Billie Eilish Went After Billionaires at “WSJ Magazine’s” 2025 Innovator Awards

The songwriter received a Music Innovator award in New York on Wednesday.

Billie Eilish Went After Billionaires at WSJ Magazine’s 2025 Innovator Awards

The songwriter received a Music Innovator award in New York on Wednesday.

Words: Will Schube

Photo: Henry Hwu

October 30, 2025

While an honoree at WSJ Magazine’s 2025 Innovator Awards last night, Billie Eilish rather pointedly asked billionaires to give away some of their exorbitant wealth, doing so while one very famous billionaire (Mark Zuckerberg) was in attendance and was also set to receive an award. Eilish was given her award as a Music Innovator by Stephen Colbert, who noted that the singer had raised $11.5 million for organizations addressing food insecurity and climate change while touring her album Hit Me Hard and Soft.

She said during her speech (which was reportedly in front of lots of very rich people): “People need empathy and help in our country. 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?”

She also added, “No hate, but give your money away, shorties.” Billie Eilish, 2028!