Who will be the ones to hot dog around with the Mustard and Ketchup Belts this year and make history at the corner of Surf and Stilwell?
The Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest is the unofficial official start of Fourth of July festivities for a good portion of American families. As has been the case since 2008, Joey Chestnut has dominated the field – and defied the limits of the human digestive system – en route to 16 Mustard Belts in his career.
The 2024 contest may go belly up, however. With Joey Chestnut not allowed to participate in this year’s showdown, a new champ will be crowned for the first time since 2015, when Matt Stonie unseated (and out-eat-ed) Chestnut in a major upset.
Here’s the list of previous winners and records, dating back to 1994:
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest winners
2023: Joey Chestnut, 62 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 39 1/2 (women’s)
2022: Joey Chestnut, 63 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 40 (women’s)
2021: Joey Chestnut, 73 (men’s) | Michelle Lesco, 30 3/4 (women’s)
2020: Joey Chestnut, 75 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 48 1/2 (women’s)
2019: Joey Chestnut, 71 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 31 (women’s)
2018: Joey Chestnut, 74 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 37 (women’s)
2017: Joey Chestnut, 72 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 41 (women’s)
2016: Joey Chestnut, 70 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 38 1/2 (women’s)
2015: Matt Stonie, 62 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 38 (women’s)
2014: Joey Chestnut, 61 (men’s) | Miki Sudo, 34 (women’s)
2013: Joey Chestnut, 69 (men’s) | Sonya Thomas, 36 3/4 (women’s)
2012: Joey Chestnut, 68 (men’s) | Sonya Thomas, 45 (women’s)
*2011: Joey Chestnut, 62 (men’s) | Sonya Thomas, 40 (women’s)
2010: Joey Chestnut, 54
2009: Joey Chestnut, 68
2008: Joey Chestnut, 59 (defeated Takeru Kobayashi in an untimed eat-off, eating five hot dogs in 50 seconds)
2007: Joey Chestnut, 66
2006: Takeru Kobayashi, 53 3/4
2005: Takeru Kobayashi, 49
2004: Takeru Kobayashi, 53 1/2
2003: Takeru Kobayashi, 44 1/2
2002: Takeru Kobayashi, 50 1/2
2001: Takeru Kobayashi, 50
2000: Kazutoyo Arai, 25 1/8
1999: Steve Keiner, 21 1/2
1998: Hirofumi Nakajima, 19
1997: Hirofumi Nakajima, 24 1/2
1996: Ed Krachie, 22
1995: Ed Krachie, 19 1/2
1994: Mike DeVito, 20
*2011 was the first year since 1975 that the contest was split for men and women.
Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest records
In 2021, Joey Chestnut set the world record for hot dogs and buns eaten with 76. Chestnut set the world record twice in the prior three contests: In 2018, he shattered the world record, devouring 74` dogs and buns, and in 2020, he again set the standard, eating 75 hot dogs and buns.
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo is the top dog (eater), munching 48 ½ hot dogs and buns in 2020.
How many times has Joey Chestnut won the hot dog eating contest?
Chestnut holds the record for most Mustard Belts, winning the contest 16 times. On the women’s side, Miki Sudo has been an unstoppable eating force, winning nine of the last 10 Ketchup Belts.
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