Alex Honnold Talks Netflix Payout After Risky Taipei 101 Stunt Without Safety Equipment

Alex Honnold recently cleared the air about his payment for climbing Taipei 101 without safety gear, one of the most daring stunts of his career. The 40-year-old climber scaled the 101-story skyscraper in Taiwan in just over an hour and a half, with the event broadcast live on Netflix to millions of viewers worldwide.

Speculation swirled about Honnold earning a huge sum, with rumors suggesting a half-million-dollar payout. During an appearance on the podcast The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, he addressed the topic directly.

Essentially, over the course of my life, I’ve done a ton of work for free, Honnold said, making it clear that he prioritizes passion over big contracts. It’s all part of the game, and I just like to play, he added, explaining that he isn’t focused on exact numbers.

Honnold also pointed out that financial rewards often come indirectly. He said that after the climb, offers for speaking engagements, sponsorships, and other opportunities began arriving almost immediately.

You don’t have to be paid for the thing itself because it all works out in the end, he said, emphasizing that delivering an outstanding performance is what matters most to him.

Earlier, in an interview with the New York Times, Honnold called his payout for the Taipei 101 climb an embarrassingly small amount, comparing it to multi-million-dollar contracts in professional sports. In his discussion with Bartlett, he clarified that he was never truly complaining. I would have done it for free, he admitted, joking that only his agent might have hoped for a bigger payday.

Since the January climb, Honnold has returned to traditional rock climbing and his work with the Honnold Foundation, which funds solar energy projects in underserved communities. While he has no immediate plans for another skyscraper ascent, he remains a key figure in adventure documentaries and environmental advocacy.

The Netflix special, Skyscraper Live, featured commentary from Elle Duncan and YouTuber Mark Rober and became one of the platform’s most-watched live events, cementing Honnold’s fame beyond climbing circles.

It’s clear that for Honnold, personal achievement and the thrill of the climb outweigh financial gain. Personally, I think his approach is admirable, focusing on passion and purpose rather than money, but it raises a question: should athletes and extreme performers get paid like pro sports stars for high-risk events, or is the experience reward enough? What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments.