It's always great seeing celebrities holding other celebrities to account.
And it's clear Billie Eilish isn't shy to do exactly that after calling out billionaires in front of a huge audience, which included none other than Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg - AKA the fifth richest person in the world with a net worth of $2.7 billion, per Forbes 'Real Time Billionaires' list.
At the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards in New York City last week, the 23-year-old 'Ocean Eyes' singer used her acceptance speech to slam the wealthy attendees for hoarding their fortunes.
Eilish, who recently donated $11.5 million of her own money to charity, urged the audience to show more compassion, saying: "We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark, and people need empathy and help more than ever, especially in our country.
Advert
"I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things - maybe give it to some people who need it."
After accepting the Music Innovator Award, the Grammy winner went a step further, addressing the billionaires in the room directly: "Love you all, but there are a few people in here who have a lot more money than me. If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?
"No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties."
Her remarks were met with laughter and applause from much of the audience. However, according to a source quoted by PEOPLE, Zuckerberg did not join in on the response.
A spokesperson from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative previously Tyla: "Regarding Mark Zuckerberg, as you know, he and Dr. Priscilla Chan recently attended the WSJ Innovator event.
"Dr. Chan was honored for her leadership in science philanthropy at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) – where she and Mark are co-CEOs and co-Founders.
"Through CZI, they have already contributed more than $7 billion to various causes and have pledged to donate 99 per cent of their Meta shares to philanthropy over their lifetime."
But what is Eilish's net worth, and how does it compare to that of Zuckerberg's?
Well, she became the youngest member of the Forbes World’s 100 Highest-Paid Celebrities in 2019, earning an estimated $53 million as of 2020.
Since that 2020 estimate half a decade ago, it's clear that Eilish’s stardom has continued to grow after making over $67.5 million in digital singles, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.
She also performed at over 60 venues during her Where Do We Go? tour in 2019, earning an estimated $18 million before its cancellation due to COVID-19. Eilish then made another $25 million from her 2021 Apple TV+ documentary The World’s a Little Blurry and released a photo book that sold 64,000 copies.
Her second album, Happier Than Ever, became a global success with over 10 million units sold, followed by a world tour grossing $131 million.
In 2023, Eilish debuted as an actress in Swarm and co-wrote 'What Was I Made For?' for Barbie, which earned her an Oscar and two Grammys after surpassing one billion Spotify streams.
Her latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, had her best-ever debut week with 339,000 units sold, and its accompanying tour (ending in November 2025) is projected to make $300 million.
Beyond music, Eilish has collaborated with Gucci, Calvin Klein, Nike, and Apple, and runs her own merch line, Blōhsh, offering apparel and accessories. In 2021, she launched Eilish Fragrances, a vegan and cruelty-free perfume brand that generated $60 million in its first year.
Eilish reportedly still lives with her parents in Los Angeles but owns a nearby $2.3 million ranch in Glendale, previously owned by Leona Lewis, featuring a horse paddock, arena, and guesthouse.
Tyla previously reached out to Billie Eilish's representatives for comment.
Topics: Billie Eilish, Celebrity, Music, Money
Rhiannon Ingle