American climbing legend Alex Honnold pulled off a stunning feat on January 25, 2026: free-soloing Taipei 101, the iconic 509-meter skyscraper in Taiwan. Without any safety gear, he ascended the exterior in about 1 hour and 31 minutes. Netflix broadcast the climb live via 'Skyscraper Live,' reaching millions of viewers worldwide.
91 minutes up 509 meters without a rope
Starting from the ground, Honnold worked his way up the glass-and-steel facade, reaching the top safely. The challenge was hailed as a landmark urban free solo, cementing his status since the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo. The livestream captured him gripping tiny ledges hundreds of meters above the street, moving with precision and control.
500K dollars vs. MLB megadeals
According to a New York Times report last week, Honnold received around $500,000 (approximately NT$15.7 million) for the climb. He joked that while it was his highest single-event payday, “in the context of mainstream sports, that money is embarrassingly small.” He pointed to MLB stars signing contracts worth hundreds of millions, highlighting the limited commercial scale of extreme climbing. Honnold has not confirmed the exact figure; media estimates come from sources close to the deal. The gap between his daring achievement and the paycheck underscores the reality of adventure sports economics.
Dreams over dollars
Honnold emphasized that the climb was about fulfilling a long-held ambition, not chasing cash. He said he “would have done it for free,” adding that Netflix’s fee covered production spectacle, not the climbing itself. The event showcased the passion behind extreme sports and the stark contrast between physical glory and financial reward. For Honnold, the summit was its own prize. He proved that true climbers are not defined by numbers—only by the line they choose to walk.