Overview
- Janus died on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, at age 49, and Major League Eating said his publicist confirmed the cause as complications from a long battle with cancer.
- He spent about 12 years on the competitive-eating circuit as “Eater X,” painted his face like a Viking, reached as high as No. 2 in the world and set event records in ramen, nigiri, tiramisu and hot-dog contests.
- Janus moved beyond contests into TV and games shows, teaming with Joey Chestnut on CBS’s The Amazing Race Season 30 and winning big on shows such as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and Cash Cab.
- He retired from competition and was inducted into the Major League Eating Hall of Fame in 2016; his obituary says he was accepted into the U.S. Foreign Service before his diagnosis and a celebration of life is planned in New York City in October.
- Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to his theatrical persona and competitive drive, and his career highlighted both the sport’s mainstream reach and the health concerns that shaped his later life.