2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Competitors Revealed
The Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest 2025 weigh-in unfolded Thursday at Hudson Yards, New York City, setting the stage for a fierce competition.
Joey Chestnut, a familiar face in the contest, returns this year after missing the previous event. His goal? To reclaim his title from 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti. Meanwhile, Miki Sudo, the reigning women's champion, aims to defend her crown.
This iconic Fourth of July event has roots dating back to 1916 at Nathan's original location at Surf and Stillwell avenues in Coney Island, Brooklyn. A total of 15 men and 13 women will vie for a $20,000 cash prize and the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt. The women's competition kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday, followed by the men's at 12:30 p.m.
Chestnut, a 16-time champion, was barred from last year's contest due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a competitor in the plant-based hot dog market. Instead, he participated in an alternative Fourth of July event at Fort Bliss in Texas and later faced off against former champion Takeru Kobayashi.
Despite his absence last year, Chestnut still holds the record for consuming 76 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes, a feat accomplished in 2021. "I'm thrilled to be returning to the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest. This event means the world to me. It's a cherished tradition, a celebration of American culture, and a huge part of my life," he expressed on social media last month.
In Chestnut's absence last year, Bertoletti secured his first victory with 58 hot dogs and buns. On the women's side, Sudo achieved her 10th win and set a world record by consuming 51 hot dogs and buns.
This year's contest features elite competitors from across the globe, including participants from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Czech Republic, and England. While some are seasoned veterans, others will make their Coney Island debuts. Notably, Sudo's husband, Nick Wehry, is also competing in the men's division, alongside a mother-daughter duo in the women's competition.
According to Major League Eating, which oversees the event, the men's field is set. However, organizers have announced that O'Brien has been scratched from this year's competition, reducing the women's field to 13 competitors.
