Alex Honnold took one of the most visible risks of his career with a free solo ascent of Taipei 101, scaling the 1,667-foot tower without ropes during a live global Netflix broadcast.
The event, titled Skyscraper Live, marked a major shift from the remote granite walls that defined Honnold’s rise. Instead of natural rock, he relied on architectural ledges, seams, and exterior corners made of steel and glass.
Honnold has explained that the building’s design offered planned bailout points. Those options do not exist on sheer cliff faces such as El Capitan.
The Taipei 101 climb divided the climbing community. Some critics viewed it as overly commercial. Others recognised the scale of coordination and institutional approval required.
Honnold rejected claims that the ascent contradicted his philosophy. He said the project followed the same principles of preparation, route analysis, and risk management that guide all his climbs.
ALEX HONNOLD AFTER COMPLETING HIS FREE SOLO OF TAIPEI 101: "Sick."
The 101 story climb took 1 hour and 35 minutes #SkyscraperLIVE pic.twitter.com/TIzeRqiUcM
— Netflix (@netflix) January 25, 2026Unlike his earlier feats, this ascent unfolded under constant public attention. The live broadcast transformed free solo climbing into a global media spectacle and highlighted how Honnold’s career has expanded beyond the climbing world.
Alex Honnold’s Net Worth
Alex Honnold’s estimated net worth stands at $2 million.
That figure may seem modest compared to athletes in mainstream sports. It reflects the economic reality of elite climbing rather than limited success.
Honnold reached worldwide recognition after his rope-free ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. The climb became the centrepiece of the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo.
American rock climber Alex Honnold climbed the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taiwan without any ropes or protective equipment in a free solo climb broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. Read more here: https://t.co/Mzuzyb3NEq pic.twitter.com/oDBZR0mO2R
— The Associated Press (@AP) January 25, 2026The film introduced his calm, methodical mindset to a global audience and reshaped public understanding of extreme climbing.
How Honnold Earns His Income
Despite the scale of the Netflix project, Honnold has repeatedly said he does not earn money for the act of climbing itself.
His compensation from the Taipei 101 event came from media production and broadcast rights. Reports place the payment in the mid-six figures, which Honnold has described as reasonable rather than extraordinary.
Alex Honnold is one of the greatest climbers the world has ever seen — famously free soloing El Capitan, nearly 3,000 feet, without a rope. What's his home life like?
SKYSCRAPER LIVE. January 23 @ 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT pic.twitter.com/a83V7kwRWJ
— Netflix (@netflix) January 21, 2026Beyond high-profile ascents, his income comes from:
- Book sales
- Public speaking engagements
- Brand partnerships within the outdoor industry
He also leads the Honnold Foundation, which funds solar energy projects in underserved communities. Now balancing family life with a global profile, Honnold continues to navigate the tension between extreme ambition and public responsibility.
Read: Alex Honnold Opens Up About Netflix Pay for Dangerous Taipei Climb
The Taipei 101 climb did not redefine his values. It did, however, mark a new phase in how his work reaches the world—and how his career sustains itself.
