Alex Honnold Free-Solos Taipei 101 Live on Netflix
Alex Honnold Free-Solos Taipei 101 Live on Netflix
Alex Honnold scales Taipei 101 sans safety gear in a record-breaking live climb streamed on Netflix, drawing cheers and sparking a broader talk on climber pay.
On January 25, Honnold live-streamed on Netflix as he free climbed the 1,670-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper without any safety gear, a feat no one has achieved before. The ascent unfolded in real time, with viewers glued to their screens as he relied on fingertip and toe pinch holds to cling to glass, concrete, and steel, finishing the climb in nearly 90 minutes. The climb drew cheers from fans on the streets below, and the climber paused to wave and interact with those watching from the studio.
The event, hosted by a mix of sports and entertainment figures, mixed science commentary with live coverage. Mark Robber, an engineer who joined the broadcast, offered scientific insights, while WWE star Seth Rollins co-hosted alongside sports anchor Elle Duncan and professional mountaineer Emily Harrington, turning a high-risk ascent into a shared spectacle.
Beyond the spectacle, the climb sparked discussion about compensation in high-profile endurance feats. Recent reporting has pegged Honnold’s Netflix paycheck in the mid-six figures, a figure he has described in other interviews as an embarrassingly small amount for such a historic climb. The conversation underscored ongoing debates about fair pay for elite climbers and the economics of live stunts.
Honnold’s ascent into the skies above Taipei adds another dimension to the sport: urban free soloing without safety gear, streamed to a global audience. It raises questions about risk, spectacle, and the ethics of monetizing feats that blend athletic courage with public risk.
