The Greatest Spectacle in Competitive Eating

Author

Michael Beach
July 05, 2023

Five big questions re: Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest:
1) When did the contest begin?
2) How many people watch each year?
3) Who are the current champions?
4) How much does the champion get paid?
5) How many calories are consumed during the event?

Big question #1: When did the contest begin?

Quick answer: 1916

Key details for Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest:
1) Held in Coney Island
2) The contest is 10 minutes long
3) 40K people attend live
4) 105 contests since 1916
5) 13 hot dogs won the first contest
6) Nathan’s has donated 1M+ hot dogs to New York food banks

Quote from Bill Shea – Senior Writer @ The Athletic:“All in good fun, of course, but there’s little doubt that Chestnut, 38, is the greatest competitive eater this nation has ever produced, a fact that must plague the ghost of poor King George III, who literally couldn’t have imagined England’s former colonies celebrating independence with a national TV broadcast of Major League Eating’s signature event.”

Big question #2: How many people watch each year?

Quick answer: 1M+

Big question #3: Who are the current champions?

Quick answer: Joey Chestnut for the men and Miki Sudo for the women.

Big question #4: How much does the champion get paid?

Quick answer: Each champion earns $10K and a bejeweled mustard belt.

Big question #5: How many calories are consumed during the event?

Quick answer: As part of his record-breaking effort in 2021, Joey Chestnut consumed 76 hot dogs (20K calories)

Quick math for Joey Chestnut’s calorie intake @ Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest:
1) Each hot dog is 270 calories (140 for hot dog and 130 for bun)
2) 18 years competing in the event
3) 1,157 hot dogs eaten
4) 64 hot dogs per year
5) 312K calories eaten over 18 events

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