Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest prize: How much money does the winner get?

Breaking down the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest prize money and purse to see how much the winner’s share is for the glizzy’s finest moment.

Few things are as staunchly American as the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest held every year on Coney Island in New York on July 4. The Fourth of July competition that has been dominated by Joey Chestnut for more than a decade now — even with his arm in a sling and while having to body a protester — is a staple of the United State culture.

Sure, it’s not the prettiest thing in the world to watch grown men and women shove dozens upon dozens of glizzies into their mouth after dunking them in the beverage of choice — but the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest is bigger than that. It’s about the ridiculous spectacle of it all, especially the way that the event has grown in popularity over the years.

And with that popularity, the competitive eaters like legendary champions Chestnut and Miki Sudo have seen an uptick in the prize money and overall prize from the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest.

So that has people wondering, how much is the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest prize money for the 2023 event?

Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest prize money and purse for 2023

The winner of the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest receives $10,000 in prize money for both the men’s and women’s competitions. Meanwhile, second place is awarded $5,000, third place gets $2,500, fourth place nets $1,500, and fifth place still takes home $1,000. That’s good for a $20,000 purse for each of the competitions.

In addition to the money, the prized belts are also at the top of the list. The men’s competition winner receives the famous mustard yellow belt full of gems and shiny accoutrements. Meanwhile, when the female competition began in 2011, Nathan’s also introduced the sparkling pink belt as the prize for the winner.

When did Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest start giving out prize money?

Though we’ve been with this Fourth of July contest for years as viewers, it’s not even been two decades since we’ve seen the prize money really stand out. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest began handing out prize money in 2007 for the first time and the purse has grown since then.

Prior to the start of the money getting involved, perhaps the biggest prize handed out — other than the iconic championship belt — was in 2004 with Orbitz offered travel expenses paid for the winner.