Pat McAfee's Perfect Nickname for Alex Honnold Nails the Absurdity of His Netflix Payday

If there were ever a perfect way to exude confidence in the face of something virtually no one else would attempt, Alex Honnold nailed it in the build-up to his Taipei 101 climb. The 40-year-old rock climber holds world records in several free-solo and speed-climbing categories, but his task on Saturday, January 24, was more than bold enough to be must-see TV. This is why Netflix featured it as part of the Skyscraper Live series, which featured Honnold attempting and completing a free-solo world-record climb of the highest building ever, Taipei 101. The feat was so incredible and admittedly terrifying for many of those watching that it earned Honnold a new nickname. However, as stellar as it was, and the national attention it drew, even the star athlete himself admitted his pay for it wasn't what you'd likely expect.

Alex Honnold Earns New Nickname, Underscoring Absurd Amount He Got Paid for Taipei 101

Honnold's climb on Netflix meant the audience for the moment was significant, and not surprisingly, viewers had plenty to say on social media as he scaled Taipei 101. Well-known names across the media, sports and celebrity landscape posted various comments, but Pat McAfee, host of ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show, may have nailed it best by giving Honnold a new nickname.

"Honnold might be actual Spider Man… this s--- is insane," McAfee posted on X.

Here are the details of Alex Honnold's record-breaking climb, televised on Netflix:

• Honnold climbed Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, on January 24, 2025.
• The climb checked in at 508 m or 1,667 feet.
• Honnold completed it as a free solo climb, meaning he had no ropes, harness or protective equipment.
• Following a weather delay, Honnold climbed the building in roughly 91-92 minutes.
• The climb aired on Netflix's Skyscraper Live series, and Honnold's new record surpassed Alain Robert's 452 m climb of Petronas Towers.

It's hard not to agree with McAfee, as Honnold scaling the 1,667-foot building with no ropes, harness or protective equipment wasn't just daring, it's so daunting that you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who'd even consider starting it. Considering the magnitude of the climb, how incredible the accomplishment is, and the sheer danger involved, one would expect Honnold to be in line to get paid a multi-million-dollar figure. However, as the New York Times revealed, Honnold called his payday "an embarrassing amount."

How Much Alex Honnold Got Paid for World-Record Taipei 101 Climb on Netflix

In the build-up to his record-breaking 508 m climb, Honnold spoke about the decision to attempt such a dangerous feat. While admitting he was paid an "embarrassingly small amount," the amount was later reported to be in the mid-six figures by the New York Times.

"Actually, if you put it in the context of mainstream sports, it’s an embarrassingly small amount," Honnold said. "You know, Major League Baseball players get like $170 million contracts. Like, someone you haven’t even heard of and that nobody cares about."

However, as Honnold told the New York Times when asked if the Taipei 101 climb, which he completed in roughly 91-92 minutes, was the biggest payday of his career, it was apparent that aspect didn't matter much to him. Honnold admitted that he'd "do it for free" if the building gave him permission to.

"Maybe. It’s less than my agent aspired to. I mean, I would do it for free," Honnold said. "If there was no TV program and the building gave me permission to go do the thing, I would do the thing because I know I can, and it’d be amazing."

"I mean, just sitting by yourself on the very top of the spire is insane. And so, you know, if there wasn’t the whole spectacle around it, and I just had the opportunity to go do it by myself, I’d be fine with that. I would do that, but in this case, there is a spectacle. I’m not getting paid to climb the building. I’m getting paid for the spectacle. I’m climbing the building for free."

That approach and overall confidence displayed by Honnold showcase true passion for a sport. It also likely explains why the record-breaking climber is so incredible at what he does, and why he might actually be the closest thing we'll ever witness to a real-life Spider-Man. I'm not sure there's anyone out there more deserving of the comparison, especially considering his lengthy list of accomplishments.

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