​Joey Chestnut is set to return to the stage to defend his Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title on July 4 in Coney Island, New York, with oddsmakers already listing him as a near-certainty to win. Widely regarded as the greatest professional hot dog eater of all time, the 42-year-old competitive eater has claimed Nathan’s July 4th crown 17 times, including a 2021 record-setting performance of 76 hot dogs. That 76-dog record remains intact as the weekend approaches.
This Saturday, Chestnut will aim to retain his title and push the record even higher. While 77 hot dogs would be an extraordinary feat, Chestnut has repeatedly shown he’s up to the challenge—often likened to the Michael Jordan of hot dog eating. He may endure a longer post-contest detox than usual, but “Jaws” will give it his best effort.
According to Action Network, Chestnut has a 96% chance of winning this year’s Nathan’s contest, a figure that’s at the top end of odds typically reserved for marquee UFC debuts. Conversely, he has an 8% chance of surpassing his own 76-dog, 10-minute record. “Chestnut isn’t priced as a traditional favorite but as a near certainty, even with strong competitors like Patrick ‘Deep Dish’ Bertoletti, who won in 2024. This year’s suspense isn’t whether Chestnut wins, but how close he comes to rewriting history again,” commented an Action Network spokesperson.
We’ll soon learn if Chestnut can once again make America proud as the nation marks its 250th anniversary.