NATHAN’S HOT DOG

EATING CONTEST IN NUMBERS

1916

The first hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s. Won by James Mullen, who defeated three other immigrants in a challenge of patriotism by eating 13 dogs in 12 minutes.

3½

Length in minutes of 1972’s competition, won by a student from Brooklyn. The prize? Forty free hot dogs.

½

Amount of hot dog Steve Keiner ate before the contest had officially begun in 1999. He secured the win, but would’ve been disqualified had judges noticed.

50

Number of dogs eaten by Takeru Kobayashi in 2001, doubling the previous world record.

2007

The year allAmerican eater Joey Chestnut ended Kobayashi’s reign, smashing his record of 53¾ hot dogs by putting away 66.

1

Number of arrests during 2010’s contest. After a contractual dispute saw Kobayashi banned, he stormed the stage in a ‘Free Kobi’ T-shirt and was led away in handcuffs by police.

8

The number of consecutive years Joey “Jaws” Chestnut has been world hot dog eating champion, eclipsing Kobayashi’s record of six wins.

69

World record of hot dogs eaten in ten minutes, attained by Joey Chestnut in 2013.

23,790

Amount of calories in the 61 hot dogs and buns Joey Chestnut consumed in 2014, including 1,189.5g of fat.

2,800,000

Number of people who watched the 2014 event on ESPN2 – the channel’s fifth most watched event of that year.

1

Number of wedding proposals during 2014’s contest. Joey Chestnut popped the question to his girlfriend, Neslie Ricasa, on stage prior to competing. Luckily for Jaws, she said yes.