A. J. Hackett

A. J. Hackett is a New Zealand entrepreneur and athlete who turned a personal obsession with freefall into a worldwide adventure tourism empire. Born Allan John Hackett in May 1958, he is best known for popularizing commercial bungy jumping, a sport that barely existed before he made it mainstream. Today, his company operates iconic jump sites across New Zealand and internationally, and he continues to push the limits with new attractions like the SkyRide at Auckland's Sky Tower.

Hackett's name is synonymous with adrenaline. His ventures have introduced millions to the thrill of controlled falling, from the historic Kawarau Bridge to the towering Nevis Bungy. He has been recognized with an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to adventure tourism. As of 2026, he remains active in the industry, constantly seeking new ways to challenge and inspire thrill-seekers around the globe. [edit]

Growing up in Pukekohe, a small town south of Auckland, Hackett was a builder by trade, but his real passion was the rush of extreme sports. He spent his spare time experimenting with ropes, elastic cords, and increasingly daring jumps from bridges and cranes around Auckland. His fascination with jumping was sparked after learning about the Pentecost Islanders of Vanuatu, who traditionally leaped from tall wooden towers with vines tied to their ankles, a ritual that inspired his lifelong quest to master controlled freefall.

In 1986, Hackett began seriously testing the limits of bungy cords, performing jumps from progressively higher structures. His big break came the following year, when he performed an illegal bungy jump from the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The unauthorized leap made international headlines and turned the obscure builder into a global sensation overnight. That single act set the stage for everything that followed. [edit]

Riding the wave of his Eiffel Tower fame, Hackett opened the world's first commercial bungy site at the Kawarau Bridge near Queenstown in 1988. The 43-metre jump over the turquoise river became an instant hit and remains operational today, drawing thrill-seekers from around the world. From this flagship location, he built AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand into a sprawling adventure tourism operation, adding sites in Auckland and Taupō, and later expanding internationally through AJ Hackett International and the Skypark brand.

Over the decades, Hackett has continually raised the bar. In 2010, he launched the Nevis Bungy, a 134-metre leap from a cable car suspended over a canyon, and the Nevis Swing, the world's largest swing at 300 metres across. In 2018 came the Nevis Catapult, which hurls riders nearly 500 feet across a valley. More recently, his company won the rights to develop an Adventure Zone at Ocean Park Hong Kong in 2024, launched a triple adventure swing in Queenstown in 2025, and in June 2026 unveiled SkyRide at Auckland's Sky Tower, a vertical ride that lifts riders 192 metres up the exterior before a high-speed descent, billed as the world's highest lift-and-descent ride. [edit]

Hackett's public image is that of a fearless pioneer who transformed a niche extreme activity into a mainstream global industry. Media portrayals emphasize his daring Eiffel Tower stunt and his role in making Queenstown the adventure capital of the world. His company's messaging is adrenaline-focused and empowering, with slogans like "This is it. This is freedom" for the Nevis Swing. The brand enjoys strong loyalty among adventure tourism enthusiasts, who see Hackett as the ultimate authority on bungy and gravity-defying experiences. [edit]

A. J. Hackett stands as the undisputed architect of commercial bungy jumping, a figure whose name is inextricably linked to the very existence of the global adventure tourism industry. While his legacy rests on engineering feats like the Kawarau Bridge and Nevis Bungy rather than pop culture stardom, his reach extends far beyond New Zealand's borders through international licensing and iconic attractions like the SkyRide. Despite this massive operational footprint, iFANN's Global Fame Engine has evaluated A. J. Hackett but determined that he currently holds no placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This absence from the leaderboard reflects the nature of his fame: it is deeply rooted in functional achievement and brand authority rather than the viral celebrity metrics that drive standard fame rankings. The audience surrounding him does not operate as a traditional fandom with rituals, collective names, or organized campaigns. There is no documented group identity for those who follow his work; instead, the community consists of adrenaline seekers and customers engaging with a business model built on thrills. His social channels function primarily as marketing platforms for ventures like AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand and Skypark, showcasing product features such as the 192-meter water-touch platform rather than fostering personal fan interactions. High-profile moments, including Robin Roberts' jump from the Sky Tower, serve as media endorsements of the brand rather than catalysts for a dedicated following. The mythology here is one of innovation and safety, where the legend is the invention itself. Fans do not gather for birthday billboards or fan-funded projects because the connection remains transactional and operational. Hackett's influence is measured in millions of jumps and restored landscapes rather than search volume spikes or chart positions. While the world knows him as the pioneer who turned a niche obsession into a mainstream empire, the specific mechanics of modern fame have yet to elevate him into the ranked strata of global celebrity.[edit]

Before revolutionizing extreme sports, A. J. Hackett worked as a builder, a trade that provided the practical rigging skills essential for his early jumps. His career took a pivotal turn in 1987 when he executed an unauthorized jump from the Eiffel Tower, an event that became the catalyst for his global business expansion. Since 1988, the Kawarau Bridge site has operated commercially for nearly four decades, serving as the historic foundation of the industry. Hackett's company also integrates environmental restoration with its thrill-seeking operations, balancing conservation efforts with adventure tourism. In June 2026, the company unveiled the SkyRide at Auckland's Sky Tower, a lift-and-descent ride that ascends 192 metres, roughly 53 storeys, up the building's exterior. The lore surrounding Hackett centers on his role as the inventor of commercial bungy jumping, transforming local Maori rituals into a global phenomenon starting with the first commercial jump in 1988. Another pillar of his legend is the Nevis Bungy, situated 134 meters above the Nevis Valley, which established a new benchmark for height in extreme sports engineering. Recent innovations continue to build this reputation, such as the triple adventure swing launched in Queenstown in late 2025, cementing his status as a relentless innovator in the field of thrill rides.[edit]

Hackett keeps his family life private, but his daughter Margaux Hackett has made a name for herself as a freestyle skier, continuing the family's connection to extreme sports. Beyond that, little is publicly known about his parents, siblings, or household. He appears to value his privacy, focusing public attention on his business and the adventure community he has built. [edit]

A. J. Hackett is associated with Shun Tak Group, his development partner for the Ocean Park Hong Kong Adventure Zone, and his daughter Margaux Hackett, a freestyle skier who carries on the family's adventurous spirit. [edit]

Publicly available information about A. J. Hackett's romantic relationships is extremely limited. He has maintained a notably private personal life, with media coverage focusing almost exclusively on his business ventures and adventure sports achievements. His daughter Margaux Hackett is the only family member publicly identified. As of 2026, no credible sources report on his current relationship status, and he appears to keep his romantic life entirely out of the public eye. [edit]

As a private business owner, A. J. Hackett's net worth is not publicly disclosed through official filings. His wealth stems from a diverse portfolio of adventure tourism operations spanning multiple continents. The flagship AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand generates steady revenue from jump bookings and merchandise across sites including the historic Kawarau Bridge, Auckland, and Taupō. The Nevis complex serves as a major draw for thrill-seekers with its combination of bungy, swing, and catapult attractions. Internationally, AJ Hackett International licenses the Skypark brand to develop attractions worldwide, including the Ocean Park Hong Kong Adventure Zone which opened in 2024. The company expanded its revenue streams further with the launch of the SkyRide at Auckland's Sky Tower in June 2026. Per iFANN's editorial analysis, estimates for Hackett's net worth in 2026 sit around $50 Million, reflecting his long-standing dominance in the adventure tourism market.[edit]

A. J. Hackett was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for services to adventure tourism, a significant national honour recognizing his pioneering contributions to the industry. [edit]