The Fourth of July is upon us and that means another year of that most American of events, the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Each year, the best competitive eaters in the world compete to see who can eat the most hot dogs in a span of ten minutes. The winner of the men’s and women’s contests each take home $10,000. Additionally, the men’s winner takes home a mustard yellow championship belt, while the women’s winner takes home a Pepto Bismol pink championship belt.
The 2025 contest is particularly notable because it marks the return of Joey Chestnut to the competition. Chestnut has won the contest 16 times, but sat out last year’s event due to a sponsorship conflict with Major League Eating. Prior to that, Chestnut had won the contest eight straight times and 16 of the previous 17 years after he snapped Takero Kobayashi’s dominance of the contest.
MLE runs the hot dog contest and has long ruled with an iron fist when it comes to outside sponsorships and competitions. Chestnut is recognized as the GOAT of the sport, but for many of those titles he did not have to compete against Kobayashi after the Japanese star refused to sign an exclusive contract with MLE. The contest is a good time, but as always, don’t forget that Major League Eating and its owners, George and Richard Shea, are anti-labor.
How to watch the Hot Dog Eating Contest
All that being said, if you’re looking to watch the contest, there are options. The women’s contest airs online through ESPN3 starting at 10:45 a.m. ET. Ten-time champion Miki Sudo looks to defend her title for the fourth consecutive year and you can find an exclusive Sudo camera on ESPN3. The men’s contest starts at 12 p.m. and will air on ESPN2. There will be an exclusive Chestnut camera on ESPN3.
Odds to win the Hot Dog Eating Contest
FanDuel Sportsbook is offering Hot Dog Contest odds in Toronto and select US states. Chestnut is a heavy favorite with -1800 odds to win. You can also bet on the over/under for his total hot dogs, which is set at 71.5. He has the record for total hot dogs in the contest at 76, but has not exceeded 70 since he had his record-breaking 2021 performance.
Sudo is also a heavy favorite at -1800 and is expected to continue her domination. Since claiming her first win in 2014, she’s won every year except the year she had to skip the tournament due to her pregnancy.
Who is competing in the 2025 Hot Dog Eating Contest?
Men’s field
- Joey Chestnut
- Patrick Bertoletti
- James Webb
- Nick Wehry
- Geoffrey Esper
- Max Stanford
- Derek Hendrickson
- George Chiger
- Ricardo Corbucci
- Gideon Oji
- Adrian Morgan
- Radim Dvoracek
- Darrien Thomas
- Cameron Meade
- Jerome Burns
Women’s field
- Miki Sudo
- Michelle Lesco
- Domenica Dee
- Tandra Childress
- Katie Prettyman
- Larell Marie Mele
- Isabeau Prettyman
- Jocelyn Young
- Kelly Lewis
- Camille O’Brien
- Elizabeth Salgado
- Cherish Brown
- Madison Barone
- Laura Beitler
What are the current records for total hot dogs eaten?
Chestnut set the men’s record when he consumed 76 hot dogs in 2021. Sudo set the women’s record in 2024 when she consumed 51 hot dogs.
Who won the Hot Dog Eating Contest last year?
Sudo claimed her fourth straight women’s title with her record-setting performance in 2024. Patrick Bertolleti claimed the men’s title with 58 hot dogs. He was the first winner not to be named Joey Chestnut since Matt Stonie shocked the world with a 2015 upset of Chestnut.
