Billie Eilish Donates $11.5M, Challenges Billionaires

At the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards in New York, Billie Eilish used her acceptance speech for the Music Innovator Award to challenge billionaires to "give your money away" and urged wealthy attendees to put their fortunes to use for good. Host Stephen Colbert announced Eilish will donate $11.5 million from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to organizations focused on food equity, climate justice and reducing carbon pollution. High-profile attendees included Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, and several outlets reported Zuckerberg did not applaud. The announcement drew mixed reactions: supporters praised the gift and Eilish’s call for redistribution, while some critics and fans noted her reported ~$50 million net worth and questioned reporting that much of the tour donation came from optional "changemaker" ticket surcharges paid by fans. Coverage framed the moment as part of a broader debate over billionaire philanthropy and how charitable pledges are structured and communicated.