Billie Eilish Urges Billionaires to Donate at WSJ Innovator Awards; Mark Zuckerberg Reacts Silently

At the 2025 Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, Billie Eilish, who received the Music Innovator Award, publicly challenged billionaires, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, to use their wealth for good by donating more to charitable causes. She emphasized the dark state of the world and the need for empathy, urging the ultra-rich to give their money away, delivering a pointed but lighthearted critique that drew applause and laughter from the audience. Despite the strong message, Zuckerberg reportedly did not join the applause or reacted visibly, maintaining a reserved demeanor alongside his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, who was also honored for her philanthropic work. Both Zuckerberg and Chan have pledged to donate 99% of their Meta shares to charitable causes during their lifetimes, reflecting a commitment to philanthropy. Eilish herself pledged $11.5 million from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour proceeds to support initiatives focused on food equity, climate justice, and carbon reduction. The event underscored the ongoing dialogue about wealth, responsibility, and social impact between celebrities and billionaires.