Key Points
- Eilish donates $11.5 million from her 2025 tour. She backs food, climate and carbon causes.
- She says people need empathy and real help today. She asks the rich to share more cash.
- Mark Zuckerberg is in the room for his wife. Her line lands harder with tech there.
Billie Eilish (Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O’Connell) has urged billionaires to share wealth. She spoke while accepting WSJ Magazine’s Music Innovator Award in New York.
The singer said she had donated $11.5 million from her 2025 tour. She urged rich guests to copy stars in recent giving like Burna Boy freedom remark.
Why she told the rich to give
Eilish said many people now “need empathy and help” across the country. She added that money should go to people who truly need it.
She explained that her tour gift was sent to food equity projects. She added that some cash would support climate justice and cut carbon.
According to her, the goal was to move money, not hoard it. She said using wealth for good things was the better test.
She then turned to guests with far bigger fortunes than hers. “If you are a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?” she asked.
Eilish stressed that she was not attacking anyone in the room. “No hate, but give your money away, shorties,” she said.
Her team said the money came from ticket sales and merch. They said she chose groups that act fast in US cities.
Fans online praised her for matching words with action. Some said more pop stars should now name high earners in rooms.
Others said the speech showed how touring can fund climate work. It also showed that young stars can make large gifts.
The night also echoed recent acts of star generosity. It linked her with music names who bless fans like Davido iPhone gift to fans.
Tech figure in the room
Reports said Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg was present to support his wife. That detail made her words sharper for rich listeners.
Eilish did not call him out or mention any name. She kept the tone light but firm on where wealth should go.
She said the better path is to fund food, women and air projects. She added that culture stars can lead that shift.
Her award capped a year of music and activism wins. Her speech now sits with wider calls for fairer wealth.
