Inside Fyre Festival Founder Billy McFarland’s First Big Millennial Scam
January’s war of the Fyre Festival documentaries not only raised a number of ethical quandaries and launched a thousand memes about sucking dick for Evian water, but the Hulu and Netflix projects also unearthed new revelations about Fyre founder Billy McFarland’s first big scam.
Yes, before there was Fyre Festival, there was Magnises—a business that one Hulu talking head memorably likened to Parks and Recreation’s Entertainment 720. In the words of McFarland himself, the company was conceived of in 2013, when he looked at his debit card and thought, “Wow, what if I could make these cooler?” Some magnetic tape, a “sheet of metal from China,” and one made-up word later, Magnises was born.
For a $250 annual fee, Magnises members could experience the rush of paying checks with a heavy card. But more than that, Magnises billed itself as a social club for millennials, connecting their members through exclusive events and offering tantalizing deals to the aspiring American Express black card set. As per Magnises’ Facebook page, “Our members are the thrill-seekers, the hard-workers, & the go-getters. We are an international group of people looking to create and maximize our experiences.”
Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here