Joey Chestnut

Joey Chestnut quickly established himself in the realm of competitive eating, securing the Rookie of the Year title in 2005. He managed to surpass Takeru Kobayashi, a six-time defending champion, in the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contests of 2007, 2008, and 2009, as well as in the 2008 Krystal Square Off V World Hamburger Eating Championship, where he set a record by consuming 103 Krystal burgers.

Chestnut has triumphed in the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Championships 16 times, spanning from 2007 to 2014 and resuming from 2016 to 2023. He holds the current record for consuming 76 hot dogs, a feat accomplished in 2021. Yet, his achievements aren't confined to hot dogs. Chestnut has prevailed in numerous other eating contests, such as the Wing Bowl XV, where he consumed 182 chicken wings in 30 minutes, competed in The Amazing Race 30 in 2018 alongside fellow competitive eater Tim Janus, and even guest-starred on the animated series "Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?" in 2020, among other accomplishments. Chestnut's record-breaking streak continued in the first-ever Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in 2023 by consuming 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes.

In addition to his eating exploits, Chestnut is a construction engineer by trade, with a degree in engineering and construction management from San Jose State University. Despite his professional responsibilities, Chestnut shows no indications of slowing down in his competitive eating career. His skills and competitive drive continue to make him a dominant figure in the sport, securing his current ranking as first in Major League Eating. In September 2024, Netflix streamed a live special in titled "Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef," where Chestnut faced Takeru Kobayashi in an all-beef hot dog eating contest. Chestnut was not only victorious, but also beat his own world record by eating 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes.