What are Joey Chestnut’s Net Worth and Career Earnings?
Joey Chestnut is a popular American competitive eater then Chestnut’s net worth is $2.5 million. Joey is arguably the most successful eater in the history of competitive eating. In 2007, he became famous after winning the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. The Major League of Eating has repeatedly recognized him as the world’s best eater.
On November 25, 1983, in Fulton County, Kentucky, Joey Chestnut entered the world. Following graduation from high school, he enrolled at San Jose State University, where he began competing in eating contests in 2005. In part, his many travels for cooking competitions delayed his graduation until 2012.
When Joey was initially starting out, he entered an asparagus eating contest. Joey finished roughly six and a half pounds of deep-fried asparagus in 11.5 minutes, which was enough to win him first place and knock out top-ranked eater Rich LeFevre.
Turning Professional
This was his first of many appearances at the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, which he began competing in 2005. He finished third despite consuming 32 hot dogs. With a score of 37, Sonya Thomas came in at a respectable second position. Takeru Kobayashi, with 49, was the highest scorer. In the same year, he won the GoldenPalace World Grilled Cheese Consuming Championship after eating a record-breaking 32.5 grilled cheese sandwich in ten minutes.
Chestnut’s reputation as a competitive eater grew after she won the Waffle House World Waffle Eating Championship and came in second at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, both against Sonya Thomas. Each occurrence also took place in 2005.
After finishing the 2006 Nathan event at a world-record 53.75 seconds, Kobayashi set a new record. Joey got 52nd, a new American record.
Chestnut ate 182 wings in 30 minutes at Wing Bowl XV in Philadelphia the following year, winning the competition. In addition, he took home the prize at the yearly Nathan’s Contest. With 66 hotdogs downed, Chestnut defeated Kobayashi, the six-year champion, who only managed to consume 63. Joey ate 103 Krystal burgers in under eight minutes and won the 2007 Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship.
In 2020 and 2021, he ate 75 and 76 hot dogs in 10 minutes, respectively, to establish new world records.
Training
Chestnut claims that before contests, he fasts and stretches his stomach with milk, water, and protein supplements. He prepares for hot dog eating contests by consuming 40 dogs at once and gradually increasing his intake until he reaches the required amount.s.
Other Accolades and Records
Joey makes a living competing in eating competitions. He maintains his training regimen 24/7 by alternating between fasting and filling his stomach with protein shakes, water, and milk. Joey’s weight varies from 210 to 225 pounds over the course of a year.
Joey has broken world records for eating a number of different foods, including 141 hard-boiled eggs in 8 minutes, 70 bratwursts in 10 minutes, 78 Matzoh balls in 8 minutes, 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes at the 2013 Nathan’s contest, 4.5 pounds of steak and sides in under 9 minutes, 13.76 pounds of pork ribs in 12 minutes, and a whole bunch of asparagus in under 12 minutes (12.8 pounds in 10 minutes). Joey devoured 70 hot dogs on Independence Day, 2016. After a year, he ate seventy-two. The next year, he ate 74, setting a new record. The 2019 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest was his 12th victory. He ate 71 dogs to win.
Joey Chestnut Personal Life
Chestnut engaged to his longtime girlfriend Leslie Ricasa just before defending his 2014 Nathan’s title. A year later, in early 2015, before the wedding day, the pair broke up. The current location of Chestnut’s home is in Westfield, Indiana.