Joey Chestnut Claims Victory at 2025 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut dominated the 2025 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest held in New York City, reclaiming his title after a year-long absence. The event took place on the iconic Coney Island, Brooklyn, where Chestnut showcased his eating prowess by consuming 70.5 hot dogs and buns in just 10 minutes.

As the competition unfolded, Chestnut quickly distanced himself from his competitors. Defending champion Patrick Bertoletti finished in second place with 46.5 hot dogs, while James Webb secured third with 45.5. The atmosphere was electric, with fans chanting "Joey, Joey, Joey!" as he took the stage.

At 41 years old, Chestnut fell short of his own world record of 76 hot dogs and buns set in 2021. Reflecting on his performance, he expressed a mix of excitement and regret: "I was excited, I love being here. Man, I wish I ate a couple more, I'm sorry guys, but I'll be back next year," he stated post-competition.

Interestingly, Chestnut had set an unofficial world record last year with 83 hot dogs during a non-sanctioned event, but it did not count towards Major League Eating records.

On the women's side, Miki Sudo continued her reign by winning her 11th title, consuming 33 hot dogs and buns. Sudo has been a formidable competitor for over a decade and previously set the women's world record with 51 hot dogs in 2024. "The hot dogs were great, the weather's beautiful, the crowd had me going," she remarked after her win.

Chestnut's absence last year was due to a ban related to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a competitor in the plant-based hot dog market. This opened the door for Bertoletti to claim victory in 2024 with 58 hot dogs. "Part of me wishes [Bertoletti] was a jerk. It would motivate me harder, but I love him," Chestnut commented during Thursday's weigh-in, expressing his competitive spirit.

Bertoletti acknowledged the significance of Chestnut's return: "It felt great last year. I never thought I'd ever win Nathan's, but it didn't feel complete without Joey there." The camaraderie between competitors adds an intriguing layer to the contest.

Sudo's performance was closely contested; she battled neck-and-neck with Michelle Lesco and Domenica Dee before pulling ahead in the final moments. Lesco finished second with 22.75 hot dogs, while Dee took third with 21.5.

This year’s contest featured a total of 15 men and 13 women vying for the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt and a $10,000 cash prize. The annual Fourth of July tradition has been celebrated since 1916 at Nathan's flagship location at Surf and Stillwell avenues.

Competitors have a strict 10-minute window to consume as many hot dogs and buns as possible. While utensils and condiments are prohibited, water and other non-alcoholic beverages are allowed. To ensure fairness, both the hot dogs and buns must be swallowed for them to count towards the total.

Competitors can break up their hot dogs or separate them from the buns as needed and may dunk the buns in their beverage for a maximum of five seconds. However, any contestant who vomits during the competition faces immediate disqualification.

The excitement surrounding this event continues to grow each year, drawing large crowds eager to witness this unique display of competitive eating.