Felix Baumgartner achieved global recognition on 14 October 2012 by jumping from a helium balloon in the stratosphere, descending into New Mexico. Reaching a top speed of 1,357.64 km/h, he became the first person to break the sound barrier relative to the surface without vehicular power. This feat solidified his reputation as a prominent skydiver and extreme athlete.
Early Career and BASE Jumping
Born in 1969 in Salzburg, Austria, Baumgartner served in the Austrian military, where he honed his parachute skills, including precision landings. His career involved several high-profile jumps, beginning with a 1999 record for the highest jump from a building at the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. In 2003, he crossed the English Channel using a carbon fibre wing. He also performed jumps from the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, the Millau Viaduct in France, and the Turning Torso building in Sweden. In 2007, he conducted an unauthorised BASE jump from the 91st floor of Taipei 101, leading to his ban from re-entry into Taiwan.
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In partnership with sponsor Red Bull GmbH, Baumgartner pursued the highest sky-dive on record. To prepare, he overcame claustrophobia resulting from the pressurised suit required for the mission. He completed test jumps from 21,818 metres in March 2012 and 29,460 metres in July 2012. The final attempt occurred in October 2012, when he exited from an altitude of 38,969.3 metres. He remained in free fall for four minutes and 19 seconds, setting records for vertical speed and freefall distance. Joseph Kittinger, who set a similar record in 1960, provided radio support during the descent. The altitude record stood for two years until Alan Eustace surpassed it in 2014.
Motorsport and Public Life
Beyond aerial sports, Baumgartner competed in a single welterweight boxing match in 1992, which he won. His interest in racing led him to drive Volkswagen Polos in 2013 and an Audi R8 LMS at the 2014 24 Hours of Nürburgring, where he finished ninth. His later years were marked by political commentary, including support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria. In 2012, he was fined €1500 for battery following an altercation with a truck driver. After a tax dispute with Austrian authorities, he moved to Switzerland. He died on 17 July 2025 in Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy, following a paragliding accident.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Salzburg, Austria
- Died: 17 July 2025, Porto Sant'Elpidio, Italy
- Record exit altitude: 38,969.3 metres
- Maximum speed: 1,357.64 km/h (Mach 1.25)
- 2013 Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year
- First BASE jump from Taipei 101: 12 December 2007
Questions readers ask
What record did Felix Baumgartner set in 2012?
He became the first person to break the sound barrier relative to the surface without vehicular power during a freefall from the stratosphere.
Did Baumgartner hold the skydiving altitude record indefinitely?
No, his exit altitude record of 38,969.3 metres was broken on 24 October 2014 by Alan Eustace.
Achievements
- Laureus World Sports Award for Action Sportsperson of the Year
