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 and arguably the most successful in this field’s history. His fame first skyrocketed in 2007 when he clinched victory at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for the inaugural time. By July 4, 2023, he had secured this competition title for the 16th time. At various points, he has held the distinction of being the top-ranked eater globally as recognized by the Major League of Eating.

Joey’s ascent to the status of a competitive eating legend commenced in 2005 when he participated in the Nathan’s contest, where he devoured 32 hot dogs. He swiftly advanced the competitive ranks, overthrowing the former champion, Takeru Kobayashi, in 2007. Since that pivotal moment, Chestnut has established himself as a formidable presence in the realm of competitive eating.

Apart from his achievements at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, Chestnut has shattered numerous records across multiple food categories. Notable feats include consuming 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, 141 hard-boiled eggs in 8 minutes, and 53 soft beef tacos in 10 minutes. His most awe-inspiring accomplishment materialized in 2021, when he devoured 76 hot dogs and buns in merely 10 minutes, thereby setting a new world record. This astounding capability to rapidly consume substantial amounts of food earned him the moniker “Jaws,” propelling him to household name status in competitive eating.

Annual Earnings

The Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest awards a top prize of $10,000, which, while not exorbitant, offers unmatched exposure for athletes throughout the year. A leading competitive eater can easily rake in between $250,000 and $500,000 annually through prize money and sponsorship deals. Meanwhile, Joey’s longtime adversary, Takeru Kobayashi, has not taken part in Nathan’s contests recently due to a contract dispute with the Major League of Eating organization.

Additionally, Joey offers a line of condiments branded under his name, which includes mustard, dipping sauces, coney sauce, and hot sauce, among other products.

Impossible Foods Endorsement

In June 2024, it became public knowledge that Joey had entered into a 4-year endorsement agreement worth $1.2 million with the vegan food company Impossible Foods. This deal translates to an average annual compensation of $400,000 and presents certain limitations on Joey’s participation in Nathan’s annual Fourth of July contest; however, it’s important to clarify that he was not outright banned from it, contrary to reports from various media outlets at the time of the announcement.

Netflix Kobayashi Showdown

Following the announcement of his Impossible Foods contract, news broke that Joey had also partnered with Netflix for a live showdown against Kobayashi. Titled “Chestnut Vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef,” this live event is scheduled to be broadcast on September 2, 2024.

Early Life

Born in Fulton County, Kentucky, on November 25, 1983, Joey Chestnut pursued education at San Jose State University after graduating from high school. His involvement in eating competitions began in 2005, although he completed his degree in 2012, partly due to extensive traveling for food contests.

Oneof an asparagus-eating competition, which was among Joey’s first significant events. He achieved first place, surpassing the highly-ranked eater Rich LeFevre, after devouring nearly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus within just 11.5 minutes.

Turning Professional

Joey made his debut in the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest in 2005, marking the start of what would be numerous participations. He secured third place by consuming 32 hot dogs, while Sonya Thomas finished second with 37. Takeru Kobayashi was the victor, having eaten 49. That same year, he broke a world record by eating 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in ten minutes, thus winning the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.

Joey Chestnut’s fame in competitive eating escalated, as he triumphed over Sonya Thomas in the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and finished second in the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both events occurring in 2005.

During the 2006 Nathan’s event, Kobayashi achieved a world record by consuming 53 and 3/4ths hot dogs. Joey came in second with 52, which became the U.S. record.

The following year, Chestnut clinched the Wing Bowl XV title in Philadelphia, eating 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes. He also finally secured victory at the annual Nathan’s Contest, defeating the six-year reigning champion Kobayashi by eating 66 hot dogs to Kobayashi’s 63. In 2007, Joey also won the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship with 103 Krystal burgers consumed in under eight minutes.

Between 2007 and 2015, Joey maintained an impressive streak, winning eight consecutive Nathan’s Contests.

In both 2020 and 2021, he set new records, eating 75 and then 76 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. In 2022, despite an interruption from a protester whom Chestnut subdued with a chokehold, he won his 15th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title after consuming 63 hot dogs in 10 minutes.

Although Matt Stonie won the contest in 2015, Joey regained the title in 2016 by eating 70 hot dogs, which also set a new record. He continued his success by winning every contest between 2016 and 2020.

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

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

The following year, 2009, Chestnut set another world record by consuming 10.5 pounds of macaroni and cheese in seven minutes. He also achieved victory again at the Nathan’s Contest, surpassing his previous record by eating 68 hot dogs, nine more than in 2008. However, he was beaten by Kobayashi in the Krystal Hamburger Championship. Additionally, he appeared on “Man v. Food,” where he consumed a giant five-pound burrito in just over three minutes.

In 2010, Chestnut won the Shrimp Wontons eating competition in Singapore. He also secured the Nathan’s Contest title for the fourth consecutive year but did not achieve a new personal record. Furthermore, he won the Pepto Bismol Bratwurst Eating Championship by eating 42 brats in 12 minutes and also triumphed in the Upper Crust Pizza Eating competition with 37 slices in 10 minutes. In 2011, he once again won the Nathan’s Contest, but this time, Kobayashi set a new world record by consuming 69 hot dogs at an off-site event with independent judges, which Joey did not attend as he refused to sign the necessary contract for the Nathan’s Contest that year.

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

At Nathan’s Contest, Joey Chestnut tied his personal record of 68 hotdogs yet again. That same year, he appeared on “Hell’s Kitchen,” participating in a wing-eating competition against several contestants. The following year, he surpassed his Nathan’s Contest record by consuming 69 hotdogs. Additionally, he claimed victory at both the Hooters World Wing-Eating Championship and the Hillshire Farm Bratwurst Eating World Championship.

In 2018, Chestnut competed side by side with fellow competitive eater Tim Janus on “The Amazing Race 30.”

For the 2023 Jack’s Donuts World Donut Hole Eating Championship, Joey Chestnut is prepared to compete.

Training

According to Chestnut, he prepares for competitions by fasting and utilizing milk, water, and protein supplements to stretch his stomach. For hot dog competitions specifically, he trains by consuming 40 hot dogs at once and gradually increases his intake each day to achieve competitive eating success.

Other Accolades and Records

For Joey, competitive eating is a full-time occupation. He trains year-round, frequently fasting and expanding his stomach capacity with protein supplements, milk, and water. Throughout the year, his weight varies between 210 and 225 pounds.

He holds records for several foods, including 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 consumed 70 hot dogs. The following year, he ate 72, then a world-record 74 the year after. At the 2019 Nathan’s contest, he earned his 12th title by eating 71 hot dogs. In 2021, Chestnut set a new world record with 76 hot dogs. In April 2023, during National Burrito Day, he triumphed in the inaugural Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, devouring 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

Personal Life

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