Joey Chestnut is the world’s greatest eater. This is not an opinion but a statement of fact. He holds more competitive eating records than any other athlete in history, by a wide margin. However, despite his total domination, Joey didn’t find competitive eating… it found him.
Born on November 25th, 1983 in Vallejo, California he earned a degree in engineering and construction management from San Jose State University. He initially developed his talent for devouring large amounts of food when traveling home to visit family during college. Joey was living the typical college life; money was tight. Therefore, an extra helping of food was always appreciated. And besides, nobody cooks like mom. His brother was the first to recognize Joey’s potential. He signed Joey up for his very first contest with low resistance. In Joey’s words, “A free hotel stay at a casino and all the lobster I can eat? Sure, I’ll give it shot.”
Even in his first contest, the 21-year-old began to transform on stage from quiet and reserved into the legendary eater we know today. Although he saw competitive eating as a strange concept: eat as fast as you can on stage with people screaming at you, he and his family accepted the bizarre sport and never looked back.
What is more American than a hot dog eating contest on the 4th of July? Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual event that takes place on Coney Island, New York. It’s a speed eating contest to see who can devour the most Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs in 10 minutes. Prior to 2007, it had been largely dominated by Japanese contestants. Joey claimed his first title in 2007 when he ended the reign of 6-time champion Takeru Koyayashi. Following his first victory, Joey went on to become the most decorated champion of all time winning the next 11 out of the 12 years.
Apple Pie: 4.375 Three-Pound Apple Pies/Mapleside Farms / 8 Minutes/Sept. 13, 2013
Asparagus: 12 lbs 8.75 oz Deep Fried Asparagus Spears/ Stockton Asparagus Festival / 10 minutes/ Apr. 26, 2014
Boysenberry Pie: 14.5lb of pie / Knotts Berry Farm / 8 minutes / March 19, 2016
Brain Tacos: 54 Brain Tacos / Zombie Pub Crawl / 8 Minutes/Oct. 12, 2013
Burritos, Long Form: 14.5 lbs burritos / Illegal Pete's Burritos / 10 Minutes / May 28, 2016
Chicken Wings, 12 minutes: 7.61 lbs Buffalo Chicken Wings / 12 minutes/ September 2, 2012
Chicken Wings, Long form: 182 chicken wings / 30 minutes
Corned Beef Sandwiches: 20 8-oz sandwiches/TooJay's World Class Corned Beef Eating Championship / 10 minutes/March 17, 2012
Donuts, Glazed: 55 Glazed Donuts / Salvation Army National Donut Day / 8 Minutes / June 2, 2017
Eggs: 141 Hard Boiled Eggs / 8 Minutes/Oct. 5, 2013
Fish Tacos: 30 6oz. Joeys Seafood Restaurants Fish Tacos / 5 Minutes/August 7, 2014
Funnel Cake: 5.9 lbs / Kings Dominion / 10 minutes / May 23, 2009
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches: 47 grilled cheese sandwiches / 10 Minutes/ June 10, 2006
Gumbo: 15 16oz bowls (1.875 gallons) / World Record Gumbo / 8 Minutes / November 7, 2015
Gyoza: 384 Day-Lee Foods gyoza/Los Angeles Nisei Week / 10 minutes/August 16, 2014
Gyros: 30 8-oz Gyros/Niko Niko's Gyros / 10 Minutes/May 15, 2016
Hamburgers: Krystals: 103 Krystal Burgers / 8 minutes/October 28, 2007
Horseshoe Sandwiches: 6 lbs, 5 oz horseshoe sandwiches / 12 minutes
Hot Dogs: 74 Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs And Buns / 10 minutes/ July 4th, 2018
Ice-Cream Sandwiches: 25.25 Baked Bear Ice-Cream Sandwiches / San Diego, CA / 6 Minutes / June 4, 2017
Jalapeno Poppers: 118 Jalapeno Poppers/University of Arizona / 10 minutes/April 8, 2006
Kolache Factory Kolaches: 56 Sausage and Cheese Kolaches/Kolache Factory in Houston, TX / 8 Minutes/Sept. 14, 2007
Meat Pies: 23 6oz Meat Pies / Silver Slipper World Meat Pie Eating Championship / 10 minutes / March 5, 2016
Mutton Sandwiches: 55 4oz Sandwiches / Owensboro International Bar-B-Q Festival / 10 minutes / May 13, 2017
Pastrami: 25 7oz half Katz's Delicatessen Pastrami Sandwiches / 10 minutes/June 2, 2013
Philly CheeseSteaks: 23 6" sandwiches / Dorney Park / 10 minutes / May 14, 2011
Pierogi: 165 Pierogi/Horseshoe Casino / 8 minutes/October 8, 2014
Pizza Hut P'Zones: 7.5 Pizza Hut P'Zones/Pizza Hut Chow-Lenge @ Spike Guys Choice Awards / 10 minutes/June 4, 2011
Pork Ribs: 13.76 pounds pork rib meat/ John Ascuaga's Nugget / 12 minutes/August 28, 2013
Pork Roll Sandwiches, 4oz: 43 4oz Pork Roll Sandwiches / Trenton Thunder / 10 Minutes / September 24, 2016
Pork, Pulled: 9 Pounds, 6 Ounces Smoked, Pulled Pork/ Horseshoe Casino Council Bluffs / 10 Minutes/ Sept. 16, 2006
Pork, Pulled Sandwiches: 45 pulled pork sandwiches / 10 minutes/ Sept. 1, 2007
Pork, Pulled Sliders: 62 pulled pork sliders / 10 Minutes/March 28, 2014
Poutine: 25.5 lb / Smoke's Poutinerie Poutine / 10 minutes / Oct. 1, 2016
Salt Potatoes: 13 lbs Salt Potatoes / Wild Carp Week / 10 minutes / May 14, 2011
Shrimp Cocktail: 15lb St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail/Indianapolis, IN / 8 minutes / December 3, 2016
Shrimp Wontons: 390 shrimp wontons/CP Biggest Eater Competition 2011-12 / 8 Minutes / February 11, 2012
Tacos, Taco Bell: 53 soft beef tacos/Taco Bell / 10 minutes / July 29, 2011
Tacos, Traditional (Three-Inch Tortilla): 126 Tacos / Mystic Lake Casino Hotel / 8 minutes / May 5, 2017
Tamales: 102 Tamales/Lewisville Western Days/Dat's Good Barbecue tamales / 12 Minutes/Sept. 29, 2012
Turkey (Whole): 9.35 lbs whole turkey / Foxwoods Turkey Eating Championship / 10 minutes / November 22, 2014
Twinkies: 121 Twinkies/Bally's Casino-Tunica / 6 Minutes / Oct. 26, 2013
White Hut Cheeseburgs: 52 Cheeseburgs / The Big E Fair / 10 minutes / September 23, 2017