It started as a bunch of hippies in California decided to travel to the desert and do a week long festival (party) that was for expressing art, living care free, and being self-reliant. You brought everything with you when you came, and you took everything out when you left, leave nothing behind. Over time it has grown bigger and bigger, there are other smaller instances all over the country. The smaller ones still have a lot of the original vibe. The main one still has it, but now a lot of tourists go just to party, do drugs, and have sex. Yes, a lot of the artists have a lot of money, people talking about rich people, it was never about money or not having it. It was about living carefree.