At the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Wednesday, October 29, 2025, Billie Eilish, the Grammy-winning pop artist, didn't hold back as she addressed some of the world's wealthiest individuals. Accepting the Music Innovator Award, the 23-year-old singer used her platform to question the accumulation of extreme wealth and encourage billionaires to donate their money to those in need.
Eilish's speech was delivered to an audience that included prominent figures such as Mark Zuckerberg and George Lucas. Zuckerberg, the fifth-richest person globally with a net worth of $226 billion, was present to support his wife, Priscilla Chan, who was also being honored for her philanthropic work in science.
Before Eilish took the stage at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, comedian Stephen Colbert announced that she would be donating $11.5 million from the proceeds of her "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour. The funds will be directed toward programs focused on food equity, climate justice, reducing carbon pollution, and combating the climate crisis. Colbert thanked Eilish on behalf of "humans everywhere" for her generous contribution.
Eilish then used her acceptance speech to amplify her message. "We're in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than kind of ever, especially in our country," she stated. She urged those with substantial wealth to use it for good, suggesting they "maybe give it to some people that need it".
Directly addressing the billionaires in the room, Eilish posed the question: "If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?". She followed up with a lighthearted yet pointed remark: "No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties". According to People magazine, her comments were met with laughter and applause, though an eyewitness noted that Zuckerberg did not join in the clapping.
Eilish's directness resonated with many. Fashion editor and stylist Gabriella Karefa-Johnson praised Gen Z's willingness to challenge the ultra-rich, writing on Threads, "They will call Zuck an evil dork to his face, and thank god for that".
For the occasion, Eilish wore a navy jacket and matching midi skirt from Miu Miu's Spring/Summer 2026 collection, paired with a colorful silk scarf and gray V-neck sweater. Her outfit also included knit socks held up by calf-high garters and brown leather bowler shoes with silver hardware.
Eilish's call to action follows a growing conversation about wealth inequality. According to a 2023 Oxfam report, the world's richest 1% hold 45.6% of global wealth, and 81 billionaires possess more wealth than 50% of the world's population combined. While Zuckerberg and Chan have donated over $5 billion to charitable causes, this represents only about 2% of their net worth. Other high-profile figures, such as MacKenzie Scott and Daniel Craig, have also publicly committed to giving away their wealth.
