“He’s been a friend to SALT for a long period of time, so if he wants to be involved, it’s the right thing to do,” SkyBridge co-Chief Investment Officer Troy Gayeski said in an interview.

Cannabis, Crypto
Multiple cannabis, cryptocurrency and opportunity zones panels were on the agenda, as were venture capital and private equity discussions. Attendees had requested a broader mix of topics this year, Gayeski said. That may also reflect shifting tides within the hedge fund industry as investors increasingly turn to other kinds of asset managers for yield.

The conference drew 1,950 attendees this year, compared with the typical 1,600 to 1,800, said Ray Nolte, SkyBridge’s co-CIO.

“There was great skepticism in the beginning,” Scaramucci said about getting the event back off the ground. Some sponsors allocated their budgets elsewhere because it was canceled last year. But things ramped up in April when the speaker list was more set, he said, adding, “It’s the highest level of ‘A’ players that we’ve put together in SALT history.” This year the conference set up a second stage that hosted a flurry of additional panels and presentations.

Poolside Deejay
The vibe at the Bellagio, which was patrolled with K-9 dogs, was more subdued than in years past, and the parties less lively. The annual poolside barbecue dinner, which in 2017 featured a performance from the Gipsy Kings, this year had a deejay.

“Wednesday night at the pool, it looked like somebody died,” said Adriana Da Silva, a principal at Adas Investments who was attending her fourth SALT.

The past two years have been busy for the Mooch, as Scaramucci is known. After his exit as White House communications director, he launched a Twitter account, The Scaramucci Post, did a stint on the TV show “Celebrity Big Brother” and now co-hosts the “Mooch and the Mrs.” podcast with his wife.

For Greg Royce, whose SALT ticket cost $4,250, the payoff was there. He’s launching his own hedge fund and is seeking investor capital. Royce said he was able to secure at least 14 meetings.

“Yeah, I’ll come back next year for sure,” he said.

The sentiment was shared by Andy Scott, a managing director at Societe Generale SA.