Joey Chestnut is back, aiming to shatter his own popcorn-eating record later this month at a Rural King in Indiana.   Will he top 43.5 pounds?

Who is Joey Chestnut?

Joey Chestnut is a competitive eater from Westfield, Indiana. However, he isn't just well-known in the Hoosier State; he's well-known worldwide for his competitive eating skills. Major League Eating claims Joey is the greatest eater in history, and when you look at Joey's stats, it's hard to debate that.

Just look at his list of records that Major League Eating has compiled; you name it, Joey has broken a record eating it.  His most recent record was set in December 2024, when he ate a record-breaking amount of St. Elmo shrimp cocktail, eating 21 lbs in 8 minutes.  If you've ever had St. Elmo's famous shrimp cocktail, you know exactly what a feat that is, because that cocktail sauce bites back.  But now Joey has set his sights on breaking his own record for eating popcorn.

Get our free mobile app

Joey Chestnut's Popcorn World Record Attempt at Rural King

Indiana produces a LOT of popcorn annually, so it's fitting that Joey will attempt to break his own world record in the Hoosier State (which is also his home state).  Even more fitting, the world record attempt will take place at a Rural King in Indiana.  I don't know about you, but when I think of Rural King the first thing I think of is popcorn (well, and baby chicks) because Rural King is well known for letting you fill up a free bag of popcorn and taking it with you as you shop.

According to My Wabash Valley, Joey Chestnut currently holds the world record for eating popcorn, he set that record a few years ago at Victory Field in Indianapolis, where he ate 29 servings of 24 oz of popcorn in under 8 minutes. Just to put that into perspective, that's 696 ounces of popcorn or 43.5 POUNDS of popcorn in 8 minutes.    Can you imagine the water he needed to drink after that?  Good lord.  He's now attempting to break that world record.  I hope he's been watching his salt intake in the meantime.  The attempt to break his world record and set a new record will take place at the South Terre Haute Rural King on May 26th.