Top 10 Competitive Eaters

15 burritos in 8 minutes. 2 pounds of chocolate candy bars in 6 minutes. That’s just to name a couple of “Badlands” Booker’s seven world records recognized by the organization known as Major League Eating. But that’s not all: the man can chug larger amounts and in quicker fashion than you can imagine. For instance, he set a world record of 23.08 seconds to chug a gallon of lemonade at the Nathan’s Famous chug contest in 2023. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel ‘BadlandsChugs.’ There you can see him “Do the Dew” by chugging a glass filled with every type of Mountain Dew he could find. Also a rapper and subway conductor, the lively “Badlands” Booker is simply built differently from the rest of us.

An ex-college basketball player at Clayton State, Oji holds the title for champion of arguably the healthiest food in the competitive eating game: kale. In 2016, he dunked on his competitive eater opponents by devouring a record 25 and a half bowls of kale in 8 minutes. And even after all those leafy greens, he said he was “still hungry.” Oji might even be able to take down Popeye in a spinach eating contest. Besides greens, the 6-foot-9 athlete also has a few top-10 finishes at the iconic Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island.

This Japanese eater, who’s been called the “godfather” of competitive eating, was the cream of the crop for a while in the 2000s. He won an impressive 6 straight Fourth of July Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contests from 2001 to 2006. That’s until someone else, who’s also on this list, knocked him off in 2007. That year, Kobayashi actually ate more hot dogs and buns than he had ever eaten previously at the contest: 63. Although his hot dog record was broken, he still has three world records standing: 41 lobster rolls in 10 minutes, 20 pounds of rice balls in 30 minutes, and 57 cow brains in 15 minutes. Yes, you heard that last one correctly.

#7: Sonya Thomas

A record-holder of over 20 various eating feats, Sonya Thomas is a legend in the eating world. 80, yes, 80, chicken nuggets in 5 minutes. 4 pounds and 14.25 ounces of fruitcake in 10 minutes. Jambalaya, anyone? 9 pounds in 10 minutes. Thomas, a South Korean-born American, set the tone for female competitive eaters in many ways. She won the first ever Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest for Women in 2011. She then munched her way to victory again the following two years. The thinly built champion has explained that she pays attention to her diet and values exercise. But when competition time comes around, it's her mental approach, she explains, that allows her to devour the food - and her competition.

He’s the jalapeño eating champion of the world, with a record of 275 jalapeños in 8 minutes. But Bertoletti’s track record extends way beyond that. He’s tasted sweet victory in many sugary food contests. 72 cupcakes in 6 minutes. 9.17 pounds of blueberry pie in 8 minutes. 10.8 pounds of key lime pie in 8 minutes. When Agent K said “we need pie,” we don’t think he meant that much. Oh yeah, and Bertoletti once ate 38 Mars Bars in 5 minutes. We could go on and on. The Chicago native has set many world records that would make your jaw hit the floor.

#5: Geoffrey Esper

You could call him the Wing King: Geoffrey Esper wolfed down an unfathomable 281 wings in 10 minutes at the Hooters World Wing Eating Championship in 2019. He’s also a high school teacher, so his life involves a lot of lessons. He teaches his students lessons - and he teaches his eating competitors lessons. That includes when he ate a record 95 2-ounce tamales in 10 minutes, 344 Jack’s donut holes in 8 minutes, and 17 and three-quarters bagels with cream cheese in 8 minutes. Esper has set a total of 20 eating records so far and you can catch him on his YouTube channel, @geoffesper, where he puts his next-level food eating prowess on display.

She won 9 out of the 10 Women’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contests between 2014 and 2023. The one year she didn’t win during that time span was when she was pregnant and didn’t participate. So as long as Miki Sudo shows up, you better watch out. Her personal best, and the all-time best for all women, is a whopping 48 and a half hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. Also among her multitude of records is 16 and a half pints of vanilla ice cream in 6 minutes and 8 and a half pounds of kimchi in 6 minutes. Sudo is unquestionably the top female competitive eater in the game.

With 62 hot dogs and buns at the famous July 4th event in 2015, Stonie defeated the most dominant competitive eater of all time. The Californian phenomenon holds 15 eating world records and has amassed more than 16 million subscribers on YouTube. His resume includes an unparalleled 85 MoonPies in 8 minutes, 255 Peeps in 5 minutes, 182 bacon strips in 5 minutes, and 10 pounds of spaghetti with sauce in 8 minutes. As for his motivation, Stonie once said that he’s “always been really competitive” and that food is “something everyone can relate to.” We normal humans can’t relate to being able to eat like this guy, though.

#2: Adam Moran

Some people, including Adam Beard himself, call him “Beard Meets Food.” That’s his name on YouTube, where you watch the competitive eater put himself to the test with a wide range of food extravaganzas. He travels with his big beard to all sorts of restaurants, where he engulfs massive sums of food. With more than 3 million subscribers, it’s evident that many are hungry for Moran’s content. In 2019, he cracked the top 10 at the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest. “Beard Meets Food” is the number one eater in the UK, and number one in all of Europe, according to the Major League Eating rankings.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Because He Ate a World Record 188 Pistachios in 8 Minutes

Because She Won the 2021 Women’s Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Contest

Because He’s the Best Eater in Japan & He Ate 42 ½ Hot Dogs in 10 Minutes

Because He Owns Multiple Records, Including 23.4 Pounds of Salmon Chowder in 6 Minutes

Who else? You may have noticed him on your TV screens on July 4th. Joey Chestnut has won the Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest a record 16 times. His personal best, and of course, world record best, was an unbelievable 76 hot dogs and buns back in 2021. And that’s not the only food he’s been known to chow down on: 23 6-inch Philly cheesesteaks in 10 minutes, 5.9 pounds of funnel cake in 10 minutes, 81 waffles in 8 minutes and that’s just to name a few. The list of ways in which Chestnut has stamped his name in the history books is nothing short of remarkable. As of 2023, he holds 55 world records. Joey Chestnut is the GOAT. Hands down, forks downs, spoons down.

Let us know in the comments if you or someone you know has ever competed in an eating contest!