 71 hot dogs. In 2021, Chestnut set a new world record by eating 76 hot dogs. In April 2023, on National Burrito Day, he emerged victorious in the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, consuming 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

Personal Life

In the lead-up to defending his title at the 2014 Nathan’s competition, Chestnut proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa. Unfortunately, the couple separated a year later, in early 2015, prior to their planned wedding. Chestnut currently resides in Westfield, Indiana.