Billy McFarland is not letting his prison sentence stemming from the first Fyre Festival keep him down. In April, he is planning Fyre Fest II which will take place on a private island in the Caribbean.
“We have the chance to embrace this storm and really steer our ship into all the chaos that has happened, and if it’s done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry,” he told NBC News of his upcoming event.
McFarland was released from prison in May 2022, although he was originally meant to be released on August 30, 2023.
In March 2018, he pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud for using fake documents to attract investors into giving him money for the scam festival. Ja Rule was one of the architects but dodged any prison time. McFarland initially faced up to 20 years in prison. McFarland agreed to pay back the $26 million to his victims and also pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit tickets to events, cheating his victims out of $100,000.
April’s Fyre Fest will accommodate 3,000 and take place on April 25-28. Ticket prices range from $1,400 to $1.1 million for the most expensive festival package.
McFarland says the highest-tier tickets include luxury yachts, scuba diving, and island hopping.
