SAT . Billie Eilish Calls Out Billionaires While Giving Speech in a Room with Mark Zuckerberg — How Did He React?

Billie Eilish and Mark Zuckerberg at the ‘WSJ. Magazine’ Innovator Awards on Oct. 29. Credit :

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Taylor Hill/Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• Billie Eilish accepted the Music Innovator Award at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards in New York City on Wednesday, Oct. 29
• During her acceptance speech, Eilish urged the star-studded audience to donate their money, specifically calling out billionaires
• “If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?” she asked the crowd, which included Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg

Billie Eilish thinks billionaires should be doing more.

The 23-year-old Grammy winner accepted the Music Innovator Award at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and took the opportunity to make her opinions heard during 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,” Eilish told the star-studded audience. “I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it.” 

Eilish didn’t hold punches, calling out several people in the audience, adding, “Love you all, but there’s a few people in here that 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.”Billie Eilish gives a speech at the ‘WSJ. Magazine’ Innovator Awards.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

The comment caused a ripple of quiet laughter and clapping in the audience at the Museum of Modern Art, which consisted of billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, as well as stars like Hailey Bieber, Spike Lee, George Lucas, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Tory Burch, Questlove, Karlie Kloss and many more. 

An eyewitness in the audience tells PEOPLE that Facebook founder Zuckerberg did not clap along with the rest of the audience at Eilish’s comment. 
Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg attend the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Oct. 29.

TheStewartofNY/WireImage

Zuckerberg is the third richest person in the world with a net worth of around $257 billion, according to Forbes.

Eilish put her own money where her mouth is just moments before giving her speech. Stephen Colbert, who introduced the “Birds of a Feather” singer, shared the news that she had donated $11.5 million from her recent tour. 

“I also have the privilege of breaking a little news tonight. Thank you, Billie, for allowing me to do this. It’s extraordinary,” Colbert shared.

“Billie Eilish will be donating proceeds from her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour to support organizations, projects and voices dedicated to food equity, climate justice, reducing carbon pollution and combating the climate crisis. That donation, ladies and gentlemen, will be $11.5 million. That’s wonderful. Billie, on behalf of humans everywhere, thank you.” Billie Eilish and Hailey Bieber attend the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards.

Lexie Moreland/WWD via Getty

For the event, Eilish rocked a private school chic-look with a navy blazer and skirt, grey sweater and brown Oxford shoes with tall grey socks. She wore her black hair down and sleek and paired the look with dark makeup. 

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Despite the slight tension amid her speech, Eilish seemingly had a blast at the event, which she attended with her mom, Maggie Baird. She was also photographed posing with Hailey, 28, at the afterparty after a longstanding friendship with Hailey’s husband, Justin Bieber.