Depending on your perspective, controversial crypto-celebrity John McAfee may be many things — an altcoin shill, a software genius, a fugitive from justice — but everyone agrees on one point: he’s definitely not cheap.

Earlier today he told followers that his standard charge for a single tweet is now $500,000, and that next month it’ll be a cool $1 million.

McAfee had previously announced that his price to promote an altcoin or ICO was $105,000 per tweet, with no more than seven tweets per promotion (for a total cost of $735,000). His team described McAfee’s account as “by far the most influential in the field of cryptocurrency,” where a “single tweet” can lead to “more than a million dollars of investment.”

Announcing himself indifferent to the complaints of an outraged cryptocurrency community, he said that he he only cares about what his clients think, and that his influence is such that his fees are a great return on investment.

Those clients are apparently happy for him to “double my fee each month”, and that next month a single tweet will cost $1,000,000. Working back, that suggests he’s already doubled his fees twice since the rock bottom price of $105,000.

I don’t care what you think. Or whether you trust me, or whatever. Why should I give a shit? I care what my clients think, who awilling to double my fee each month. Next month I will double again to $1 mil per tweet. You are powerless to alter this. How does that make you feel? — John McAfee (@officialmcafee) 18 May 2018

McAfee the fugitive

McAfee lives such an eventful life it can be difficult to keep up. Just this week he apparently went on the run after receiving a subpoena from the SEC.

I am underground. This story by Rob Loggia explains all. I am the most vocal and angry opponent of the SEC. They are striking back with subpoenas. If I am silenced, it is the movement that suffers. I cannot allow this. My team will be my voice. Stay safe.https://t.co/joVrBlnMi8 — John McAfee (@officialmcafee) May 15, 2018

Then, while claiming to be involved in a cross-country chase, he turned over his Twitter account to his team, with instructions that they choose and send out 5 random tweets a day from his followers, all free of charge.

While our pursuers are chasing our smartphones, carried by poor look-alikes, across 2 states, we’ve been busy. To add to the entertainment, Mr. McAfee will no longer charge $1000,000 for a tweet. It’s free. Send any tweet to TheMcAfeeboys@gmail.com. we’ll randomly pick 5 per day. — John McAfee (@officialmcafee) 15 May 2018

In the last 24 hours he took back control of his account and cleared up any confusion over his pricing structure.

My tweets are now $500,000 per tweet. If clients want me to reply to comments, then it is $100,000 per reply. But what is your point? Obviously, people feel that it is worth it. Statistically, each tweet averages over $3 million in revenue for my clients – a 600% return. — John McAfee (@officialmcafee) 18 May 2018

This openness about his promotional activity has led to considerable pushback from the cryptocurrency community, who, while surely aware that “influencers” are being paid to promote new ventures, prefer that they are not quite so brazen about it.

An unabashed McAfee said that of course he was paid “an embarrassingly large amount”, which was exactly why he was worth following.

Of course I’m paid. And I’m paid an embarrassingly large amount. More than anyone else. And everyone wants me to work with them. Would you rather follow someone who is not worth being paid? — John McAfee (@officialmcafee) 18 May 2018

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