Red Bull Stratos Becomes Most Watched Live Stream Ever

Red Bull isn't exactly known for laying back and taking it easy. In the last few years, they have sponsored racing teams, daredevil bikers and the world's gnarliest surfers. But when you make energy drinks you have to be seen living life to the highly-caffeinated-fullest, so naturally the stunts you sponsor have to get bigger and bigger.

The cynical among you may call it the biggest, highest, fastest and just plain bravest marketing ploy in history. But there's no denying Red Bull Stratos is a monumental piece of science, adventure and nail-bitingly tense global entertainment.

The world record- (and sound barrier) breaking journey has one more accolade to boast about. The most watched live online event ever.

Felix Baumgartner's daring journey into the stratosphere, and back down, saw him become the man to fly the highest ever in a balloon, and then jump out of that balloon into the highest-ever skydive. That skydive also made the Austrian the fastest man who has ever travelled without mechanical help. 

The numbers involved in Baumgartner's jump are astounding: he jumped from over 128,000 feet, falling for almost 10 minutes and accelerating to an incredible 233 mph. So it's hardly surprising that over 8 million people worldwide tuned in to watch. 

Streamed live on YouTube, the Red Bull Stratos mission reached 7.1 million viewers, before Baumgartner had even reached his target altitude.

If this stunt can break world records and push scientific boundaries, we, and the world, can't wait to see what Red Bull will do next. While we wait, here is a short clip of highlights from Baumgarenter's historic jump.