Ep 2. The Fyre Festival

In season 13 episode 2 of American Greed, viewers are transported to the infamous Fyre Festival, a luxury music festival that turned into a complete disaster in 2017.

The episode takes a deep dive into the events leading up to the festival, and the key players involved in the scandal. From entrepreneur Billy McFarland, his business partner Ja Rule, to the myriad of celebrities and social media influencers who promoted the festival, the episode leaves no stone unturned.

Through interviews with former employees and festival attendees, American Greed investigates how McFarland and his team misled attendees into believing they would be staying in luxurious villas on a private island and rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities. In reality, the festival was poorly organized with subpar accommodations and minimal food options.

As the episode progresses, viewers learn about the financial schemes McFarland used to fund the festival, including fraudulent ticket sales and loans from investors who were misled by his business practices. The episode also touches on McFarland's previous business ventures, which included a credit card company that targeted millennials.

The episode's strength lies in its ability to present all sides of the story, including those who were scammed out of thousands of dollars and those who were part of the inner circle of the Fyre Festival. American Greed's rigorous investigation reveals how intense pressure and greed led to the festival's complete collapse.

Overall, the Fyre Festival episode of American Greed is a cautionary tale for investors and consumers alike, as it shows the lengths some individuals will go to in order to make a profit, and how easily people can be misled by charismatic entrepreneurs.