What are the biggest competitive eating contests?

What are the biggest competitive eating contests?

Ian "The Invader" Hickman (Competitive Eater) gives expert video advice on: What do you love about competitive eating?; What is your favorite competitive eating contest?; How do you get ready for a competitive eating contest? and more...

The one that is most recognized is Nathan's 4th of July contest; you know the whole Kobayashi, Joey Chestnut, Pat Bertoletti thing going with the hotdogs. Usually the bigger contests are the one's that are most publicized, most televised, things like that. A lot of people relate to ESPN because they are covering the wide-stream of all sorts of people; people who have cable and are able to access that. In independent contests it is usually the one with the most money involved. I do windmill and that's $500. I've done a black & white cookie contest and that was $1000. So in independent contests it's usually how much the prize is.