Joey Chestnut is OUT of July 4th Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest – after reigning champion turned down $1.2m deal to sign with VEGAN rival
Joey Chestnut, the competitive eating legend, has been excluded from the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition on the 4th of July due to a sponsorship conflict.
The New York Post reports this that Chestnut’s deal with vegan frank manufacturer Impossible Foods will prevent him from winning a record 17th title at Coney Island.
The problem, organizers told the Post, is Chestnut’s demand to endorse a rival hot dog.
One source told the Post that Chestnut was paid $200,000 to participate in last year’s competition, and was even offered a four-year, $1.2 million contract starting this year.
Ultimately, Chestnut felt compelled to honor its unspecified agreement with Impossible Foods.
Joey Chestnut, the competitive eating legend, will skip the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Competition on the 4th of July due to a sponsorship conflict
“We are devastated to learn that Joey Chestnut has chosen to represent a rival brand that sells plant-based hot dogs rather than participate in the 2024 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest,” read a statement from Major League Eating (MLE). , which sanctions the event.
“MLE and Nathan have gone to great lengths to accommodate Joey and his management team, agreeing to pay the appearance fee and allowing Joey to participate in a rival, unbranded hot dog eating contest on Labor Day.
Chestnut, known as ‘Jaws,’ devoured 62 hot dogs to win the 2023 title, which was a slight decrease from the record 76 he ate in 2021.”
Earlier this month, Chestnut was spotted downing pints of ice cream during a game at a minor league baseball game. And the 40-year-old showed his eating skills aren’t limited to hot dogs as he managed to down four pints of ice cream in a minute.
According to MLB.comAt Chestnut also fried 36 nuggets of walleye in one minute during the pregame “Eat and Greet” session with fans.
Joey Chestnut won his 16th Nathan’s hot dog contest last year on the Fourth of July at Coney Island
He also reportedly visited a minor league stadium in Lansing, Michigan, last August and ate a world record 13 olive burgers in five minutes.
Chestnut is no stranger to competitive ice cream eating, as he also ate a record 23.5 ice cream sandwiches in six minutes in 2018. Major League food.
In 2022, he said USA TODAY Sports he earned over $500,000 and his net worth is over $4 million.
He has promotional offers for DUDE Wipes, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, Wonderful Pistachios and Pepsi.
Chestnut has been on the competitive eating scene since 2005, when he broke through with an appearance in the Fried Asparagus Eating Championship.
Since then, the Westfield, Indiana native has set numerous records, most famously involving hot dogs, where his score of 76 in the 2021 Nathan’s contest stands alone.