Joey Chestnut has once again been crowned the winner of Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest after stomaching 66 franks in intense 100-degree heat.
As The Independent reports, the rest of the competition wasn’t really even close to Chestnut’s number. Pat Bertoletti finished second by eating 51 hot dogs and Australian James Webb placed third with 47.5. Chestnut, 42, remains unbeaten since 2015, when he lost to Matt Stonie 62 hot dogs to 60.
In the women’s competition, Miki Sudo continued to dominate, winning her record 12th championship by scarfing down 38.75 hot dogs, up from 33 last year. Michelle Lesco placed second with 22 and Domenica Dee third with 21.5 dogs eaten.
Sudo and the women competed at 10:45 a.m. ET while Chestnut and the men took the stage around 12:30 p.m. ET.
Scorching Heat was Likely a Factor in not Breaking the Record
Chestnut earned a $10,000 prize for his win but didn’t surpass his previous record, which fans had hoped for to mark America’s 250th birthday. “I knew early that I was going to win, but I also knew early I wasn’t going to break the record,” he told ESPN after his victory.
“I knew right away I was fast. I knew I was going to be able to get the win. But uh, I knew also early that I wasn’t going to get the record. I just had to stay calm, don’t push things, don’t make any big mistakes,” he told ESPN after being awarded the famed Mustard Belt. “I’ve got so much room left.”
“It’s awesome. Eating here on the Fourth of July? It’s electric,” he added, when asked about what it felt like to compete on America’s 250th anniversary.
By the time Chestnut, now an 18-time champion, took the stage, the midday heat in Coney Island neared 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) with high humidity, affecting bun texture and eaters’ fitness levels. “I’m not going to get into it looking for an excuse, but yeah, it slowed me down.”
Chestnut boasts the men’s record of 76 franks while Sudo holds the women’s record with 51 dogs.
Even during a Heat Wave, Sudo Cannot Be Stopped
Miki Sudo won the women’s contest for 12th time in 12 tries after overcoming a new opponent — scorching heat.
With the heat index rising to 99 degrees, Sudo appeared to be soaked with sweat while eating 38 3/4 hot dogs and buns during the 10-minute contest. Michelle Lesco, who was pouring water down her back, kept pace with Sudo before fading and finishing second with 22 hot dogs.
Sudo, 40, entered the contest’s only undefeated champion, a claim not even Joey Chestnut can make.
A Tumultuous Year for both Chestnut and Nathan’s
The champions successfully defended their titles Saturday morning in Coney Island following a tumultuous year for the annual event and its star competitor.
The iconic contest, now under new ownership after Nathan’s Famous was sold to packaged meat giant Smithfield Foods in January, saw Chestnut compete despite a recent legal entanglement.
The competitive eater pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor battery charge after being accused of slapping a man in an Indiana bar. Despite being on probation for the battery case, Chestnut was granted permission to travel outside Indiana, enabling both Chestnut and Sudo to defend their titles in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively.
His lawyer stated the incident was a misunderstanding and that Chestnut accepted responsibility for his actions. Major League Eating, the organizer overseeing the Nathan’s Famous contest, confirmed that the criminal case did not impact Chestnut’s eligibility.
Chestnut was banned in 2024 for a dispute over an endorsement deal he had with Impossible Foods. But other than that, it’s been uh, impossible to stop him.
The Competition has been a July 4 Tradition for 54 Years
The long-standing competition, which began in 1972, takes place annually in front of the original Nathan’s Famous restaurant in New York’s Coney Island. Competitors in the renowned event have 10 minutes to consume as many hot dogs and buns as possible, often dunking the wieners in water to facilitate swallowing.
The total prize purse for the 2025 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is $40,000, divided between the men’s and women’s divisions. First place winners in each division receive $10,000, second place winners get $5,000, and third place winners earn $2,500.
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Photo Credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com
