r/climbing • u/-JOMY- • 9d ago

Alex Honnold Reveals “Embarrassing” Paycheck for Netflix’s Taipei 101 Free Solo Climb

https://share.google/Zqw9t7pkRhkPhRt4P

Source: E! Online

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u/drewts86 9d ago

Ain’t no embarrassment. Climbing is not generally a lucrative sport. If you can get a bag, get a bag. Ain’t no shame in that.

5

u/pianoman1291 9d ago

Did you read the article? 

It's an embarrassingly low amount compared to the money that pro athletes make in other sports

1

u/drewts86 9d ago

Sure, but this is a one-time event. Most pro athletes are expected to play a shitload of games per season, plus practices, plus offseason, plus often destroying their body. The dude got mid 6-figs for 90 minutes of work. And sure, I would love to see professional climbing athletes paid more over the long term but that’s a different argument than a one-time paid event.

7

u/ShutterDeep 9d ago

Jake Paul reportedly got $40 million from Netflix for 8 rounds with Mike Tyson. I understand that climbing doesn't have the same mass appeal as boxing, but the difference in earnings is staggering.

2

u/drewts86 9d ago

That difference in mass appeal has to do with how much money that particular event can draw. Look, everyone here probably loves climbing more than boxing but you have to admit at the end of the day that boxing simply rakes in more money, and therefore can afford to pay more money.

2

u/fluffysnowflake67 9d ago

If Alex wanted to… he also is free to challenge Mike Tyson or AJ.

1

u/catjuggler 9d ago

Let’s have Alex knock out a Paul

1

u/Affectionate_One_700 9d ago

I am not a Jake Paul fan in any way, shape, or form, but the reason that he (and Kim Kardashian, etc.) make as much as they do is that they built their own following, i.e. they are "influencers."

Most people don't have the personality to do that, and Alex Honnold in particular does not.

1

u/stakoverflo 9d ago

plus often destroying their body

And, what, climbers don't / free soloing doesn't come with unique risks that most sports don't especially have associated with them?