Joey Chestnut shares key to breaking Hot Dog Eating Contest record

Michael Jordan? Tiger Woods? Tom Brady? Forget about them. The most dominant athlete of all time is Joey Chestnut.

Since capturing the crown in 2007, Chestnut has won every Mustard Belt, except the 2015 contest won by Matt Stonie. Chestnut also holds the world record for most hot dogs consumed in the contest, with 76 back in 2021.

How to make history

The 39-year-old competitive eater is ready to break his own record.

“Fifty hotdogs in five minutes is really right there,” Chestnut said on a recent episode of Barstool’s “Pardon My Take.” “Sometimes, in my last minute, I’m [eating] six. Sometimes, I’m [eating] seven. If I’m at 65 [hotdogs eaten by Minute 8], it’s almost guaranteed that I’m gonna [break the record].”

While Chestnut’s hopes are high, he did not put down nearly as many hot dogs during last year’s competition. The competitive eating great only tore through 64 hot dogs. In fairness, Chestnut had to stop eating for a moment to put a protestor at the event in a chokehold.

The man doesn’t play around when it comes to his food. He even has a strict routine before the big day.

“I try to get bed at like 9 [p.m.]. I wake up at 5 [a.m.]. I drink my last like little water jug out,” Chestnut said. “I sleep well. I’m a fat boy.”

Joey Chestnut is a machine

A lot of money will be bet on Chestnut. The legend currently has -5000 odds to win Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Chesnut’s stomach and jaw have proven they can handle more than just hot dogs.

In 2023, Chestnut won the first-ever Qdoba World Burrito Eating Championship in Milwaukee (Wisc.) where he consumed 14.5 burritos in 10 minutes. Just last year, the world-renowned competitive eater commemorated National Chicken Finger Day by inhaling a record 44 Raising Cane’s chicken fingers in five minutes.

Money maker

Chestnut is a professional, literally. In 2022, Chestnut told USA Today Sports he earned more than $500,000 and his net worth exceeds $4 million. While some of those earnings come from endorsement deals, the majority are cash prizes from eating competitions.

“My mom was worried,” Chestnut said. “I mean, it’s nice to have a job. You’ve got health care and retirement, all that stuff. So I had to convince my mom that I still had a plan for all that stuff.”

Don’t worry, Mom. If all goes according to plan, Chestnut will be hauling in another $10,000 on Tuesday afternoon. The 2023 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating begins at noon on July 4th. The event will be broadcast on ESPN2.