Apr
Fyre Festival Brand Up for Sale—But Don’t Expect Free Water Bottles This Time
Billy McFarland just can’t seem to let the Fyre burn out.
After a second attempt to revive the notorious Fyre Festival went up in flames, McFarland has officially listed the Fyre brand for sale. That includes its trademarks, digital assets, and cultural cachet—but not, notably, any of those infamously overpriced water bottles.
McFarland, who served four years in prison for fraud related to the original 2017 disaster, made the announcement on social media. “A new chapter begins,” he wrote. “After two years of rebuilding FYRE with honesty, creativity, and relentless effort, it’s time to pass the torch. We’re officially putting the FYRE brand up for sale.”
The announcement was accompanied by a lengthier statement on the “Own Fyre” website. In it, McFarland claimed his second attempt—dubbed Fyre Festival II—was driven by two goals: finishing what he started and making things right.
“Over the past two years, we’ve poured everything into bringing FYRE back,” he wrote. “We rebuilt momentum and proved one thing: FYRE is one of the most powerful attention engines in the world.”
That much is hard to argue with. Fyre has remained in the public consciousness, referenced in memes, documentaries, and late-night punchlines. But McFarland sees that notoriety as opportunity, not baggage.
“Since 2017, FYRE has dominated headlines,” he said. “This brand is bigger than one person—it’s a movement. And it deserves a team with the scale and infrastructure to make it a reality.”
According to McFarland, selling the brand is the best way to fulfill its potential. He’s offering up everything from intellectual property to the media reach that keeps people talking, hoping someone else can do what he couldn’t: make Fyre a legitimate, successful brand.
He also revealed that several Caribbean destinations expressed interest in hosting Fyre Festival II after the original venue in Mexico fell through. “We’ve found the ideal location,” he claimed, though he admitted that past controversies have made potential partners wary of being too publicly involved.
To prevent another implosion, McFarland says he’ll step back entirely. “The most responsible way forward is transferring control of the brand to a new group,” he wrote, while still maintaining aspirations of building “a global entertainment brand” and continuing to repay victims from the first Fyre Festival.
The Fyre Festival II announcement came in August 2023, with plans to hold the event in late 2024. Tickets were listed at prices ranging from $499 to nearly $8,000. In a YouTube video at the time, McFarland said the idea for the revival came during a seven-month stint in solitary confinement, where he drafted a 50-page blueprint.
But the impossible, it turns out, remained impossible. The festival was initially scheduled for May 30 to June 2 on Isla Mujeres, before being relocated to Playa del Carmen and eventually postponed indefinitely. Ticket holders were offered refunds—or the option to roll over their tickets for a future event that may or may not happen.
McFarland, of course, is best known for the original Fyre Festival debacle—a “luxury” experience that famously delivered FEMA tents and cheese sandwiches instead of yachts and gourmet meals. The event’s spectacular failure was documented in both Netflix’s Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and Hulu’s Fyre Fraud.
As for Ja Rule, McFarland’s original partner in crime, he’s made it clear he won’t be part of any sequel. In his words, he was “scammed” and “bamboozled” like everyone else. Safe to say, he won’t be throwing in a bid for the brand.
So if you’ve ever dreamed of owning a legendary (if infamous) festival brand, now’s your chance. Just don’t forget to bring your own bottled water.
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