The King is back! Joey Chestnut is set to return after a one-year absence due to a sponsorship dispute. He’s ready to gobble up some hot dogs and the competition, but is there anyone else who can take top spot?
Joey Chestnut has won 16 of the last 18 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contests, but he’s not the reigning champ. The Mustard Yellow Belt belongs to Patrick Bertoletti, who won the 2024 edition, without having to face Chestnut.
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2025 Odds
So, the stage is set. Reigning Champ Patrick Bertoletti will get a chance to take on the King of Eating, Joey Chestnut. But the odds tell a pretty bleak story. Here are the latest odds with William Hill:
| Contestant | Odds |
|---|---|
| Joey Chestnut | 1/16 |
| Patrick Bertoletti | 16/1 |
| Geoffrey Esper | 20/1 |
| James Webb | 20/1 |
| Any Other | 25/1 |
| Nick Wehry | 33/1 |
| Derek Hendrickson | 50/1 |
The odds paint a clear picture. Chestnut is just miles ahead of the competition. The odds are so low that he’s not even worth a punt on. So, we’ve got a value pick for you.
Patrick Bertoletti to Remain Hot Dog Top Dog
It’s a long shot, but the value is with Patrick Bertoletti. At 16/1 odds, he’s the second favourite, and beating Joey Chestnut would be his ultimate goal. He’ll relish the challenge (literally), and we think it’s worth backing.
The main problem is the number of hot dogs that Bertoletti can scoff down his gob. He won the 2024 contest eating just 58 HDBs or Hot Dogs and Buns. That’s right, we’re getting technical. Joey Chestnut ate more than that at every contest except once, back in 2010.
Is he biting off more than he can chew? Well, Patrick is still the reigning champion, so the momentum should be in his favour, especially if Chestnut is off his game after missing last year.
Joey Chestnut to Roast The Competition
Unstoppable at his best, and the current world record holder, Joey Chestnut, is the real meal deal. In a 2024 event versus Kobayashi, he ate 83 hot dogs to claim the world record. That’s strong form, and there’s a good chance that Chestnut’s aim will be to break that record on the 4th of July.
Can he swallow up the competition, though? The bookies seem to think so, and while we’d love an upset, it looks like Joey Chestnut will likely get back to winning ways. But at 1/16 odds, it’s just not worth betting on.
Can Geoffrey Esper Ketchup to the King?
With 19 records under his belt, Geoffrey Esper is a strong contender and could be worth a look at. Most of his savoury success comes from eating pizzas and hot wings, so that many hot dogs might be a bit of a stretch.
Esper was a favourite last year, and he's ranked 3rd in the Major League Eating (MLE) rankings, so don’t make the mistake of overlooking him.
The odds are crystal clear, but the question as to whether or not competitive eating is a sport is about as murky as one of their water jugs after a competition. What do you think?
Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Women's Contest 2025 Odds
It’s an even more lopsided story in the women's section. Miki Sudo is the heavy favourite and looks likely to win for a fourth time in a row. These are the odds with William Hill:
| Contestant | Odds |
|---|---|
| Miki Sudo | 1/25 |
| Michelle Lesco | 14/1 |
| Domenica Dee | 16/1 |
| Tandra Childress | 28/1 |
| Katie Prettyman | 33/1 |
Miki Sudo’s Rule: She Came, She Chewed, She Conquered
Miki Sudo’s dominance has been elite. The Floridian has won the award in 10 of the last 11 editions. In last year's competition, Sudo claimed the world record by eating 51 hot dogs.
We don’t think anyone stands a chance here, and backing Sudo won’t get you much return with a £10 bet winning you just 40p, not even enough for a Cadbury.
Michelle Lesco’s Appetite for an Upset
Michelle Lesco is the 2021 Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating champion and regularly features within the top 3. That includes finishing second behind Sudo every year between 2017 and 2019.
The problem is her record is nowhere near Sudo’s. Lesco has managed 32 HDBs in 2017, and 30.75 in her winning year, 2021. Hardly enough to best a champ.