The humid air on Coney Island usually smells like salt water and fried dough. On July 4, 2024, it smelled like an era ending. If you’ve been living under a rock or just don’t keep up with the strange, high-calorie world of Major League Eating, you might have missed the massive shakeup. Patrick Bertoletti is the man who won the hot dog eating contest in 2024, specifically the 108th Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.
He didn't just win. He survived a vacuum.
For the first time in nearly two decades, the "GOAT," Joey Chestnut, wasn't on the stage. He was banned—or he stepped away, depending on which lawyer you ask—because of a brand deal with Impossible Foods. You can’t represent plant-based franks and then go shove 70 beef dogs down your throat on national TV. At least, that’s what the organizers at Nathan’s decided. So, the field was wide open. It felt weird. It felt like a basketball tournament without LeBron or Jordan. But when the clock hit zero, Bertoletti stood alone with 58 hot dogs and buns in his stomach.
The 2024 Leaderboard: Breaking Down the Numbers
Bertoletti, a 39-year-old veteran from Chicago with a mohawk that’s seen better days, wasn't exactly a dark horse, but he wasn't the favorite either. He’d been away from the Nathan’s stage for a while. Coming back and putting up 58 is impressive, though let’s be real: it’s nowhere near Chestnut’s world record of 76.
The competition was tight. Geoffrey Esper, a perennial bridesmaid in this sport, finished second with 53. James Webb, the Aussie who has been rising through the ranks faster than a shot of Pepto-Bismol, took third with 52.
- Patrick Bertoletti: 58
- Geoffrey Esper: 53
- James Webb: 52
It was a dogfight. Literally.
Why the Mustard Belt Matters More Than You Think
People laugh at competitive eating. They call it gross. They call it a spectacle of American excess. And, honestly, they aren't totally wrong. But for the athletes—and they do train like athletes—this is their Super Bowl. Winning the Mustard Belt carries a prestige in the "sport" world that is hard to explain unless you’ve stood in the 90-degree heat at the corner of Surf and Stillwell Avenues.
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The 2024 contest was a test of the brand’s survival. Could Nathan’s still draw a crowd without Chestnut? They did. Thousands showed up. Millions watched on ESPN. It proved that the "Who Won the Hot Dog Eating Contest" question is bigger than any one person.
The Miki Sudo Dominance
We can’t talk about who won without mentioning the women’s side of the bracket. While the men’s side felt like a chaotic scramble for a vacant throne, the women’s side was a masterclass in clinical efficiency. Miki Sudo is a machine. She won her 10th title in 2024.
She didn't just win; she set a world record.
Sudo downed 51 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Think about that for a second. She ate almost as many as the men’s champion. She beat her own previous record of 48.5. Watching Sudo eat is different from watching the men; there is less thrashing. It’s rhythmic. It’s almost scary. She’s now firmly in the conversation for the greatest competitive eater of all time, regardless of gender.
The Joey Chestnut Elephant in the Room
You can’t really discuss who won the hot dog eating contest without talking about the guy who wasn't there. Joey Chestnut didn't just sit home and pout. He went to a military base in El Paso, Texas, and had his own "un-authorized" contest against soldiers.
He ate 57 dogs in five minutes.
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Five minutes!
That’s basically double the pace of Bertoletti. While Bertoletti has the official belt, there’s a massive asterisk in the minds of the fans. It’s like winning the heavyweight title because the champ got stripped of his belt for a contract dispute. You’re the champ, sure, but everyone knows who the "real" king is. This split in the sport has created two camps. You have the MLE (Major League Eating) purists and the Chestnut loyalists.
The Science of Stomach Stretching
How does Bertoletti or Sudo actually do this? It’t not just being "hungry." If you or I tried to eat 10 hot dogs in 10 minutes, we’d probably get sick by number six. These guys spend months expanding their stomach capacity.
They drink gallons of water in short bursts. They eat massive amounts of low-calorie fiber like cabbage or broccoli just to stretch the stomach lining without putting on 50 pounds of fat. It’s a dangerous game. They also practice the "Solomon Method"—breaking the franks in half, shoving them in, and then dunking the buns in water.
The water-soaked bun is the secret. It acts as a lubricant. It also makes the bread collapse into a wet ball that slides down the esophagus. It’s disgusting to describe, but it’s the only way to win. If you try to eat a dry bun, you're going to choke.
The Aftermath: What Happens Next?
Most eaters don't eat for two days after the contest. Bertoletti described the feeling as a "food hangover" that makes a tequila hangover look like a spa day. Your body is processing a massive amount of sodium and nitrates.
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- The average hot dog has about 500mg of sodium.
- Multiply that by 58.
- That’s 29,000mg of sodium.
The daily recommended limit is 2,300mg. Their kidneys are working overtime. Their blood pressure spikes. This is why there are always medics on standby. It’s a physical feat, even if it looks like a backyard BBQ gone wrong.
Looking Ahead to 2025 and 2026
The big question now is whether Chestnut comes back. There are rumors of a "peace treaty" between him and George Shea (the colorful, straw-hat-wearing promoter of Nathan’s). Fans want the showdown. They want to see if Bertoletti can defend his title against the king.
In the meantime, Bertoletti is enjoying his time at the top. He’s been a staple in the eating world for years—known for eating weird stuff like bull testicles and tubs of cottage cheese—so seeing him finally get the Mustard Belt felt like a "lifetime achievement award" for many in the community.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're planning on attending or following the next contest, keep these things in mind:
- Follow the Qualifiers: The main event is July 4th, but the qualifying rounds happen all over the country starting in May. This is where you see the real up-and-comers.
- Watch the Women's Record: Miki Sudo is nearing the physiological limit of what a human can consume. 51 is a massive number. Seeing if she can hit 55 is the real storyline for next year.
- Don't Try This at Home: Seriously. People have died in amateur eating contests. Competitive eaters have trained their "swallow reflex" and stomach elasticity. Your "uncle Mike" at the 4th of July party has not.
- Check the Brand Deals: The sport is changing. With Netflix getting involved in live sports (like the Chestnut vs. Kobayashi special), the Nathan's contest might face its stiffest competition yet from streaming giants.
The 2024 results proved that the sport can survive a transition, but it also highlighted just how much of a gap exists between the elite and the legendary. Patrick Bertoletti is the rightful champion, a man who conquered 58 hot dogs when the world was watching to see if the contest would crumble. He held it together. He ate the dogs. He got the belt.
The next step is staying at the top. For anyone interested in the future of the sport, keep a close eye on the Major League Eating rankings throughout the 2025 season. The rankings fluctuate based on smaller events—like shrimp cocktail or pierogi eating—and give a much better indication of who is in "game shape" before they hit the big stage at Coney Island next July. Follow the official MLE social channels for weight-ins and regional results to see if anyone is pacing to challenge Bertoletti’s 58-dog mark.