The following is a list of notable competitive eaters.
Ranked #3 in the world by the IFOCE. More than $130,000 in career winnings.[1] Winner of 50 career eating contests with 26 second place finishes.[1] Holds 23 IFOCE eating records, including corned beef and cabbage (10.63 pounds in 10 minutes), calamari (6.6 pounds in 10 minutes), ice cream (1.75 gallons in 8 minutes), jalapeno peppers (266 in 15 minutes), and strawberry shortcake (15.25 pounds in 8 minutes).[2] His record of 21 pounds of grits eaten in 10 minutes at the 2007 Louisiana Downs World Grits Eating Championship stands as the most food by weight ever consumed in a competitive eating contest.[2]
Ranked #10 in the world by the IFOCE. Career winnings total more than $20,000.[3] Holds IFOCE eating records in candy bars (two pounds in 6 minutes), corned beef hash (4 pounds in 1 minute 58 seconds), glazed doughnuts (49 in 8 minutes), and matzo balls (21 baseball-sized balls in 5 minutes, 25 seconds). [2]
Currently the #1 ranked competitive eater in the world by the IFOCE. Best known for defeating Takeru Kobayashi in the 2007 Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Contest, ending Kobayashi’s six year championship reign. Winner of 55 career eating contests (25 second place finishes), including Wing Bowl victories in three consecutive years (2006-2008) and four consecutive Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest wins (2007-2010). [4] Featured on a Topps sports card in the 2008 Allen & Ginter set featuring baseball players and notable athletes from other sports. Career winnings total more than $200,000, not including two vehicles and a motorcycle for his Wing Bowl wins.[4] Holds 15 IFOCE eating records, including pizza (45 slices in 10 minutes), chicken wings (182 in 30 minutes), Krystal burgers (103 in 8 minutes), jalapeno poppers (118 in 10 minutes) and hot dogs (68 in 10 minutes).[2]
Ranked #15 in the world by the IFOCE. Is the subject of a competitive eating documentary, “Crazy Legs Conti: Zen and the Art of Competitive Eating.” More than $10,000 in career winnings.[5] Holds five IFOCE eating records, including green beans (2.71 pounds in 6 minutes) and sweet corn (34.75 ears in 12 minutes). In 2010, disgustingly, Conti was caught on video cheating at a qualifier for the July 4th Nathan's contest. [2]
Set many Guinness Book of World Records eating speed records.
Currently ranked #6 in the world by the IFOCE. More than $70,000 in career winnings.[6] Holds six IFOCE eating records, including burritos (11.81 pounds in 10 minutes), sushi (141 pieces in 6 minutes), and tamales (71 in 12 minutes).[2]
More than $15,000 in career winnings.[7] Holds 11 IFOCE eating records, including cannoli (26 in 6 minutes), Chinese dumplings (91 in 8 minutes), and grapes (8 pounds, 15 ounces in 10 minutes).[2]
A resident of Nagano, Japan. Once the ranked #1 eater in the world (now #2). His 50 hot dogs eaten in the 2001 Nathan’s contest nearly doubled the previous record. Competed in and lost a hot dog eating contest against a Kodiak bear on the Fox television show Man vs. Beast in 2003. More than $75,000 in career winnings[8], despite only appearing in a handful of U.S. contests each year. Holds four IFOCE eating records, including bratwurst (58 with bun in 10 minutes), cow brains (17.7 pounds in 15 minutes) and rice balls (20 pounds in 30 minutes).[2]
Ranked #18 by the IFOCE. His wife, Carlene, was also once a ranked IFOCE eater (retired in 2005). More than $50,000 in career winnings.[9] Holds eight IFOCE eating records, including chili (1.5 gallons in 10 minutes), huevos rancheros (7.75 pounds in 10 minutes), and Spam (6 pounds in 10 minutes).[2] Finished the Big Texan 72 ounce steak challenge a record 11 times.[8]
Once ranked #2 in the world by the IFOCE, now ranked #5. Has amassed over $100,000 in career winnings.[10] Featured in a 2008 Mastercard Paypass commercial with Takeru Kobayashi. Winner of the 2004 Wing Bowl[11]. Holds more than 20 world records, including chili cheese fries (8 lbs, 2 oz in 10 minutes), crab cakes (46 in 10 minutes), hard boiled eggs (65 in 6 minutes, 40 seconds), and oysters (46 dozen in 10 minutes).[2]