Total cash winnings since Jan 1, 2012 & May 23, 2011
Listings of people who have won more than $2000 in the past year and/or $1000 in the current calendar year according to values in the eatfeats database are available after the jump. These listings are incomplete; several independent contests (Sylvester’s Burgers, San Antonio tamales, etc.) have not announced results. Please put any unlisted cash awards not entered in the database in the comments.
The sidebar will be updated soon to list both of these tables.
People with $2,000 or more in cash prizes since May 23, 2011
People with $1,000 or more in cash prizes since January 1, 2012
| 20,000.00 | Takeru Kobayashi |
| 12,500.00 | Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti |
| 7,250.00 | Joey “Jaws” Chestnut |
| 5,000.00 | Paul Trovato |
| 4,850.00 | “Notorious” Bob Shoudt |
| 3,500.00 | Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas |
| 3,250.00 | Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan |
| 3,000.00 | Ng Chin Sheng |
| 3,000.00 | Crazy Legs Conti |
| 3,000.00 | Helen Tan |
| 2,950.00 | Matt “Megatoad” Stonie |
| 2,500.00 | “Large” Todd |
| 2,200.00 | Aaron “A-Train” Osthoff |
| 2,050.00 | Eric “Silo” Dahl |
| 2,000.00 | Chotiwit Niwatdechbordin |
| 2,000.00 | “Furious” Pete Czerwinski |
| 2,000.00 | Thidathip Hadthai |
| 1,950.00 | Tim “Eater X” Janus |
| 1,900.00 | David “Tiger Wings and Things” Brunelli |
| 1,700.00 | “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti |
| 1,650.00 | Stephanie “Xanadu” Torres |
| 1,500.00 | Matt Siverio |
| 1,500.00 | Rebecca Oey |
| 1,400.00 | Eric “Badlands” Booker |
| 1,100.00 | Tim “Gravy” Brown |
| 1,100.00 | Johnnie Excel |
| 1,000.00 | Mark “Bonestripper” Reigelsperger |
| 1,000.00 | Chris Merchant |
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Krystal Ball said
May 23, 2012 @ 2:58 pm
AWESOME! THANKS, OJ!
Yuck said
May 23, 2012 @ 3:14 pm
OJ, you’re awesome. The independents were so jealous of all the new MLE opportunites (and MLE hasn’t even had Hooters or Nathan’s yet) that they needed to create one more fake argument against the MLE that MLE doesn’t spread the wealth around. Next thing you know you find that Kobayashi makes $33,000 and the nearest independent in “Furious Pete” with $14,833 (not even half). And in this year, Kobi makes $20,000 and the nearest indie is at $5,000. In fact it appears that Kobi’s greediness has actually taken some independents completely off the map (Squibb at Wingbowl). Where is the outrage from the independent eating community? How could the independent system of eating create such a travesty where Kobi is stealing all the lucrative prizes from other independent eaters. I’m appalled! I guess it’s time for the independents to move onto another false objection about MLE before their Kobi Kool Aid crew dig their boy into a deeper hole. I liked it when you guys lied to make MLE seem racist. Maybe you guys should try that one again? Boy you guys really bought that Kobi crap when he said he just wanted to be free and MLE was evil. When all along he saw more money to be made by stealing it from the other independent eaters.
ojrifkin said (Registered July 27, 2005)
May 23, 2012 @ 3:17 pm
The list does not take non-cash prizes into account. Jon Squibb won a car in Wing Bowl 20.
Krystal Ball said
May 23, 2012 @ 3:34 pm
I would also would like to add Battle of the Bone in AZ gave away a new Toyota truck.
Yucky Legs Conti, did you notice how Pete, Brunelli and GJoe is ahead of your bestie Janus in the winings? I think that’s extremely sad because Janus is twice the eaters then any of those three.
I want to be clear here, I think MLE should spread the money around more to their eaters then keeping 70-80% of it for themselves.
jamminjoe said
May 23, 2012 @ 4:02 pm
@ YUCK your a moron, Takeru Kobayashi is marketing himself and his abilities because he can. He is not “stealing anything from anyone. It’s all about marketing. What about all the money Joey stole from the other mle eaters by not sharing his lucritive pepto-bismal sponsor ship. the list just shows what has been said all along,that the top mle eaters make the most while the others break even. I don’t ever recall anyone calling mle racist.
Yuck said
May 23, 2012 @ 4:15 pm
Krystal, I’m not Jason but thanks for the compliment. He’s a great guy and if you actually knew him I think you’d agree. Go ask him yourself if you ever go to an MLE contest. So you’re mad with made up figures of how much money MLE makes off of each contract, but you’re not mad that Kobi’s taken over 75 percent of all the lucrative independent competitive eating prizes as OJ’s numbers now prove to you? Now, don’t you think that’s a little biased and unfair? At least MLE provides a service to it’s eaters by getting sponsors, organize contests, putting on shows, organizing trips, providing public relations and media opportunities for eaters, etc. All Kobi seems to be doing is, pay Kobi, and by the way my fellow independent eaters would you mind standing behind me and pretend to eat a lot of hot dogs so I can look legitimate to the media. Oh, and thanks Brooklyn, Coney Island, and Nathan’s, I made a name off you guys but I don’t need you any more. So, while you’re innocent, Kobi’s going to try to screw you over and hold a contest in Brooklyn of the Fourth of July. Now who or what organziation are more upstanding and really do a better job of being fair and by spreading the money arround, Kobi or MLE? Be honest — look at OJ’s numbers.
Yuck said
May 23, 2012 @ 4:39 pm
Jammin Joe — I’m a moron huh? Well JamminJoe you’re a poopie head and you’ve got boogers that smell like farts. You’re a big poopie, fart smelling booger man. So, Joe now that we’ve gotten past that name calling adult behavior. Joe, if you want a lucrative Pepto Bismol contract go win Nathan’s. It’s open to everyone except those that tried to screw over Nathan’s and MLE by doing independent contests after they got prize money and free trips from Nathan’s and MLE. So, Joey didn’t steal anything. Yet, since you can’t beat Joey or win at Nathan’s and get a lucrative Pepto Bismol contract then I guess you’re just jealous and a sore loser (sorry I said I wouldn’t do anymore name calling but that’s kind of a fact isn’t it?). Yes, Joe the top football players, baseball players, and every other emerging sport made more money when the leagues were in their infancy. The lesser players were lucky to break even and often had other jobs for their livelihood. I’m not sure where you’re going on that one? Except for for the fact that you’re also underscoring my point that the MLE does the best with spreading the money around as example in giving the girls an opportunity to make money, and those guys who Sonya usually beats a chance to be in the money too.
Anonymous said
May 23, 2012 @ 4:59 pm
B4 Kobi, u only saw the Nathan’s contest as a very short blurb on CNN. It was Kobi who made Nathan’s.
As long as he wins, Kobi deserves the money, & I, as an indy eater, bear no ill will towards him. Also, it doesn’t take into account, trips,tv’s, GC’s, tickets, parties, food & more…only cash.
With Kobi in a contest, If there are significant prizes for 2nd, 3rd, maybe 4th & 5th, maybe i’ll show up, if there is only significant cash for 1st, I won’t.
Except for Wing Bowl Kobi has CREATED his own opportunities. & if he took anything away, it was only for eaters OUTSIDE the Philly area.
As CE grows, there will be more & more competition for prizes in both worlds. Most will probably start with MLE, realize, unless they are top 5, they’re getting hosed and become indy.
Crazylegs is a great guy to hang out with, but like with Boone, how can u want to be at the table with someone who cheats. NOT working in a gray area, but flat out cheats!
70% would probably be acceptable compared to what it probably is.
While I may like to compete in some of MLE’s contests, I am definitely not jealous. MLE’ers may be jealous of Wing Bowl though…Quite a few show up…
anony mouse said
May 23, 2012 @ 5:14 pm
MLE doesn’t have a women’s division to spread around the cash, its an additional pr move. Initially the money wasn’t going to be on par with the men, but the bad publicity from that wasn’t worth it, so they ponied up the additional cash.
BigWillTheChamp said (Registered February 1, 2009)
May 23, 2012 @ 5:19 pm
Where is Koby taking from independents?
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Eating Contest Austin, TX – Exhibition
Wing Bowl 20 Philadelphia, PA – True Open Contest
Takeru Kobayashi turkey record attempt Manhattan, NY – Exhibition
West Coast Hot Dog Eating Championship Mission Viejo, CA – True Open Contest
Pie Eating Contest Barrie, ON, Canada Created using him as a brand
Gringo Bandito Hot Sauce Taco Challenge Created using him as a brand
Pizza Eating Contest Barrie, ON, Canada Created using him as a brand
So, Koby has won 2 contests that were truly independent and not created as marketing stunt to use his name as a brand in the first place. Sure the 2 he won were biggies, but to say he’s “stealing” independent eater money is retarded, if that could even be considered “stealing” in the first place, lol.
Yuck said
May 23, 2012 @ 5:39 pm
Anony Mouse — Yes MLE does deserve credit for doing the right thing and paying the women as much as the men and deserves credit for correcting that mistake. In fact, many people believed that MLE and Nathan’s planned on doing that all along and was a smart public affairs move to equalize the prizes later to gain more attention to the women’s event. I think Kobi’s fans constant claims that Kobi “made Nathan’s” just shows the arrogance and lack of appreciation of Kobi and the Kobi Kool Aid crew. Because Kobi didn’t create the fame of Coney Island and it’s association with Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, Brooklyn, or the Fourth of July. And, Kobi therefore never would have gotten any public attention hadn’t he used that venue when he demonstrated his extraordinary eating abilities. Yet, how did Kobi demonstrate any appreciation for all this? He arrogantly disregarded Nathan’s, Brooklyn, Coney Island, and all America has given him, and decides to hold his own Hot Dog eating contest in Brooklyn on the Fourth of July. That’s disgusting and showed a lot people the real Kobi. Shame on Kobi! Go hold your contest somewhere else and not on the Fourth of July. Kobi owes at least the people of Brooklyn more than that kind of selfish behavior on his part.
anonymous said
May 23, 2012 @ 7:32 pm
Yuck, why don’t you let the people of Brooklyn decide who they want to watch on July 4th. Are you the new spokesperson for Brooklyn? This is America and Kobi is taking advantage of the opportunity to use his name to put out some contests and do some promotions. No big deal. I think any other eater in his position may do the same.
DUCK said
May 23, 2012 @ 8:18 pm
Yuck seems to really love Brooklyn, isn’t crazy legs conti a native of Brooklyn? Also Yuck seems to know A LOT about competitive eating, isn’t CLC pretty much the CE dictionary?
if it walks and quacks like a CLC… it’s probably a CLC!
What’s the over under on CLC using the term “Kobi Kool aid” tomorrow? I’ll set the bar at 25 (the amount of HDB’s he pretends to eat at his qualifier) or should we use the real number of HDB’s he can consume at set it at 16…
Anonymous said
May 23, 2012 @ 9:13 pm
Nathans sucks now without Kobi and he is still the face of competitive eating, some ppl know who Joey is or Sonya, after that they dont have a clue.
anonymous said
May 23, 2012 @ 10:41 pm
@anonymous 9:13pm You are out of line because everyone knows who Damien Boykin and Jon Bello are.
anonymous said
May 24, 2012 @ 1:40 am
Anytime a pro MLE comment is posted it is either Conti or Janus . Do not believe for one minute that either of them never comment or visit this site.
big poopie, fart smelling booger man said
May 24, 2012 @ 8:17 am
@ Yuck- I don’t know an Indy eater that is jealous of T.K. or is crying about not being part of mle. I’m not a sore loser and I actually believe Joey (who I consider a friend) deserves everything he earns, as well as the other top eaters in whatever league, contest or however they earn their money. I believe your comments are incorrect as well as outlandish.
Marshmallow World said
May 24, 2012 @ 8:33 am
Kobi and Dale Boone are the most and only recognized people in competitive eating. Everyone else is unknown, though Steph Torres is starting to get attention.
anonymous said
May 24, 2012 @ 9:20 am
Has anyone noticed that as soon as Koby was arrested , the top eaters in MLE stayed away from him like the plague including the ones that were close with him. when he was with MLE. What a pure display of fake friendship on the part of a bunch of hypocrites. You know who you are no need to mention names
Anonymous said
May 24, 2012 @ 9:58 am
9:20 you are absolutely incorrect. Some eaters really helped Kobayashi but this is not the place to name names, it just seems to be a place to make negative comments and tear everyone down. Not sure what you count as top, lots of things which are done are done privately, as they should be. 1:40 am is full of not sleeping too and not correct. But go with whatever you insist is the truth, one anonymous to another is not going to provide proof.
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
May 24, 2012 @ 9:59 am
anonymous 9:20, exactly what are you trying to accomplish? Do you even know? Are you bored? As the saying goes, “An idle mind is the Devil’s workshop.” Apparently, he is starting a factory in yours.
anonymous said
May 24, 2012 @ 10:15 am
Rhonda first off who are you ? Wait a minute you have avoided that question for years so why push it? . Second how do you know i am incorrect? Who are the eaters that helped Kobayashi? Not one eater intervened when he was arrested. They just stood there and watched as he was handcuffed and taken into squad car. Until you can prove otherwise SHUTUP
Yuck said
May 24, 2012 @ 11:05 am
So Kobayashi intentionally tries disrupt and gets arrested for resisting arrest and MLE eaters are supposed to hail his idiotic, erratic efforts to take the spotlight away from MLE and its eaters? While with the MLE he continually does contests for his own personal benefit, that when potential sponsors see Kobi’s demos they withdraw potential contracts that could of benefited his fellow MLE eaters. His spokesperson portrays anyone who would sign an MLE contract as an idiot, and MLE eaters are supposed to thank Kobi. MLE eaters break records at a real MLE contest, and the next day Kobi goes on You Tube to do bogus demonstrations of how he’s better than that MLE eater with Kobi-selected judges. Kobayashi tries to screw over MLE eaters by consistently holding sham contests on the Fourth of July, this year in Brooklyn no less, trying to screwing over the innocent people of Brooklyn revenue wise on one of Coney Island’s most famous and profitable days of the year. So you idiots are questioning why MLE eaters aren’t being gracious to selfish Kobi? To this day, three years later, his website still contains “Free Kobi” as if MLE and its eaters are in the way of Kobi’s greedy desire to steal all lucrative independent contests. Who needs a friend like that?
anonymous said
May 24, 2012 @ 11:14 am
Yuck is right. From day one in 2001 when he took the stage and ate 50 hot dogs , it was all about him. I do not think he cares about anyone else but himself. He thrives upon praise from others.but without the praise and admiration from friends it means nothing
maybe kobayashi said
May 24, 2012 @ 11:43 am
I am not gay i am japanese
Rhonda Evans said (Registered March 6, 2008)
May 24, 2012 @ 12:08 pm
An anonymous acting like he or she has a point to make, doesn’t, then wants me to shut up? That’s a hot one!
If we met in person, I guaran-damn-tee you would not only change your tone, you’d have a “spiritual” awakening. 🙂
Oh, the luxury of growing “balls” on the Internet.