Billie Eilish Calls Out Billionaires: Mark Zuckerberg’s Reaction Sparks Debate

Billie Eilish made headlines after using her acceptance speech at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards in New York to urge the wealthy to act with compassion and social responsibility. The Grammy-winning artist, who received the Music Innovator Award on October 29, turned her moment in the spotlight into a sharp critique of extreme wealth — with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg sitting right in the audience.

“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,” said the 22-year-old artist. “If you have money, it would be great to use it for good things — maybe give it to people who need it.”

Eilish’s words quickly shifted from heartfelt to thought-provoking as she added, “Love you all, but there are a few people here that have a lot more money than me. If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties.”

Her witty remark drew laughter and applause from attendees at the Museum of Modern Art, but eyewitnesses noted that Zuckerberg, who was present with his wife Priscilla Chan, appeared expressionless during the moment.

Interestingly, Chan was also among the evening’s honourees, recognised as a 2025 WSJ Innovator for her philanthropic work in science. The couple has pledged to donate 99% of their Meta shares to charitable causes through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a commitment valued at billions of dollars.

Before Eilish’s speech, comedian Stephen Colbert, who presented her award, revealed that she plans to donate $11.5 million from her Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour to support causes related to food equity, climate justice, and carbon reduction.

Despite her bold message, Eilish seemed to enjoy the evening, attending with her mother Maggie Baird and mingling warmly with guests. Her statement, however, has sparked major discussions on social media — with many praising her for speaking truth to power, while others debated whether celebrities themselves are doing enough.

For many, Billie Eilish’s speech highlighted the growing global debate around wealth inequality, celebrity activism, and social accountability among the world’s richest individuals.