how much is alex honnold getting paid by netflix
Alex Honnold is reportedly being paid in the “mid-six figures” by Netflix for the Taipei 101 special, which most outlets translate as roughly around 400,000–500,000 dollars before tax. The exact contract amount is not public, but multiple reports and quotes from people close to the deal point to that ballpark figure.
How much is Alex Honnold getting paid by Netflix?
The reported number
Several recent entertainment and finance write‑ups say Netflix is paying Alex Honnold a mid‑six‑figure fee for the Taipei 101 project.
- “Mid‑six figures” is commonly interpreted as somewhere in the 400,000–600,000 dollar range.
- One detailed breakdown suggests “call it 500k” as a reasonable estimate for his gross payday, noting that after federal tax he might net around 350,000 dollars because he lives in Nevada (no state income tax).
- Another report mentions sources who say he’s allegedly being paid in the mid‑six figures, approximately in the 400,000‑dollar range for the Netflix special.
Netflix and Honnold have not released an official, exact number, so everything in public is an informed estimate based on anonymous or secondary sources.
What Alex Honnold himself has said
In interviews, Honnold has framed the amount as surprisingly low compared to other Netflix payouts and big‑money sports.
- He described the fee as an “embarrassingly small amount” when asked directly about the payday.
- When a reporter floated “ten… million?” he replied that it definitely was not in that range, reinforcing that it’s much lower than blockbuster movie‑star salaries.
- He has pointed out that mainstream athletes can sign contracts worth around 170 million dollars, calling his own deal “comically low” by that standard.
He’s also emphasized that, from his perspective, the money is for the spectacle and broadcast, not for the act of climbing itself.
He has said he would climb Taipei 101 even without payment if the building allowed it, and that he’s “climbing the building for free” while being paid for the show and global audience around it.
Context: how this compares
To understand why “mid‑six figures” can feel both big and “embarrassing” at the same time, it helps to see it against other Netflix and sports paydays.
- Major Netflix film stars like Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Will Smith, and Adam Sandler have reportedly received individual checks in the 20–60 million dollar range for movies, sometimes with mediocre critical reception.
- Combat‑sports and celebrity events on Netflix can reach tens of millions per fighter; one recent high‑profile boxing event reportedly paid each headliner about 92 million dollars.
- By contrast, a mid‑six‑figure payout for a one‑off, globally hyped, high‑risk live climb looks modest in that ecosystem, even though it’s a huge sum by normal job standards.
Here’s a quick table to visualize the contrast (approximate public figures):
| Type of deal | Reported payout | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Honnold – Taipei 101 Netflix special | Mid‑six figures (≈ 400k–500k) | Reports citing unnamed sources and NYT info | [9][3][1]
| Top movie stars in Netflix films | 20–27 million per film (individual) | Examples cited for The Rock, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot, Will Smith | [1]
| Adam Sandler Netflix films | Roughly 60 million per deal | Industry breakdowns of his ongoing Netflix arrangements | [1]
| Celebrity/boxing Netflix event (example) | About 92 million per fighter | Reported recent Netflix boxing spectacle payouts | [1]
Net worth and bigger money picture
Separate from this specific Netflix paycheck, articles that track athlete wealth estimate Alex Honnold’s net worth at around 2 million dollars, largely from sponsorships, speaking, and media projects.
- He’s described as one of the highest‑paid rock climbers in the world, with annual earnings around 200,000 dollars from sponsorships, speaking, and other work.
- Brand deals with companies like Black Diamond, The North Face, La Sportiva, and Goal Zero reportedly bring in low six‑figure income each year.
- Paid talks and keynote appearances can range from tens of thousands up to the low six figures per event for speakers at his level.
So while the Netflix special is a substantial one‑off payday in his career, it doesn’t put him into “mega‑rich” territory compared to A‑list film stars or superstar athletes.
Forum and trending discussion angle
On climbing forums and social media threads, people are debating two main themes around “how much is Alex Honnold getting paid by Netflix.”
- Risk vs reward
- Some fans feel that a mid‑six‑figure check is not enough for a live, no‑ropes climb of a skyscraper with global broadcast and massive marketing value.
* Others argue that, in the niche world of climbing, this is still a huge, career‑defining payday that very few climbers ever see.
- Ethics and spectacle
- Certain climbing community members say the special feels unsettling, because it turns extreme risk into a mass‑market spectacle for a streaming platform.
* Defenders counter that major climbing feats have been filmed and commercialized for years, and this is simply the latest evolution with a bigger stage and budget.
Those debates are part of why this has become a trending topic in early 2026, especially as the live event approaches and more mainstream outlets pick up the “embarrassingly small” quote.
TL;DR: Public reporting says Alex Honnold’s Netflix payday for the Taipei 101 special is in the mid‑six‑figure range (roughly 400k–500k dollars), not the multi‑million sums seen in top Netflix movies or mega‑fights, and Honnold himself has called that amount “embarrassingly small” compared with big‑league sports and entertainment salaries.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.