Alex Honnold’s feat of climbing Taipei 101, Taiwan’s 508-meter, 101-story skyscraper, could be seen live both on Netflix and in the Google offices located on the 75th floor of that tower.
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, shared on his Instagram some photographs that the collaborators at this headquarters of the technology company took with their cell phones.
In the images you can see the climber greeting people and signs of encouragement that the office workers had prepared for him: “Let’s go Alex” and “see you in the elevator,” some said.
The leader Google accompanied his publication by highlighting the challenge that Honnold overcame: “Congratulations, Alex, on your incredible achievement.”
“Last time I visited Taipei 101, I took the elevator; apparently there’s a different route,” he also joked.
To see Alex Honnold’s feat climbing the Taipei 101 skyscraper, you only need to access Netflix, where the event was broadcast live on January 24, 2026 and already exceeds six million views.
The point of greatest controversy was the payment that Netflix made to Honnold for his exploit.In statements to The New York Times, the climber assured that the financial incentive was never his main motivation and made it clear: “If there had been no show and I only had the opportunity to do it, I would do it for free.”
Asked if he received millions of dollars, he responded: “No. So yes, an embarrassingly small amount.”He added that the figure was “less than what my agent aspired to.”Sources close to the organization indicated that the payment would have been around the “middle six digits” in dollars, that is, between USD 400,000 and USD 600,000.
Although for many this is a considerable sum, within the scope of professional sports and entertainment it is low, especially due to the extreme risk that Honnold took during the broadcast.Even MrBeast intervened in the debate and commented on X (formerly Twitter) that he would have paid more to do it on his channel.
The Netflix live stream captured the attention of millions and allowed Alex Honnold to achieve a new record in solo urban climbing.
During the event, a 10-second delay was implemented to prevent images from being broadcast in the event of an accident.
The producers indicated that, in the event of any unforeseen event, they would suspend the broadcast immediately to protect the audience.
Alex Honnold is one of the most recognized and admired climbers in the world, famous for his solo and ropeless ascents on very difficult walls. Born on August 17, 1985 in Sacramento, California, Honnold began his climbing career at an early age and quickly stood out for his skill, endurance and meticulous approach.
His name gained international recognition after climbing the iconic El Capitan granite wall without a rope, in Yosemite National Park, United States.
This achievement, documented in the award-winning documentary Free Solo, winner of the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2019, established him as a central figure in the world of climbing and showed the general public the level of risk, concentration and preparation that this type of feat entails.
Honnold is known for his minimalist style and for tackling routes that most climbers would only attempt with maximum protective gear.
In addition to his sporting exploits, Honnold stands out for his commitment to environmental causes.Through the Honnold Foundation, it supports solar energy projects in vulnerable communities, promoting sustainable access to electricity.
His life and achievements have transcended the field of climbing, making him a reference for improvement, discipline and social awareness.
