In a stunning display of athletic prowess, world-renowned climber Alex Honnold has successfully completed a free solo ascent of Taipei 101, Taiwan's iconic 500-metre-tall, 101-floor skyscraper. The daring feat, which took place on January 26, 2026, saw Honnold scale the building without ropes, harnesses, or any safety equipment, completing the climb in one hour and 31 minutes.
Netflix's 'Embarrassing Fee' for the Climb
Despite the global attention and millions of viewers tuning in via Netflix's live stream, Honnold revealed that he was paid what he described as an 'embarrassingly small amount' for the endeavour. In an interview with The New York Times, the 40-year-old American climber compared his compensation to that of mainstream sports stars, noting that Major League Baseball players often secure contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
'Actually, if you put it in the context of mainstream sports, it's an embarrassingly small amount,' Honnold stated. 'You know, Major League Baseball players get like $170 million contracts. Like, someone you haven't even heard of and that nobody cares about.'
Details of the Ascent and Postponement
The climb was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed by 24 hours due to wet weather conditions. Once underway, Honnold navigated the skyscraper's exterior with precision, embracing his wife, Sanni McCandless, upon reaching the summit. The event was streamed live on Netflix with a 10-second delay as a precautionary measure.
Reflecting on the experience, Honnold shared his exhilaration: 'It was like what a view, it's incredible, what a beautiful day. It was very windy, so I was like, don't fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.'
Honnold's Motivation and Training
Honnold emphasised that financial gain was not his primary motivation for undertaking the climb. 'If there was no TV program and the building gave me permission to go do the thing, I would do the thing because I know I can, and it'd be amazing,' he added. Reports from The New York Times suggest he received a mid six-figure sum, though Honnold did not confirm the exact amount.
In preparation for the ascent, Honnold trained for months but remained relatively unconcerned about the climb's difficulty. On a climbing podcast, he remarked, 'I don't think it'll be that extreme. I guess we'll see. I think it's the perfect sweet spot where it's hard enough to be engaging for me and obviously an interesting climb.'
Reactions and Historical Context
The climb drew widespread admiration, with Taiwan's Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim congratulating Honnold and admitting she would 'probably feel sick, too, barely able to watch.' Notably, the only other person to have scaled Taipei 101 is Alain Robert, who completed the climb in four hours using ropes and a harness.
Piers Morgan was among those to praise Honnold, describing him on X as the 'greatest athlete in recorded history.' Morgan wrote, 'Astonishing. Honnold is the greatest athlete in recorded history. Who else even comes close given the jeopardy that surrounds his every climb? The strength, the skill, the guts, the resilience.. just blows my mind! Congrats, Alex, you're an incredible inspiration.'
Honnold's Legacy and Previous Achievements
This latest feat adds to Honnold's remarkable career, which includes his historic 2017 free solo of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, the first of its kind on the route's hardest path. His ability to perform under extreme pressure continues to captivate audiences worldwide, solidifying his status as a pioneering figure in the climbing community.
