What is Felix Baumgartner’s Net Worth?
Felix Baumgartner, also known as “Fearless Felix,” is an Austrian daredevil with a net worth of $5 million. He gained fame for his daring jump to Earth from a helium balloon in the stratosphere on October 14, 2012.
Felix Baumgartner: A Record-Breaking Daredevil
Felix Baumgartner, born in 1969 in Salzburg, Austria, fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a daredevil and going skydiving. He spent time in the Austrian military, where he practiced parachute jumping and training to land on small target zones, which helped hone his skills for what would be a record-breaking life to come.
In 1999, Felix claimed the world record for the highest parachute jump from a building when he leapt from the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He became the first person to skydive across the English Channel using a custom-made carbon fiber wing in 2003. Baumgartner also set the world record for the lowest BASE jump ever by jumping 95 feet from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro. He was the first person to BASE jump from the completed Millau Viaduct in France in 2004.
In December of 2007, Felix Baumgartner became the first person to jump from the 91st floor observation deck of the (at the time) tallest building in the world, Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
Felix Baumgartner’s Record-Breaking Skydive
In 2010, Felix Baumgartner teamed up with scientists and his sponsor Red Bull to attempt the highest skydive on record, using a helium balloon. He completed his first test jump from 71,581 feet where he reached speeds of over 360 mph. He then completed his second test jump at 96,640 feet.
The main jump was originally scheduled for October 9, 2012, but was postponed due to weather conditions. On October 14, Felix Baumgartner jumped from a capsule hoisted in the stratosphere by a helium balloon. He fell a record distance of 119,431 feet and parachuted the final 8,421 feet. This jump broke the sound barrier outside of a vehicle, with Baumgartner reaching speeds of 844 mph or Mach 1.25.
Awards and Accolades
Felix Baumgartner has received numerous awards and accolades for his achievements in international media and television. In 2012, he won the Bambi award in the category of “Millennium” and was named one of “The Men of the Year 2012” by “Top Gear” magazine. The following year, Baumgartner was named the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year and received the Mankind Award at the Spike Guys’ Choice Awards.
In addition to these honors, “Flying” magazine ranked him No. 46 on their 2013 list of “51 Heroes of Aviation,” making him the youngest living person on the list.
Controversies Surrounding Felix Baumgartner
Felix Baumgartner, a former Austrian skydiver, has been involved in a series of controversies over the years. One of his controversial comments was when he stated that he would opt for a moderate dictatorship over a democracy, but he later backtracked on the statement, saying that he didn’t want to get involved in politics.
In 2016, Baumgartner posted critical remarks against refugees and went on to endorse right-wing presidential candidate Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria. As a result of the backlash he faced for his political views, Baumgartner deleted his Facebook page, which had 1.5 million fans, claiming that he had become too uncomfortable for political elites.
Baumgartner was also once convicted of battery and fined $1,500 after he slapped a Greek truck driver in the face following an argument.
