After Joey Chestnuts Upset Nathans Hot Dog Contest Crowns Bertoletti and Sudo

There is a new top dog in the world of eating Frankfurt sausages. Patrick Bertoletti emerged as the champion of the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held on July 4th, marking the end of an era after 16-time champion Joey Chestnut had a falling out with the event organizer, Major League Eating (MLE). The 39-year-old Bertoletti from Illinois consumed 58 hot dogs in the 10-minute competition, earning himself the mustard yellow belt in the men’s division. Miki Sudo set a new record in the women’s division by downing 51 sausages. Following a fierce competition between Chestnut and MLE, this year’s contest is considered to be more open than the past few years. MLE announced last month that they were parting ways with Chestnut due to his inability to reach an endorsement agreement with Nathan’s hot dog competitor. Chestnut, also known as the “The Tsunami,” recently started posting pictures featuring Impossible Foods on Instagram. In a statement released in June, MLE stated, “For nearly two decades, we have worked under the same fundamental hot dog exclusivity terms. However, Joey and his management team seem to be prioritizing a new partnership with another hot dog brand rather than our long-term relationship.” Chestnut responded at the time in a statement, expressing his disappointment upon learning from the media about his expulsion after 19 years. The 40-year-old man claimed that he had no contract with MLE or Nathan’s and argued that the endorsement ban contradicted the organization’s previous agreements regarding their working relationship. Last month, he stated, “I love competing in this event, I love celebrating America with the fans on the 4th, and I have been training to defend my title.” While the relationship appears tense at the moment, MLE referred to Chestnut as an “American hero” and expressed willingness to have him compete again without representing Nathan’s competitors. MLE told NBC News that Chestnut holds eating records in 55 categories, including eggs, chicken wings, and apple pies. Nathan’s website still speaks highly of Chestnut. In an announcement of his 2023 victory, the New York-based company wrote, “In our hearts, there is no doubt who the king is.” During ESPN’s coverage of the 2024 contest, the channel repeatedly mentioned Chestnut and how the competition looked without him. In an article, Chestnut was referred to as the “Warren Buffet of buffets.” Even during the holidays this year, Chestnut’s fans could still witness his performance on the field. According to a recent Instagram post, he was livestreaming a hot dog eating contest at the Fort Bliss Army Base in Texas as a charity fundraising event. The show started at 5 pm Eastern Time on Thursday, he wrote, “It wouldn’t be the 4th if I didn’t eat a ton of all-beef hot dogs to celebrate.”