The annual Burning Man Festival kicked off its 25th year on August 29, selling out tickets for the first time with an expected 50,000 attendees.  Along with the veterans and run-othe-mill hippie types searching for drugs and utopia deep in the Nevada desert, a number of high profile names are heading to Black Rock City and the fanfare is bigger than ever.  Like all great things that suddenly become overwhelmingly popular, could this hearken the end of an era? Here's three reasons we think so...

1. A Place for Billionaires to Escape to?

Attendees have been drawn to the event for its principles and in recent years it has a had a pull on those interested in zoning out within the drug culture. But, in a land where the only currency is in "gifting," it's also the place for billionaires to spend the week assessing their true survival skills at. Always big with tech types like Larry Page and Sergey Brin of Google, as well as rich people types from Kenneth Lerer, media mogul, angel investor, and  co-founder of the Huffington Post, to billionaire and entertainment industry icon Tom Freston (above),  this year's crowd is sure to include a slew of other Billionaires following in their footsteps.

Which poses the obvious questions:

• Is trading and bartering for pancakes with a billionaire each morning really the vibe you were going for when you loaded up your worn out mini van with E and headed for the desert?
• The first time the event has ever been sold out, veterans are upset by what they see as impending commercialization.  While the ticket price of $210-$360 is reasonable to take part in the community, people are now selling tickets as high as $25,000, a price set for profit. The people that can afford that ticket obviously fit in this "rich people" camp. Doesn't this totally go against the whole founding principles?

2. Julia Allison is Going (enough said).

If billionaires in torn loin cloths doesn't make you queasy, and you still think Burning Man is Burning Strong. Check out another guest on this year's hottest desert guest list: It's internet Fameball Julia Allison! Yippee! Nothing spells artist/free loving free baser like NonSociety founder/lifestreamer, and ex girlfriend to John McCain's son, Julia(xo). Unless she shows up with "special" cupcakes, the only thing Julia will mean for Burning Man is a draining of its resources for everyone else.

From pink bows..

to pink hair?

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3. A Growing List of Rules To Follow.

Once a good thing goes mass, it has more people to please, more voices looking to change things. What was once all about freedom, has had to put a growing list of rules into place, angering purists.  In 2009, early arrivals were even given a bar code to be scanned before they could enter.

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Progress and popularity can be good, as long as the festival stays true to its core.  But with trend followers coming into the mix, the balance may be thrown off with the role of spectator becoming greater than that of participant. For those looking for a good time, not invested or aware of the guiding principles, and  accustomed to luxury, its easy to envision trash piling up, Coca Cola being swigged, and money trickling in.

We hope not, but we're at least interested to see how the newbies deal with temperatures in the 30s at night to near 100 during the day, dust storms, theme camps, and dirt.  Glamping, this is not.

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What Is Burning Man?

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First started by Larry Harvey and a small group in 1986 in San Francisco (and not Dr. Dre), it is understood not as an event, but a way of life.  Each person will give you there own meaning as to what exactly Burning Man 'is" but here is a general rundown:

• The temporary city is governed by the Ten Principles including civic responsibility and communal effort.
• Art is displayed and erected, theme cities are built and each person is expected to contribute.

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• It is known for being noncommercial and built on giving.
• What you bring in is all you have.  The Survival Guide is not to be ignored.
• One must pick up their own trash and follow rules put in place for health and safety reasons.
• It lasts one week.
• Drugs are abundant and body paint and costumes are out in full force.

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• Classes are available in just about anything from ukelele to hula hooping.
• The entire thing culminates in the burning of an effigy, which gives the event its name.