This year's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest will see a new champion.
The latest: Joey Chestnut — the 16-time champion and world-recorder holder — is barred from defending his title. With the perennial favourite sidelined, it's fair to say the competition is wide open. Geoffrey Esper has long lived in Chestnut's shadow but has a chance to stake his claim on the throne.
Here are the latest Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest odds for the competition on July 4.
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest odds
Check out the latest odds to win Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Click odds to add selection to betslip.
| Competitor | Betting odds |
| Geoffrey Esper | -137 |
| James Webb | +110 |
| Nick Wehry | +400 |
| Patrick Bertoletti | +1,000 |
| Gideon Oji | +1,200 |
| Bartley Weaver IV | +2,000 |
| Darron Breeden | +2,000 |
| Derek Hendrickson | +3,300 |
| Darrien Thomas | +4,000 |
| Max Stanford | +4,000 |
| King Yamamoto | +5,000 |
| Nutthanon Loetphatphicha | +5,000 |
| Radim Dvoracek | +5,000 |
A Fourth of July without Chestnut seems blasphemous.
Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Tiger Woods and Serena Williams are all heralded as "GOATs" but none of them hold a candle to Chestnut's dominance.
The man's insatiable desire to devour tubed meats saw him win a record 16 titles, including eight straight from 2016-2023. Three years ago, Chestnut broke his own World Record by downing an ungodly 76 dogs in 10 minutes.
Nothing could stop him. Protestors, inclement weather, and scores of competitors were shooed away like gnats — until now.
Not seen on TV was Joey Chestnut putting a protestor in a chokehold while scarfing another hotdog en route to victory pic.twitter.com/nZRZ1AR7jm
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 4, 2022
In a shocking development, the King of Coney Island has been banned from the festivities after signing with Nathan's rival, plant-based Impossible Foods.
Chestnut's absence leaves a gaping hole — and someone has to fill it.
Esper finished runner-up in the last three contests and is the odds-on favourite to win. Two other eaters hold odds shorter than 10-to-1, including James Webb, who has been on the podium multiple times.
Best odds to win
The favourite: Geoffrey Esper (-137)
Esper has probably had many sleepless nights wondering where he'd be if Chestnut had decided to take up woodworking or finance instead of professional eating.
Now he gets to find out.
The Oxford, Mississippi native finished two dogs clear of Webb for second place last year and was six dogs clear of him in 2022.
Esper holds several Major League Eating records such as:
- 281 chicken Wings in 12 minutes (2019)
- 83 slices of pizza in 10 minutes (2018)
- 23.75 pounds of strawberry shortcake in 8 minutes (2014)
Major League Eating's website describes Esper as "a quiet, industrious man who says very little but eats very much. It is said the first word he ever spoke was 'work.'"
If there ever was a time to secure professional eating's crown jewel, it's now.
