"Fyre Festival, a purportedly luxurious music event, turned out to be a scam orchestrated by entrepreneur Billy McFarland and rapper Ja Rule. The festival, intended to promote their music booking app, was supposed to occur over two weekends in April and May 2017 on Great Exuma island in the Bahamas. However, the event became infamous for its disastrous execution and unfulfilled promises."
2013: Founding of Magnises
In 2013, Billy McFarland founded a card company called Magnises with venture capital and 25 employees. The company promised exclusive benefits to its members.
2015: Magnises Becomes Profitable
In 2015, Magnises reportedly became profitable despite some benefits not materializing as advertised.
December 12, 2016: Fyre Festival Promotional Campaign
On December 12, 2016, Kendall Jenner, Emily Ratajkowski, and other influencers posted a video to Instagram promoting the Fyre Festival. This marked the beginning of the festival's promotional campaign.
2016: "Silicon Valley" Depicts a Failed Lavish Party
In a 2016 episode of the HBO comedy series "Silicon Valley," a newly formed company throws a lavish Hawaiian-themed party on Alcatraz Island that leads to their bankruptcy, drawing parallels to events that would later unfold at the real-life Fyre Festival.
March 2017: Concerns Raised About Event Feasibility
In March 2017, veteran event producer Yaron Lavi was hired and advised the Fyre Festival organizers to abandon plans for temporary villas and erect tents instead, as it was impossible to hold the envisioned event at the site.
May 2017: Artists Withdraw from Fyre Festival
In May 2017, all the artists scheduled to perform at the Fyre Festival pulled out in the days leading up to the event. The festival was scheduled for two weekends in April and May.
May 21, 2017: FBI Investigation
On May 21, 2017, The New York Times reported that McFarland and his associates were under federal criminal investigation by the FBI for mail fraud, wire fraud, and securities fraud.
June 30, 2017: McFarland Arrested
On June 30, 2017, Billy McFarland was arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud.
2017: The Lonely Island Announces Fyre Festival-Inspired Film
Seth Rogen announced in 2017 that The Lonely Island comedy trio was developing a movie inspired by the failed Fyre Festival.
2017: Scheduled Fyre Festival Dates
In 2017, the Fyre Festival was scheduled to take place on April 28–30 and May 5–7 on the Bahamian island of Great Exuma. This event was intended to promote the Fyre app for booking music talent.
2017: Significant Planning Problems
In 2017, significant problems with the planning of the Fyre Festival were noted, and at one point it was suggested to reschedule the event until 2018.
March 2018: Billy McFarland Pleads Guilty
In March 2018, Billy McFarland pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud to defraud investors and ticket holders, and a second count to defraud a ticket vendor while out on bail.
March 2018: McFarland Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud
In March 2018, Billy McFarland, the organizer of Fyre Festival, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud for defrauding investors and a second count related to defrauding a ticket vendor.
July 3, 2018: Damages Awarded to Attendees
On July 3, 2018, two North Carolina attendees were awarded $5 million in damages against Billy McFarland after he failed to respond to court proceedings.
July 24, 2018: SEC Settlement
On July 24, 2018, The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced that McFarland, two companies he founded, a former senior executive, and a former contractor agreed to settle charges related to an extensive, multi-year offering fraud that raised at least $27.4 million from over 100 investors.
October 2018: McFarland Sentenced to Prison
In October 2018, Billy McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit US$26 million for his role in the Fyre Festival fraud.
October 2018: McFarland Sentenced
In October 2018, McFarland was sentenced to six years in prison and ordered to forfeit US$26 million. Several lawsuits were initiated against the organizers for defrauding ticket buyers.
2018: Rescheduling Suggestion
In 2018, it was suggested to reschedule the Fyre Festival until 2018 due to ongoing planning issues.
2018: Alkaline Trio Releases Song Inspired by Fyre Festival
In 2018, American punk band Alkaline Trio, whose member Matt Skiba was also playing in Blink-182 at the time, released a song titled "Goodbye Fire Island." The song was inspired by Blink-182's planned involvement with the Fyre Festival, which they were among the first acts to cancel.
January 14, 2019: "Fyre Fraud" Premieres on Hulu
"Fyre Fraud," a documentary directed by Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason, premiered on Hulu on January 14, 2019. The film examines the events of the Fyre Festival, including interviews with Billy McFarland.
January 2019: Ja Rule Claims to Be Defrauded
In January 2019, Ja Rule stated that he had also been defrauded by McFarland.
January 18, 2019: "Fyre" Premieres on Netflix
On January 18, 2019, Netflix released "Fyre," a documentary directed by Chris Smith. The film delves into the behind-the-scenes chaos and failures that led to the disastrous Fyre Festival.
July 2019: Ja Rule Dismissed from Lawsuit
In July 2019, Ja Rule was dismissed from a $100 million lawsuit related to the Fyre Festival. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Daniel Jung and sought class action status.
November 2019: New York Lawsuit Dismissed
In November 2019, a lawsuit filed in New York federal court against Ja Rule, McFarland, Fyre Media, and Grant Margolin was dismissed with leave to replead with respect to particular allegations against Ja Rule.
November 2019: Ja Rule Dismissed from Lawsuit
In November 2019, Ja Rule was dismissed from a class action lawsuit filed by festival attendees due to lack of evidence that his promotion led to their attendance.
2019: Documentaries About Fyre Festival Released
The year 2019 saw the release of two documentary films that covered the events and aftermath of the Fyre Festival, exploring the roles of those involved and the impact on those affected.
2019: Ryan Reynolds Features Andy King in Gin Advertisement
Ryan Reynolds featured Andy King, an event producer for Fyre Festival, in a 2019 advertisement for his gin brand, Aviation Gin. The advertisement referenced King's memorable interview in the Netflix documentary "Fyre."
2019: Documentaries Released
In 2019, two documentaries about the Fyre Festival were released: Hulu's 'Fyre Fraud' and Netflix's 'Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened'.
2019: Crowdfunding for Bahamian Caterer
In 2019, a crowdfunding appeal successfully raised over $200,000 to compensate the caterer who worked on the Fyre Festival event but was never paid.
2019: The Lonely Island Confirms Film Still in Development
In 2019, Jorma Taccone, a member of The Lonely Island, confirmed that their parody film inspired by the Fyre Festival was still in development.
2019: AEW Launches "Fyter Fest"
In 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW), an American professional wrestling promotion, launched an annual event called "Fyter Fest." The name, slogan, and logo parodied the infamous Fyre Festival.
August 2020: Fyre Festival Merchandise Auctioned
In August 2020, the United States Marshals Service auctioned Fyre Festival-branded merchandise that McFarland had kept for future sale. The proceeds went to compensate the victims of the festival.
April 9, 2023: McFarland Announces Fyre Festival II
On April 9, 2023, Billy McFarland announced on Twitter plans for Fyre Festival II, claiming to have secured funding for the event. He put the first 100 tickets on sale for $499 each, with plans for prices to increase. The festival's website stated the event was planned for late 2024 in the Caribbean.
April 9, 2023: Announcement of Fyre Festival II
On April 9, 2023, Billy McFarland tweeted that there was to be a Fyre Festival II.
2023: Equivalent Venture Capital Value
In 2023, the venture capital initially invested in Magnises in 2013 was equivalent to about $4,050,000.
2023: "Good Burger 2" References Fyre Festival
The 2023 American comedy film "Good Burger 2" features a poster in character Dexter Reed's office promoting "The Flame Festival," a fictional music festival on a Caribbean island. The poster is a clear reference to the real-life Fyre Festival.
April 23, 2024: McFarland Announces Potential Locations for Fyre Festival II
On April 23, 2024, Billy McFarland announced on Instagram and Twitter four potential locations for Fyre Festival II: Belize, Cuba, Dominican Republic, or Honduras (Utila).
February 2025: Planned Date for Fyre Festival II
February 2025 was the planned date for the much-hyped and controversial Fyre Festival II, intended to take place at the Coral View Beach Resort on the Honduran island of Utila.