Alex Honnold became a household name in 2018 after the release of “Free Solo.” The critically acclaimed documentary chronicled Honnold’s effort to perform the first-ever free climb on a route in California.
Audiences were mesmerized by Honnold’s skill and bravery, and by the fact that he chooses to climb without the assistance of a rope, net or harness. Honnold took on his newest challenge in a live television spectacle on Saturday night, and the death-defying feat left many with a simple question: How much was he paid to do all of this?
Honnold climbed the 1,667-foot Taipei 101 for Netflix’s “Skyscraper Live” with only climbing shoes and a bucket of chalk to keep sweat off his hands. The veteran climber scaled the building in one hour and 35 minutes on Saturday, becoming the second person to do so and the first to do it without climbing aids.
Alex Honnold’s selfie from the top of Taipei 101 after his historic free solo. #SkyscraperLIVE pic.twitter.com/utODFAzzbX
— Netflix (@netflix) January 25, 2026
After completing the feat, new information has been revealed that indicates Honnold’s compensation.
How Much Was Honnold Paid for His Daring Climb?
The New York Times interviewed Honnold a few days before his climb, and he revealed that his payment for the stunt was “embarrassing.”
“Actually, if you put it in the context of mainstream sports, it’s an embarrassingly small amount. You know, Major League Baseball players get like $170 million contracts. Like, someone you haven’t even heard of and that nobody cares about,” Honnold said.
No hands is crazy. @AlexHonnold #SkyscraperLIVE pic.twitter.com/twmCSX5nDS
— Netflix (@netflix) January 25, 2026
After being asked if he was paid $10 million or more, Honnold responded with “No.” The New York Times reported that he’s expected to be paid in the “mid-six figures,” putting his compensation at around roughly $500,000.
To put that number into perspective, Honnold stands to make less than the minimum salary across the four major North American professional sports leagues.
In the NBA, the league minimum sits around $1.6 million, while the NHL and NFL minimums are each around $750k for rookies. Major League Baseball’s salary floor sits at roughly $720k – more than Honnold’s estimated payment for a far more dangerous sporting accomplishment.
Honnold’s Mindset and Next Steps after Taipei
In an interview with Netflix before his climb, Honnold noted that he expected viewers to watch with fear or discomfort due to the danger involved, but that he also wanted people to share the joy he feels from free climbing.
“I hope that viewers get a little bit of my joy from the experience — that they can appreciate the fun of it and the beauty of it, the scenery, just the whole experience,” Honnold said.
As for next steps, Honnold noted that he wanted to enjoy a well-earned meal after a hard day’s work.
“I’ll take the elevator down, I’ll see my wife, we’ll be psyched. We’ll eat at the buffet that night — it’s a really nice buffet — it’ll be great, and that will be the day,” he said. “Then I’ll go home, and I’ll go back to my climbing practice.”
