Billie Eilish announced a $11.5 million donation to The Changemaker Program, a charitable initiative supporting organizations around the world that address food insecurity and the climate crisis.
“If you are a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but give your money away, shorties”
Billie Eilish, photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFPBillie Eilish put her money where her mouth is while calling on billionaires to do the same during the WSJ. Innovator Awards on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old pop star was on hand to accept the Music Innovator Award, during which it was revealed that she had raised more than $11.5 million in donations through her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour. The proceeds will go to The Changemaker Program, a charitable initiative supporting organizations around the world that address food insecurity and the climate crisis.
Eilish used her acceptance speech as a call to action, encouraging those in attendance — including Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan — to show more empathy and do more good with their money.
“We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help in our country,” Eilish remarked. “I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things and give it to some people that need it. Love you all, but there’s a few people in here that have a lot more money than me. If you are a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but give your money away, shorties.”
According to People, Mark Zuckerberg did not clap along with the rest of the audience at Eilish’s comment.
Chan was honored at the WSJ. Innovator Awards for her work in science philanthropy. The couple previously pledged in 2015 to give away 99 percent of their shares in Meta (then known as Facebook) to charity “during their lives.”
