Billie Eilish calls out billionaires and donates millions at 2025 WSJ Innovator Awards in NYC

On Wednesday evening, Hollywood stars stepped out for WSJ. Magazine's 2025 Innovator Awards at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York City. 

The Innovator Awards are held in recognition of “leaders across industries who are changing the game in their fields.”

Honourees included Ben Stiller who is being honoured for Entertainment, Mellody Hobson and George Lucas who are being honoured for Design, Hailey Bieber for Beauty, Priscilla Chan for Philanthropy in Science, and Spike Lee for Film.

A notable moment during the event occurred when Grammy and Oscar-winning singer Billie Eilish, who was in attendance with her mom Maggie Baird, received the 'Music Innovator Award'. 

Known for her staunch advocacy of causes related to animal and climate justice, Eilish grabbed the opportunity to comment on the political situation in the US and call out bilionaires in her acceptance speech.

"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 kind of ever, especially in our country", the singer stated, adding that, "If you have money it would be great to use it for good things and maybe give it to some people that need it." 

"I love you all but there's a few people in here that have a lot more money than me and if you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?", questioned Eilish, concluding with the suggestion to "give your money away, shorties".

Additionally, Stephen Colbert also announced that the singer will donate $11.5 million from her Hit Me Hard And Soft Tour proceeds to aid with food equity and the climate crisis. 

Eilish's dedicated efforts to promote these causes was met with widespread appreciation by fans.