Okay, let's talk about Alex Honnold. You know, the guy who free-soloed El Capitan without a rope? The one who made us all clutch our chests while watching Free Solo? Well, a weird question popped into my head the other day, and maybe it’s popped into yours too: How much did Alex Honnold pay for Taipei 101?
Wait, what? I can already hear you thinking, “Did he buy a skyscraper?” No, no—relax. Not the actual building. We’re talking about the climbing fee. Because believe it or not, Taipei 101—that giant bamboo-shaped tower in Taiwan—has a climbing wall inside. And Alex Honnold, being Alex Honnold, probably couldn’t resist.
The real question: Did he drop a fortune?
Here’s the chill part: the climbing wall at Taipei 101 is actually just a regular commercial climbing gym. It’s called iClimb, and it’s inside the mall at the base of the tower. So when Honnold visited Taipei in 2019 for a book tour, he stopped by. He didn’t buy the skyscraper—he just paid the day pass.
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So how much? A day pass at iClimb for a non-member is about NT$900. That’s around 30 US dollars. Yes, you read that right. The man who climbed a 3,000-foot granite wall with his bare hands paid thirty bucks to do some indoor bouldering at an iconic skyscraper.
Makes you think, right? For the cost of a good pizza, Alex Honnold got to hang out inside one of the world’s tallest buildings. And he didn’t even have to use the elevator—he just climbed the wall in the lobby. Talk about a bargain.
Why this is cooler than you think
Let’s be honest: it’s not the price that’s fascinating—it’s the contrast. Honnold’s real climbs cost nothing but sheer grit and a massive brain. El Capitan? Free. A mountaintop in Yosemite? Free. But a climbing gym inside a skyscraper? That’ll set you back thirty bucks. It’s like asking how much a master chef pays for a pack of instant ramen.
Alex Honnold on His Staggering Climb of Taipei 101
And honestly, it’s a little funny. Here’s a guy who has stared death in the face without blinking, and he’s fumbling for his wallet at a mall gym. You’ve got to love the ordinary in the extraordinary. The guy probably used a credit card or maybe some Taiwanese cash he had left over from a street-food run.
But wait—is that all? Did he pay anything else? Some people online joke that he might have paid in emotional toll. Because let’s be real: anyone who tries to match his skills at that gym probably feels a little humbled. But no—the official receipt says just the day pass. No VIP fee. No “famous climber discount.” Just straight-up, regular-guy pricing.
Fun comparisons to keep you hooked
Alright, let’s put this in perspective. Thirty dollars for Alex Honnold is like what? For you, it might be a movie ticket and a soda. For a celebrity chef, it’s a single fancy avocado. But for Honnold, it’s the cost of one tiny chalk bag compared to his usual gear budget. He probably spent more on coffee that week.
Pat McAfee's Nickname for Alex Honnold Underscores Absurd Netflix
Or think of it this way: Taipei 101 is about 1,671 feet tall. The climbing wall at iClimb is maybe 50 feet high. So he paid a dollar for every 55 feet of vertical fun. That’s cheaper than a subway ride in New York. And he didn’t even have to use the observation deck—he just looked up from the mat and thought, “Yeah, I could climb that.”
Oh, and one more nugget: the actual Taipei 101 building costs billions. Alex Honnold paid less for his day pass than what you’d spend on a skyscraper keychain from the gift shop. Isn’t that wild? The world’s most famous climber paid pocket change to play at the world’s tallest building (well, ninth tallest now, but who’s counting?).
So, what’s the takeaway?
The real answer is simple: Alex Honnold paid thirty dollars to climb at Taipei 101. No big check, no secret million-dollar sponsorship—just a day-pass fee like the rest of us. It reminds us that even legends do normal things. They grab a bite. They stand in line. They swipe a card for a bit of fun.
And honestly? That’s the coolest part. Because while the tower outside scrapes the sky, the man inside just wanted to feel the holds and have a good time. No ropes needed. Just thirty bucks and a world-class sense of wonder. Makes you want to grab your own day pass, doesn’t it?