Alex Honnold would climb Taipei 101 purely for the thrill, a testament to his relentless pursuit of vertical challenges. He is currently in the midst of free soloing the 1,667-foot tower for Netflix’s live event, Skyscraper Live, originally scheduled for January 23, 2026, but postponed due to weather. Yet the paltry paycheck he received underscores one truth: he faces Taipei 101 for the exquisite terror of dangling in thin air.

Alex Honnold revealed in a New York Times interview that the remuneration for climbing Taipei 101 was modest, describing it as an embarrassing amount. He emphasized that his motivation for free soloing the 1,667-foot tower lies in the challenge itself rather than financial reward.

"So in that case, yeah, an embarrassingly small amount." Honnold explained that, compared to Major League Baseball contracts exceeding $170 million, his mid-six-figure payment for Netflix’s Skyscraper Live appears minimal. The comparison underscores that his true reward is the climb, not the paycheck.

Netflix is compensating Honnold for a live, unscripted broadcast of the free solo, which required months of preparation and pre-climbing the tower with ropes. He also serves as an executive producer, ensuring both safety protocols and the authenticity of the event are maintained.

Despite the financial terms, Honnold stated to New York Times that he would not concern himself with the contract if he had to abort the climb. His focus remains on the physical and psychological demands of scaling Taipei 101, demonstrating that passion outweighs monetary incentives.

Honnold’s obsession with climbing is no shock to anyone who has watched him flirt with sheer vertical death.

How Alex Honnold has become an enemy of Gravity

Alex Honnold’s devotion to climbing is absolute, driving him to free solo vertical walls like Moonlight Buttress in Zion National Park and El Sendero Luminoso in Mexico. He trains meticulously, rehearsing routes with ropes until every movement becomes instinctual muscle memory.

Honnold is becoming a literal enemy of gravity. His free solo of El Capitan’s Freerider route in under four hours, using only smearing techniques on smooth granite, proves he can defy physics while maintaining near-perfect precision.

Scientific research explains part of this mastery: Honnold’s amygdala remains nearly inactive when exposed to fear-inducing stimuli as per Nautilus. Unlike other climbers, he does not panic at sheer drops or tiny footholds, allowing him to move with balletic speed and efficiency.

Each ascent reinforces his reputation. From setting the Yosemite Triple Crown solo speed record to completing the Fitz Traverse in Patagonia and Greenland’s Ingmikortilaq sea cliff, Honnold transforms extreme danger into a calculated performance, leaving observers awed by his audacity.

Do you think Alex Honnold will complete this endeavor? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui