An annual American hot dog eating competition is called the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, know its winners list, record and 2022 prize money
Every year on July 4th, it is celebrated in the original and most well-known Nathan’s Famous restaurant, which is located in Brooklyn’s Coney Island area near the intersection of Surf and Stillwell Avenues.
Due to the fame of Takeru “The Tsunami” Kobayashi and Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the competition has recently attracted more public attention. Chestnut, the reigning male champion, consumed 76 hot dogs during the 2021 competition. Michelle Lesco, the reigning female champion, consumed 30.75 hot dogs at the same competition. Chestnut set a world record with his total.
Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest All Time Past Full Winners List, Record And 2022 Prize Money
| Year | Winner |
Hot dogs and buns |
Contest duration |
| 2021 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
76 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Michelle Lesco |
30¾ | ||
| 2020 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
75 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
48½ | ||
| 2019 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
71 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
31 | ||
| 2018 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
74 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
37 | ||
| 2017 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
72 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
41 | ||
| 2016 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
70 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
38½ | ||
| 2015 | MEN’S Matt Stonie |
62 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
38 | ||
| 2014 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
61 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Miki Sudo |
34 | ||
| 2013 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
69 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Sonya Thomas |
36¾ | ||
| 2012 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
68 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Sonya Thomas |
45 | ||
| 2011 | MEN’S Joey Chestnut |
62 | 10 min. |
| WOMEN’S Sonya Thomas |
40 | ||
| 2010 | Joey Chestnut | 54 | 10 min. |
| 2009 | Joey Chestnut | 68 | 10 min. |
| 2008 | Joey Chestnut | 59
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Eat-off: 5 |
10 min.
Eat-off: untimed, but completed in 50 sec. |
| 2007 | Joey Chestnut | 66 | 12 min. |
| 2006 | Takeru Kobayashi | 53¾ | 12 min. |
| 2005 | Takeru Kobayashi | 49 | 12 min. |
| 2004 | Takeru Kobayashi | 53½ | 12 min. |
| 2003 | Takeru Kobayashi | 44½ | 12 min. |
| 2002 | Takeru Kobayashi | 50½ | 12 min. |
| 2001 | Takeru Kobayashi | 50 | 12 min. |
| 2000 | Kazutoyo Arai | 25+ | 12 min. |
| 1999 | Steve Keiner | 21½ | 12 min. |
| 1998 | Hirofumi Nakajima | 19 | 12 min. |
| 1997 | Hirofumi Nakajima | 24½ | 12 min. |
| 1996 | ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Hirofumi Nakajima December 4 |
23¼ | 12 min. |
| Ed Krachie Independence Day |
22 | 12 min. | |
| 1995 | Ed Krachie Independence Day |
19½ | 12 min. |
| 1994 | Mike DeVito Independence Day |
20 | 12 min.[40] |
| 1993 | ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Mike DeVito October 27 |
18 | 30 min. |
| Mike DeVito Independence Day |
17 | 12 min. | |
| 1992 | Frankie Dellarosa Independence Day |
19 | 12 min.[47] |
| 1991 | Frankie Dellarosa Independence Day |
21 | 12 min. |
| 1990 | Mike DeVito Jay Green Independence Day |
15 | 12 min. |
| 1989 | Jay Green Independence Day |
15½ | 12 min. |
| 1988 | Jay Green Independence Day |
10 | 12 min. |
| 1987 | Don Wolfman Independence Day |
13½ | 10 min. |
| 1986 | Mark Heller Independence Day |
15½ | 10 min. |
| ONE-ON-ONE CHALLENGE WITH JAPAN Hiroaki Tominaga February 11 |
10½ | 10 min. | |
| 1985 | Oscar Rodriguez Independence Day |
11¾ | 12 min. |
| 1984 | Birgit Felden Independence Day |
9½ | 10 min. |
| 1983 | Emil Gomez Independence Day |
10½ | 10 min. |
| 1982 | Steven Abrams Independence Day (observed July 5) |
11+ | 10 min.[60] |
| 1981 | Thomas DeBerry Independence Day |
11 | 5 min.[62] |
| 1980 | Joe Baldini Paul Siederman Independence Day |
9¾+
Eat-off: 3½ |
10 min.
Eat-off: 3 min. |
| 1979 | Luther Frazier Jim Mattner Independence Day |
10
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Eat-off: 3½[65] |
10 min.
Eat-off: 3½ min.[65] |
| 1978 | Manel Hollenback Kevin Sinclair Memorial Day |
10 | 6½ min. |
| 1975 | MEN’S Lonnie Brown Memorial Day |
8 | 3½ min., with a 1 min. break |
| WOMEN’S Sharlene Smith Memorial Day |
8½ | ||
| 1974 | Walter Paul Paul Sirop Labor Day |
(unknown) | (unknown) |
| Roberto Muriel Independence Day |
10 | 3½ min. | |
| John Connolly Opening day of Coney Island’s summer season (April 7) |
9 | 2½ min. | |
| 1973 | (unknown) Independence Day |
(unknown) | (unknown) |
| (canceled) Opening day of Coney Island’s summer season (April 7) |
— | — | |
| 1972 | Melody Andorfer Labor Day |
12 | 5 min. |
| Jason Schechter Memorial Day |
14 | 3½ min. | |
| 1967 | Walter Paul Centennial celebration of the invention of the hot dog (June 30) |
127* | 60 min. |
Prize Money
$10,000 went to the victors of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest last year, $5,000 went to second place, $2,500 went to third place, $1,500 went to fourth place, and $1,000 went to fifth place. The contest featured a $40,000 prize pool, the same amount envisaged this year as well.