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Billie Eilish Tells Billionaires To Give Away Their Money While Donating $11.5 Million Herself

MarketDash Editorial Team
23 days ago
The Grammy-winning singer called out wealthy attendees at an awards ceremony, asking why billionaires stay billionaires. Her blunt message: "Give your money away, shorties." Meanwhile, she's putting her money where her mouth is with a massive donation from her tour proceeds.

Here's a sentence you don't hear every day at a fancy Manhattan awards ceremony: "Give your money away, shorties." But that's exactly what Billie Eilish told a room full of billionaires at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards, and honestly, the timing was perfect.

When Your Speech Comes With An $11.5 Million Mic Drop

Before Eilish even took the stage at New York's Museum of Modern Art, late-night host Stephen Colbert made an announcement: the Grammy-winning artist would be donating $11.5 million from her "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour to causes focused on food equity, climate justice, and reducing carbon pollution. That's what you call leading by example.

Then Eilish went for it. "I love you all, but there are a few people here with a lot more money than me," she said. "If you're a billionaire — why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties."

She wasn't done. "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 ever — especially in our country," Eilish continued, making clear this wasn't just about wealth redistribution for its own sake.

The Billionaire In The Room

Among the audience members? Meta Platforms (META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who was receiving an award for philanthropic work. Also present were "Wicked" stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, plus actress Reese Witherspoon.

According to People, one unidentified audience member noticed that Zuckerberg didn't clap along with everyone else after Eilish's billionaire call-out. Awkward? Maybe. But it highlights the ongoing tension around wealth inequality and what the ultra-rich should do with their money.

Here's the thing: hundreds of billionaires, including Zuckerberg, have already signed the Giving Pledge. That's the commitment launched by Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, philanthropist Melinda French Gates, and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett back in 2010, where signers promise to donate at least 50% of their wealth.

Zuckerberg and Chan went even bigger in 2015, pledging to give away 99% of their Facebook shares through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Those shares were worth about $45 billion at the time. The catch? They structured it as an LLC rather than a tax-exempt foundation, which drew scrutiny from philanthropy experts since LLCs can make private investments and don't face the same regulatory oversight.

Putting Tour Money Where Her Mouth Is

The $11.5 million from Eilish's tour will support her Changemaker Program and Reverb, an environmental nonprofit that runs the Music Decarbonization Project aimed at cutting emissions from live music events. The initiative promotes sustainable touring practices and community food programs.

This continues Eilish's partnership with her mother, Maggie Baird, founder of Support + Feed. "I have loved having Support and Feed out on tour. It really makes me feel there's a change in the air," Eilish told People.

So while Eilish might not have billions to give away, she's doing what she can with what she has. And she's not shy about suggesting others with deeper pockets should do the same. Whether that message lands with the billionaire set remains to be seen, but at least she got them in a room where they had to listen.

Back to News

Billie Eilish Tells Billionaires To Give Away Their Money While Donating $11.5 Million Herself

MarketDash Editorial Team
23 days ago
The Grammy-winning singer called out wealthy attendees at an awards ceremony, asking why billionaires stay billionaires. Her blunt message: "Give your money away, shorties." Meanwhile, she's putting her money where her mouth is with a massive donation from her tour proceeds.

Here's a sentence you don't hear every day at a fancy Manhattan awards ceremony: "Give your money away, shorties." But that's exactly what Billie Eilish told a room full of billionaires at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards, and honestly, the timing was perfect.

When Your Speech Comes With An $11.5 Million Mic Drop

Before Eilish even took the stage at New York's Museum of Modern Art, late-night host Stephen Colbert made an announcement: the Grammy-winning artist would be donating $11.5 million from her "Hit Me Hard and Soft" tour to causes focused on food equity, climate justice, and reducing carbon pollution. That's what you call leading by example.

Then Eilish went for it. "I love you all, but there are a few people here with a lot more money than me," she said. "If you're a billionaire — why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties."

She wasn't done. "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 ever — especially in our country," Eilish continued, making clear this wasn't just about wealth redistribution for its own sake.

The Billionaire In The Room

Among the audience members? Meta Platforms (META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, who was receiving an award for philanthropic work. Also present were "Wicked" stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, plus actress Reese Witherspoon.

According to People, one unidentified audience member noticed that Zuckerberg didn't clap along with everyone else after Eilish's billionaire call-out. Awkward? Maybe. But it highlights the ongoing tension around wealth inequality and what the ultra-rich should do with their money.

Here's the thing: hundreds of billionaires, including Zuckerberg, have already signed the Giving Pledge. That's the commitment launched by Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates, philanthropist Melinda French Gates, and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett back in 2010, where signers promise to donate at least 50% of their wealth.

Zuckerberg and Chan went even bigger in 2015, pledging to give away 99% of their Facebook shares through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Those shares were worth about $45 billion at the time. The catch? They structured it as an LLC rather than a tax-exempt foundation, which drew scrutiny from philanthropy experts since LLCs can make private investments and don't face the same regulatory oversight.

Putting Tour Money Where Her Mouth Is

The $11.5 million from Eilish's tour will support her Changemaker Program and Reverb, an environmental nonprofit that runs the Music Decarbonization Project aimed at cutting emissions from live music events. The initiative promotes sustainable touring practices and community food programs.

This continues Eilish's partnership with her mother, Maggie Baird, founder of Support + Feed. "I have loved having Support and Feed out on tour. It really makes me feel there's a change in the air," Eilish told People.

So while Eilish might not have billions to give away, she's doing what she can with what she has. And she's not shy about suggesting others with deeper pockets should do the same. Whether that message lands with the billionaire set remains to be seen, but at least she got them in a room where they had to listen.