Joey Chestnut Wins 18th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest

Joey Chestnut has secured his 18th victory at Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, held in Coney Island, by consuming 66 hot dogs and buns. This marks his 10th consecutive win, reinforcing his dominance in competitive eating.

The 2025 event saw Chestnut compete after missing the 2024 contest due to sponsorship conflicts. He faced off with 2024 champion Patrick Bertoletti and competitor James Webb. While Bertoletti and Webb kept pace with Chestnut during the first 90 seconds, Chestnut began to pull ahead after three minutes, reaching 28 hot dogs compared to Webb’s 22 and Bertoletti’s 21.

Midway through the competition, Chestnut had a lead, consuming 42 hot dogs with a 10-dog advantage over his closest rivals. Despite the challenging conditions of near-triple-digit heat and fatigue, he finished with 66 hot dogs when the contest concluded.

Despite knowing he wouldn’t break his record early on, Chestnut maintained composure and successfully claimed victory. He competed while serving probation for a misdemeanor battery charge related to an incident in an Indiana bar. He received permission to attend the event in New York.

Miki Sudo also competed successfully, winning the women’s event with 39 dogs and buns. Her impressive record includes victories in all 12 contests since her first win in 2014.