World-famous climber Alex Honnold is opening up about the surprisingly low payday he received for one of the most dangerous climbs of his life — and even he admits it was a little awkward.
Honnold revealed that the money he earned for free solo climbing Taipei 101, a jaw-dropping 1,667-foot, 101-story skyscraper, was “embarrassingly small” compared to what traditional professional athletes make.
The death-defying ascent, which was broadcast live on Netflix, reportedly earned Honnold a payout in the “mid six figures,” according to The New York Times. While that may sound impressive to most people, Honnold suggested it pales in comparison to the massive contracts seen in mainstream sports.
Still, the legendary climber made it clear money wasn’t the point.
In fact, he admitted he would have taken on the climb even without a paycheck — as long as he had permission from the building.
“If there was no TV program and the building gave me permission to go do the thing,” Honnold told the outlet, “I would do the thing because I know I can, and it’d be amazing.”
The entire climb took just over an hour and a half, adding yet another heart-stopping feat to Honnold’s already iconic résumé. He famously made history in 2017 when he became the first person to free solo climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park — a moment that cemented his status as one of the greatest climbers of all time.
For Honnold, it seems the thrill, the challenge, and the history matter far more than the paycheck — even if that paycheck raised a few eyebrows.
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