• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living

1

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs

2

Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998

3

Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Lifestylefyre festival

Fyre Festival 2 tickets are on sale for up to $1.1 million after founder served prison time for defrauding investors of the first event

Sasha Rogelberg
By
Sasha Rogelberg
Sasha Rogelberg
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
Sasha Rogelberg
By
Sasha Rogelberg
Sasha Rogelberg
Reporter
Down Arrow Button Icon
February 26, 2025, 12:45 PM ET
Billy McFarland, in a black T-shirts, sits in front of a patterned blue background.
Billy McFarland revamped his first failed Fyre Festival, which took place in 2017.Theo Wargo/Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • Nearly eight years after its disastrous first attempt, Billy McFarland has begun selling tickets for his exclusive music fest, Fyre Festival 2. McFarland, who served four years of prison time for wire fraud relating to the first Fyre Fest, said, “I’d be crazy not to do it again.”

Disgraced Fyre Festival founder Billy McFarland is ready to rekindle an old flame. Tickets for Fyre Festival 2, the revamped sequel to a disastrous luxury music event in 2017, went on sale this week. It’s a potential path to redemption for McFarland, 33, who spent nearly four years in prison for wire fraud related to Fyre’s first iteration.

Recommended Video

Fyre Festival 2 will take place from May 30 to June 2 on Isla Mujeres in Quintana Roo, Mexico. According to its website, tickets start at $1,400 and run up into seven figures for the $1.1 million “Prometheus” pass, buying guests a 24/7 private chauffeur—including a private jet from Miami to Cancún—a four-bedroom villa, and a list of unspecified “Fyre experiences.” There are 2,000 tickets available for the event.

The festival boasts extreme promises following McFarland’s release from prison in 2022, after admitting to defrauding 80 investors of the event and falsifying documents on the festival’s funding. While the original Fyre Festival promised musical appearances from Blink-182 and Migos and meals catered by renowned chef Stephen Starr, it fell far short. Instead, as detailed in two documentaries, guests munched on cheese sandwiches served in foam containers and stood under water-soaked tents.

“I’m sure many people think I’m crazy for doing this again,” McFarland said in a Monday statement announcing ticket sales and booking details. “But I feel I’d be crazy not to do it again. After years of reflection and now thoughtful planning, the new team and I have amazing plans for Fyre 2. The adventure seekers who trust the vision and take the leap will help make history.”

The rejigged festival, about three months away, has yet to announce its musical lineup. Instead, “Fyre experiences” will be incrementally released in the days leading up to the event, per the website. McFarland told NBC’s Today show that he is “not in charge of booking the talent,” but said the festival will include hip-hop, pop, rock, and electronic music. 

McFarland did not immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment. 

Playing with Fyre

The exclusivity and luster surrounding Fyre 2 sounds a lot like the April 2017 prototype. The millennial dreamscape turned internet punchline was supposed to be an ultra-exclusive version of Coachella, its status cemented with the involvement of “Fyre starters”—mega-influencers like Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski. Rapper Ja Rule co-organized the event.

But the festival’s true nature became immediately apparent as guests stepped foot on the Great Exuma island of the Bahamas. Many tents were still in boxes and the few staff members around couldn’t give guests a clear answer as to what was going on. Blink-182, one of the event’s headliners, cancelled last minute. What was supposed to be a getaway for the blue-blooded became a Lord of the Flies–esque free-for-all.

“People were stealing beds out of other tents,” one guest told the New York Times. “It was just chaos. Nobody ever came in to check us in to our accommodations, if you can call it that, so they had no idea who was there and who wasn’t.”

Months later in June 2017, authorities arrested McFarland, then 25, and charged him with criminal fraud. A Manhattan federal court found him guilty of one count of wire fraud and sentenced him to six years in prison. McFarland admitted to defrauding investors of $26 million for the festival, as well as $100,000 in phony ticket sales. From 2013 to 2017, McFarland operated a private-events business and exaggerated to investors the potential and success of the venture, according to assistant U.S. attorney Kristy Jean Greenberg. 

“The motivation here was greed, a desire to have a flashy lifestyle,” Greenberg said at the time, adding that should he serve a shorter prison sentence, “I have no doubt he will be on to the next scam.”

About the Author
Sasha Rogelberg
By Sasha RogelbergReporter
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Sasha Rogelberg is a reporter and former editorial fellow on the news desk at Fortune, covering retail and the intersection of business and popular culture.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Lifestyle

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Lifestyle

The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today
Arts & EntertainmentMusic
The 1964 box set that predicted Dylan going electric — and still explains American music today
By Ted Olson and The ConversationJuly 4, 2026
4 hours ago
w
Travel & LeisureWorld Cup
‘I can understand the, um, obesity here’: The World discovers American cuisine at the World Cup
By Dee-Ann Durbin and The Associated PressJuly 4, 2026
4 hours ago
mp
Arts & EntertainmentWorld Cup
FIFA engineered a plan to get the USMNT and their fans singing ‘Country Roads’ — and it worked
By R.J. Rico and The Associated PressJuly 4, 2026
4 hours ago
wh
PoliticsWhite House
Trump visits Mount Rushmore on 250th July 4th to declare communism a ‘mortal threat to American liberty’
By Steven Sloan, Steve Peoples, Michelle L. Price and The Associated PressJuly 4, 2026
5 hours ago
loco
Travel & LeisureEntrepreneurship
The World Cup is just now discovering Middle America’s big heart. These Irish bingo kingpins built a $24 million business knowing it all along
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 4, 2026
8 hours ago
Photo: Paris, france
Environmentclimate change
Brutal heatwave in France is killing 2,000 people per week, undertakers are overwhelmed, and health agency says there’s worse to come
By John Leicester and The Associated PressJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
Law
Egg companies made $1.22 billion in profit off a $6 carton — now they’re buying their way out of a price-fixing case with 53 million donated eggs
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips and The Associated PressJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
AI
Meet the Zillennials: The luckiest micro-generation in the workforce, born between 1993 and 1998
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
Success
Even as Elon Musk calls philanthropy ‘very hard,’ every day Americans gave a record $617 billion—despite feeling the squeeze over the cost of living
By Preston ForeJuly 4, 2026
10 hours ago
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
Economy
Economists have found an answer to slowing cognitive decline: Avoid retiring early, study finds
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 2, 2026
2 days ago
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
Success
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
Economy
On Wall Street, analysts increasingly don’t believe the U.S. government’s 'misleading' job numbers
By Jim EdwardsJuly 3, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.