Joey Chestnut Claims Victory at 2025 Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest
In an electric atmosphere at Coney Island, New York City, Joey Chestnut made a sensational comeback to the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, reclaiming his title as champion after sitting out the previous year. On July 4, 2025, Chestnut devoured an impressive 70.5 hot dogs and buns in just ten minutes, overwhelming his competition and delighting the cheering crowd.
A Commanding Performance
The seasoned competitor quickly established dominance during the contest, finishing far ahead of his closest rival, Patrick Bertoletti, who managed to eat 46.5. James Webb finished in third place, consuming 45.5 hot dogs. The palpable excitement among the audience erupted in synchronized chants of “Joey, Joey, Joey!” as he confidently took the stage.
Joey Chestnut, age 41 and hailing from Westfield, Indiana, fell short of his own world record, which stands at 76 hot dogs set in 2021. Reflecting on his performance, he expressed slight disappointment, stating, “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.” Despite this, he achieved an unofficial record of 83 hot dogs in a separate competition last year, although it was not validated by Major League Eating.
A New Winner Emerges
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo continued her reign by clinching her 11th consecutive victory, consuming 33 hot dogs and buns. Sudo, 39, from Tampa, Florida, has been a dominant force in competitive eating, holding the record for women’s hot dog consumption with 51 hot dogs set in 2024. After her win, she commented, “The hot dogs were great, the weather’s beautiful, the crowd had me going. I’m thinking maybe the buns were more filling than usual… but a win’s a win, thank you for the support.”
Both Miki Sudo and her husband, Nick Wehry, participated in the contest, with Sudo overcoming stiff competition from Michelle Lesco and Domenica Dee, who finished second and third, respectively, with 22.75 and 21.5 hot dogs consumed.
Chestnut’s Road to Redemption
The event from 2024 saw Chestnut absent due to a conflict with sponsorship, which saw Bertoletti claiming the title for the first time by finishing with 58 hot dogs. Reflecting on the previous year, Chestnut remarked, “Part of me wishes [Bertoletti] was a jerk. It would motivate me harder, but I love him. I wanna win. I wanna push for a record, so I kinda feel bad for him. ‘Cause I’m gonna drop the hammer, and he’s gonna get annihilated.”
Bertoletti acknowledged the spirited competition, saying, “It didn’t feel complete without Joey there, so he’s back this year and it’s better.”
The Contest Details
This year’s contest featured 15 male and 13 female competitors, all vying for the coveted Mustard Yellow Belt and a cash prize of $10,000. Established in 1916, the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest has become a beloved Fourth of July tradition, held at Nathan’s flagship location at Surf and Stillwell avenues.
Contestants are given a strict ten minutes to consume as many hot dogs and buns as possible, with no utensils or condiments allowed. Competitors can drink water or other non-alcoholic beverages, and they are permitted to break up hot dogs or dunk buns for easier consumption. However, if anyone throws up during the competition, they face immediate disqualification.
Competition Results
| Position | Competitor | Hot Dogs & Buns Eaten |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Joey Chestnut | 70.5 |
| 2nd | Patrick Bertoletti | 46.5 |
| 3rd | James Webb | 45.5 |
| Women’s Champion | Miki Sudo | 33 |
As the dust settles from this thrilling contest, both Joey Chestnut and Miki Sudo remain at the pinnacle of their competitive eating careers, eagerly looking ahead to the challenges that next year will bring.
