How Much Money Does Joey Chestnut Make A Year

Joey "Jaws" Chestnut will compete for his 14th Mustard Belt this Sunday 4th of July, in the annual Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest. Given that contest winners are given a cash tip of $10,000, fans are wondering what Joey Chestnut's net worth is after 16 years as a competitive eater. How much does he make in a year, and what does he do for a living besides eating?

What is Joey Chestnut's net worth?

Per Celebrity Net Worth, Joey Chestnut's net worth in 2021 is somewhere in the region of $2 million.

The much-coveted 4th of July contest may come with a $10,000 prize, but actual prize money only makes up a fraction of competitive eaters' salaries.

CNW estimates Joey Chestnut's salary to be up to half a million dollars. The exposure athletes receive following high profile competitions leads to sponsorships and opens up other possible income streams.

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joey chestnut net worth — Photo by Efren Landaos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

In 2014 alone, Chestnut earned a reported $230,000, according to Forbes.

He has received endorsements and sponsorships from the likes of Hooters, Coney Island IPA, Pepto Bismol and Hostess, writes Sporting News.

Naturally, however, how much money Joey Chestnut makes in a year depends on contests actually happening. EatFeats, which collates news and events on competitive eating, lists his earnings in the past year as just $15,850.

What does Joey Chestnut do for a living, besides competitive eating?

Born 1983 in Vallejo, California, Joseph Christian Chestnut attended San Jose State University.

There he earned a degree in engineering and construction management, during which time he "developed his talent for devouring large amounts of food" – so runs his bio.

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He graduated in 2005, and scaled his competitive eating back four years later in order to focus on his career as a civil engineer.

While that may have once more taken a back seat, Chestnut has diversified his income streams in recent years.

His first business venture, Joey Chestnut Eats, includes a line of dipping and finishing sauces, ranging from sweet sriracha to orange citrus habanero flavour.

Is he married?

After his 4th July victory in 2014, Joey Chestnut proposed to longtime girlfriend and fellow competitive eater Neslie Ricasa.

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She said yes. However, nine months later, shortly before they were due to become husband and wife, Joey Chestnut and Neslie Ricasa separated. Their wedding date was set for 9 May, 2015.

He told the New York Post that his hectic competition schedule may have had something to do with it.

"I definitely would say it was travelling. I was gone quite a bit," he said. "It was mutual. It just didn't work."

Neslie is now married, with a child, and appears to have left the world of competitive eating behind her.

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Where to watch Joey Chestnut's episode of 30 for 30

Part of the sports-focused documentary series 30 for 30, The Good, The Bad, The Hungry first aired on 2 July, 2019.

The "eye and mouth-opening tale" chronicles the rise and fall of Takeru Kobayashi, of Nagano, Japan, who won the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest six consecutive times.

Joey toppled Kobayashi in 2007 and has since become the face of the sport.

The documentary is available to watch on ESPN Player, which requires a subscription. It is also on Disney+.

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Bruno is a postgraduate student studying global journalism, with research interests in the intersection of the media, storytelling, culture and politics. His articles have appeared in Groundviews, Packs Light and Forge Press, and most are readable on Medium or onurbicycle.com. He is a Student Ambassador for Tortoise Media, a big fan of Freddie Mercury and a novelist – his debut novel, Reveries, is available on Amazon.