Billie Eilish is placing her cash the place her mouth is.
The “Birds of a Feather” singer, 23, urged billionaires to donate their riches to individuals in want whereas talking at a Wall Avenue Journal occasion, the place she pledged to offer almost $12 million of her personal earnings to charity.
“We're in a time proper now the place the world is absolutely, actually unhealthy and actually darkish, and folks want empathy and assist greater than, form of, ever, particularly in our nation,” she mentioned on stage throughout WSJ. Journal‘s 2025 Innovator Awards on the Museum of Trendy Artwork in New York Metropolis on Wednesday, October 29. “I'd say when you have cash, it could be nice to make use of it for good issues, and perhaps give it to some people who want it.”
Eilish went on to make a daring plea to among the prime earners within the room, together with Fb cofounder Mark Zuckerberg, who's the fifth richest particular person on the earth with a web price of $230 billion, in accordance with Forbes.
“Love you all, however there's a couple of individuals in right here which have much more cash than me,” she mentioned. “In case you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, however yeah. Give your cash away, shorties!”
Many individuals within the viewers clapped in response to Eilish's feedback, however an eyewitness informed People that Zuckerberg, 41, didn't.
Eilish was readily available to simply accept the Music Innovator Award, whereas Zuckerberg was there to assist his spouse, pediatrician Priscilla Chan, who obtained the Philanthropy in Science Innovator Award.
Different honorees in attendance included Hailey Bieber, who notably offered her Rhode skincare model to e.l.f. Magnificence for $1 billion in Might, in addition to Ben Stiller, Spike Lee and George Lucas.
Placing their cash the place their mouths are! Along with strolling the purple carpet and dwelling the glamorous life, these celebrities, together with Angelina Jolie, Lauren Conrad, and Matt Damon, are working onerous to make the world a greater place. Learn up on their charities!
Previous to Eilish's speech, Stephen Colbert introduced to the gang that the nine-time Grammy and two-time Oscar winner could be donating $11.5 million in proceeds from her ongoing Hit Me Onerous and Mushy Tour to “assist organizations, initiatives and voices devoted to meals fairness, local weather justice, lowering carbon air pollution and combating the local weather disaster.”
“That's great,” Colbert mentioned. “Billie, on behalf of people in every single place, thanks.”
Whereas Zuckerberg and Chan, 40, are every multibillionaires now, they launched the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) in 2015 with the aim of donating 99 % of their wealth from Fb shares over their lifetime.
“Our preliminary areas of focus can be personalised studying, curing illness, connecting individuals and constructing sturdy communities,” the couple said in a statement on the time, including, “We all know it is a small contribution in comparison with all of the assets and abilities of these already engaged on these points. However we need to do what we will, working alongside many others.”
Zuckerberg and Chan, who married in 2012, have given greater than $7.2 billion so far, in accordance with CZI.
They share three daughters: Maxima, 9, August, 8, and Aurelia, 2.
