First MLE top 50 of 2026
For the first time in over 8 months, the MLE top 50 has been updated. Scott “Scott Eats” Watkins is not ranked, so presumably he declined the MLE contract. updateHere is the full list with the previous ranking
Dropping out:
20 Mayoi Ebihara
33 Max Suzuki
36 Zosan Pacpac
38 Erik Denmark
39 Kelly Wong
40 Pablo Martinez
47 Joey Przybylowicz
48 Julie Goldberg
50 Michael Dietz
MLE top 50 updated, Joey Chestnut still #1
The Major League Eating Top 50 has been updated. Joey Chestnut remains #1 despite his estrangement from the organization. Nathan’s winner Pat Bertoletti jumps to #2. The new top 10
- Joey Chestnut (previously #1)
- Pat Bertoletti (#9)
- Geoff Esper (#2)
- James Webb (#5)
- Miki Sudo (#3)
- Nick Wehry (#4)
- Gideon Oji (#6)
- Derek Hendrickson (#8)
- Michelle Lesco (#10)
- Darrien Thomas (#12)
Entering
- 13 Sean Yeager
- 16 Max Stanford (fixed)
- 38 Radim Dvoracek
- 45 Joey Przybylowicz
- 47 Cherish Brown
- 48 Julie Goldberg
leaving
- 16 Darron Breeden
- 28 Juan Rodriguez
- 30 Sarah Rodriguez
- 46 Brian Dudzinski
- 48 Kathryn Tesch
- 50 Doug Ecks
Notable omissions: Takuya Yamomoto, William Lyon, Max Stanford, Yasir Salem, Kylan Lee, Tandra Childress
Derek Hendrickson and Darron Breeden rank the three worst food challenges they have ever done in the latest episode of the "Between the Buns" podcast.
Mashed.com has ranked the top 13 Major League Eating contests. Only 6 of the competitions were held in 2023, with many (Krystal Square Off, Wing Bowl, Glutton Bowl, ...) having long been discontinued.
MLE top 50 updated, Stonie out
The MLE top 50 has been updated. Matt Stonie has been removed after almost 2 and a half years of inactivity. The top 15.
1. Joey Chestnut
2. Geoffrey Esper
3. Miki Sudo
4. Nick Wehry
5. James Webb
6. Gideon Oji
7. Bartley Weaver, IV
8. Derek Hendrickson
9. Pat Bertoletti
10. Michelle Lesco
11. Max Suzuki
12. Darrien Thomas
13. Zosan Pacpac
14. Mayoi Ebihara
15. Adrian Morgan
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Webb, Bertoletti, Corbucci enter MLE top 50
The MLE top 50 has been updated for the first time in about a year. The new top 12:
1. Joey Chestnut
2. Geoff Esper
3. Miki Sudo
4. Nick Wehry
5. Matt Stonie
6. Darron Breeden
7. Gideon Oji
8. Max Suzuki
9. Michelle Lesco
10. James Webb
11. Pat Bertoletti
12. Ricardo Corbucci
James Webb, Pat Bertoletti and Ricardo Corbucci are the only new entrants, replacing Juan Neave, Gordon Hazzard and Rich LeFevre. I think Australian James Webb is the first non-American or Japanese to make the top 10. Katina DeJarnett and Ryan “Max Carnage” Rodacker are surprising omissions.
2021 was the first year there were no updates to the MLE top 50, which was last changed in October 2020. Ricardo Corbucci is the only obvious new entrant if the rankings are modified.
A 4chan thread asks commenters to post their favorite competitive eater. Responses include Randy Santel, Beard Meats Food and Raina Huang.
Food Insider has produced a video listing the most iconic restaurant in each state. Several of the selections have been involved with restaurant challenges and eating contests including St. Elmo's Steak House (Indiana), Stella's (Nebraska), Voodoo Doughnuts (Oregon) and Ben's Chili Bowl (Washington, DC).
Darron Breeden lists the five hardest restaurant food challenges he has attempted.
British Eating League awards
The British Eating League has started announcing its awards for 2020:
Best Australian Female Eater – Mimi Zhang
Best Turkish Male Eater – Yakup Balikci
Best Tiktok Eater – Raina Huang
Best Team Eaters – Nick Wehry and Miki Sudo
update December 22 awards
Best Australian male – Cal “Hulk Smash Food” Stubbs
Best Czech male – Radim Dvoracek
Best UK female – Leah Shutkever
Best Instgram eater – Jesse “Food Coma” Freeman
update December 23 awards
Facebook eater of the Year – Randy Santel
Best Online Team Eaters of the Year – Molly Schuyler & Dan Kennedy
Best UK Eater – Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran
Best Youtube Eater – Matt Stonie
Hall of Fame – Randy Santel
New MLE top 50 out, Steve Hammond in, Sonya Thomas out
The MLE top 50 was updated today for the first time since June 2019. The new top 10:
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The British Eating League has announced it plans to start awards for competitive eating. The categories are: top UK male / female, top world male / female, best eating couple and best Youtube eater.
The League of Fire has started a worldwide ranking of spicy eating challengers placing Justin ‘The Thunder from Down Under’ Rummel at the top.
Michael Dietz announced that he has retired from competitive eating and will focus on slapfighting. He is the second currently ranked member of the MLE top 50 to announce his retirement after Ronnie Hartman.
Voting open for 2020 “Finkies”
Voting is now open for the 2020 “Finkies” competitive eating awards. The award ceremony will be video-based this year. A podcast about the awards. The categories and choices are:
Eater of the Year
Darron Breeden
Joey Chestnut
Geoff Esper
Joel Hansen
Miki Sudo
Peacock
Badlands Booker
Crazy Legs Conti
Miki Sudo and Nick Wehry
Juan Rodriguez and Sarah Reinecke
Katie Prettyman
Muggle (non competitive eating award)
Michelle Lesco – Brain cancer awareness
Rene Rovtar – school superintendent
Yasir Salem – 50 marathons in 50 states
Ronnie Hartman – pro wrestling
Bartley Weaver – Tennessee Titans mascot
Possible 2020 MLE top 50 changes
Here are possible new entrants for the MLE top 50 when it is updated (last update was June 25)
- Steve Hammond (32 hot dogs, $600 won) seems the only certain new member
- Joel Hansen ($200) will probably enter if he has signed the MLE contract, which I don’t think he has
- John Gebhard, ($350)
- Ben Welch, ($350)
- Greg Wilson ($250)
- Roderick Buenviaje (19 hot dogs)
Possible removals from the top 50
- Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas (#16), last official contest Sept 3, 2017 (disqualified from 2018 Nathan’s finals)
- Juliet Lee (#17) (RIP), (She might be left in as a tribute)
- Erik Denmark (#24), Last MLE contest Oct 4, 208
- Nela Zisser (#37) Last MLE contest July 4, 2016
1st MLE top 50 of 2019
The MLE top 50 was updated today for the first time in 2019. The new top 10:
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Feedspot has compiled a list of 30 eating challenge youtube channels to follow in 2019.
2019 Finkies winners
Winners of the 2019 “Finkies” awards announced Saturday:
Contest Sponsor – Original Nathan’s
Rising Star – George Chiger
Media – Juan Rodriguez & Sarah Reinecke nude photos in Men’s Health
Breakout – Geoff Esper
Rivalry – Rene Rovtar vs Kay Rovtar
4th “Finkies” Awards announced
The 4th annual Finkie’s competitive eating awards that will take place April 13 at Flannery’s Bar in Manhattan were announced on Tuesday night(podcast | videos). The categories and choices, which can be voted on online are:
1st MLE Top 50 of 2018 released
MLE has updated its top 50 for the first time in 2018. The new top 10:
1) Joey Chestnut
2) Carmen Cincotti
3) Geoffrey Esper
4) Matt Stonie
5) Darron Breeden
6) Gideon Oji
7) Miki Sudo
8) Adrian Morgan
9) Michelle Lesco
10) Max Suzuki
Entering
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Possible updates to first 2018 MLE top 50
The MLE 50 top has yet to see a modification in 2018. Here are some possible changes when it is updated.
Possible New Entrants
George Chiger
Matt Hazzard
Katie Prettyman
Max Suzuki
Nick Wehry
Possible removals
Meredith Boxberger – retired
Nela Zisser – last MLE contest July 4, 2016
Scott Thomas – last contest Sep 17 2016
Micah “Wing Kong” Collins – last contest Oct 8 2016
Steven Schuster – last contest May 6 2017
All Pro Eating has updated their top 20 list of independent eaters. Brandon "Da Disposal" Clark enters the roster at #7.
2018 Finkies awards winners
The Fink Beats the Stomach announced the winners of their “Finkies” awards for 2017, which were based on online polls:
Rookie of the Year: Rene Rovtar
Showman of the Year: Beard Meats Food
Male Competitive Eater of the Year: Joey Chestnut
Female Competitive Eater of the Year: Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco
Emcee of the Year: Eric “Badlands” Booker
Darron Breeden did not agree with the Rookie of the Year choice. Molly Schuyler and Miki Sudo have yet to comment on the Female of the Year award.
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