CONEY ISLAND, N.Y. (AP) — Joey Chestnut made a triumphant return to Coney Island on Thursday, devouring 70.5 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest and reclaim the Mustard Belt.
Chestnut, 40, had missed last year’s event due to a sponsorship dispute, but fans welcomed his return with thunderous cheers. The 16-time champion didn’t break his personal best of 76, set in 2021, but his 2025 total was more than enough to secure his 17th title.
On the women’s side, Miki Sudo of Tampa, Fla., earned her 11th championship by downing 33 hot dogs. While that number fell short of her record-setting 51 from 2024, it was still the highest among the field. And the reward is more than a shiny, gold WWE-style championship belt. Both Sudo and Chestnut walk away with $10,000 from a total prize purse of $40,000.
The annual spectacle, held every Independence Day at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues in Brooklyn, is one of America’s most unique holiday traditions. Dubbed the “10 minutes of glory,” the contest draws thousands in person and millions more online and on TV. Fans watched competitors dunk buns in water, pump their fists, and push themselves to the brink in a bizarre but beloved show of patriotic endurance.
For Chestnut, the win was more than a comeback — it was a reassertion of dominance. “I missed it,” he said. “Nothing beats Coney Island on the Fourth.”
