Official announcement from Major League Eating or Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest website

Joey Chestnut Banned from 2024 Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Contest Over $1.2M Deal

Jun 11, 2024, 06:21 PM

Joey Chestnut, the legendary competitive eater, has been banned from the 2024 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. The decision comes after Chestnut signed a four-year, $1.2 million endorsement deal with Impossible Foods, a vegan meat brand. This move has sparked significant controversy as Chestnut has been a dominant figure in the contest, winning it every year since 2016 and earning $200,000 for his appearance last year. Major League Eating, the organization overseeing the contest, stated that Chestnut's endorsement of a rival brand was the primary reason for his exclusion. This marks a significant shift in the competitive eating world, as Chestnut has won the Nathan's contest 16 times in total. The contest is traditionally held on the Fourth of July, and Chestnut has won 8 straight contests.