Entertainment
Billie Eilish calls on billionaires to donate more of their wealth: “No hate, but give your money away, shorties”
Billie Eilish wants billionaires to donate more.
As the Grammy and Oscar winner accepted the music award at this year’s WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Wednesday night, she urged the ultra-wealthy to address more of the world’s issues.
“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 said to an audience that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, as well as “Star Wars” creator George Lucas. “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.”
Late-night host Stephen Colbert introduced Eilish onstage at New York’s Museum of Modern Art by announcing that she would donate $11.5 million of the proceeds from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to causes dedicated to food equity, climate justice and reducing carbon pollution.
Taylor Hill / Getty Images
In accepting the award, the “Bad Guy” singer added a polite but direct call to others in the room, saying a lot of people, especially in the U.S., could use some help right now.
“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here who have a lot more money than me,” she said, to a smattering of applause. “And if you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? And no hate, but give your money away, shorties.”
Through her Changemaker Program, Eilish has worked with the nonprofit Reverb for years on its Music Decarbonization Project and its Music Climate Revolution initiative, alongside artists ranging from Dead & Company to Harry Styles.
Chan was also honored at the event, receiving the “Philanthropy of Science Innovator of the Year” award. A spokesperson for the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Brandi Hoffine Barr, said Zuckerberg and Chan have committed to giving away 99% of their Meta shares to philanthropy over the course of their lifetimes and have already granted out $7 billion. According to Forbes, Zuckerberg’s current net worth is around $224 billion.
Eilish’s comments come as the number of billionaires worldwide continues to grow, with 204 new billionaires added in 2024, according to a January report from Oxfam International titled “Takers Not Makers.”
The report found that the billionaires grew wealthier three times faster in 2024 than in 2023, pointing to an increased concentration of resources globally.
Oxfam predicted that at least five people will become trillionaires in the next decade, up from one person the year before. The group called for higher taxes on the rich and other measures to break up monopolies, cap CEO pay and require companies to pay living wages.
The wealthiest Americans have a long history of calling on each other to give away more of their money. In 1889, the steel magnate and industrialist Andrew Carnegie argued in the essay “The Gospel of Wealth” that the richest should give away their fortunes within their lifetimes, in part to lessen the sting of growing inequality.
In 2010, Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates and Warren Buffett took up that call by creating the Giving Pledge, a commitment for billionaires to give away more than half their wealth in their lifetimes or when they die.
Fifteen years on, some 256 billionaires have taken the pledge, with 110 of them coming from the U.S., according to a recent report by the Charity Reform Initiative of the Institute for Policy Studies. Those U.S. billionaires represent 13% of the total 876 billionaires in the U.S., according to the report, revealing the small portion of the wealthiest people who have publicly committed to giving away their fortunes.
The report found that of the 22 billionaires who have died since taking the pledge, only one gave away his fortune before he died. Meanwhile, only eight of the 22 deceased pledgers fulfilled the commitment by giving away half of their wealth or more at their death, though some of their estates are still being resolved.
Chuck Collins, one of the authors of the report and an expert at the Institute for Policy Studies, said Eilish’s comments are part of a growing realization that the rules of the economy favor those with assets over those who earn wages.
He thinks the Giving Pledge has created an expectation and competition for the wealthiest to give away their money, but the fortunes of many of the pledgers have increased over time, meaning they will need to move even more aggressively if they are to fulfill the commitment.
“In the end, philanthropy is not a substitute for a fair and effective tax system,” Collins said. “The level of extreme inequality will require some form of restoring progressivity to the tax system, a wealth tax as well as progressive income tax.”
Taylor Swift has opened up about her close bond with Dakota Johnson, describing the actress as an “endlessly curious” and “empathetic” friend who stands out for her refreshing honesty.
Writing a heartfelt essay for Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2026, the 36-year-old singer-songwriter vouched for Johnson’s “realness” in an industry often defined by carefully managed media responses.
Swift praised the bestie for her unique ability to answer questions with such “frank candour” that it leaves people wondering if she is simply incapable of lying.
While the two stars have largely kept their relationship away from the public eye, they have been part of the same social circle since 2016, often spotted enjoying dinner in the company of friends like Zoë Kravitz, Cara Delevingne, and Suki Waterhouse.
This long-standing connection has given Swift a front-row seat to Johnson’s personality, which she describes as being deeply inquisitive about the lives of others.
According to Swift, the actress is constantly exploring the “intricate relationship complexities” of the human experience, a trait that fuels her work both in front of and behind the camera.
Beyond their personal friendship, Swift highlighted Johnson’s professional bravery, specifically noting her willingness to take “newer and bolder risks” by founding her own production company, TeaTime Pictures.
The Grammy-winning artist noted that this drive to challenge herself is a core part of who the actress is.
Swift seems to admire the way Johnson balances being a captivating presence on screen with an inquisitive nature behind the scenes, suggesting that this combination is what makes her storytelling feel so authentic.
Ultimately, Swift believes that Johnson’s commitment to the truth is what defines her legacy in Hollywood.
She concluded her tribute by noting that her friend’s “unfailing truthfulness” helps shape her work into art that feels “as real and timeless as she is.”
By bridging the gap between her public persona and her private self, Johnson has clearly made a lasting impression on Swift, who views her as a rare example of someone whose evolving career is a direct reflection of her genuine, inquisitive character.
- Pakistan reaffirms “shoulder to shoulder” support for Saudi Arabia.
- PM, MBS discuss regional situation during nearly two-hour meeting.
- Pakistan, Saudi Arabia review bilateral ties and strategic cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his sincere appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s consistent support for Pakistan’s economic stability during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Prime Minister called on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who is also the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah this evening. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting.
According to the PMO, the two leaders held detailed discussions during a warm and cordial meeting that lasted almost two hours, focusing on the evolving regional situation as well as bilateral relations.
During the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the wake of recent regional escalation, saying that “the people of Pakistan stand shoulder to shoulder with our Saudi brethren.” He also conveyed deep condolences over the loss of precious lives.
He appreciated what he described as the Kingdom’s “exemplary patience and restraint,” adding that the Crown Prince’s leadership during the current crisis “has been a source of strength for all peace-loving people in the Kingdom and beyond.”
The Prime Minister also shared recent developments related to Pakistan’s peace efforts, including those that led to the US–Iran ceasefire and the recently held round of historic talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad. He noted that “Pakistan and the Kingdom enjoy a unique relationship as strategic defence partners under the Pakistan–Saudi Arabia Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement.”
He further expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s continued support of Pakistan’s economic stability, describing it as “deeply appreciated.”
Both leaders also exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to continued close cooperation.
Demi Moore is continuing her remarkable career resurgence, signing on for the new culinary thriller Tyrant alongside Charlize Theron and Julia Garner.
Variety broke the news exclusively, reporting that Moore has accepted a key role in the high-stakes film set within New York City’s elite fine dining scene.
David Weil, known for Amazon series Hunters and Invasion, will write and direct, working from a script he developed with Cody Behan.
Production is expected to begin within weeks in Los Angeles, having secured a California Film Tax Credit.
The film will be produced by Theron alongside her Secret Menu partners Beth Kono and A.J. Dix, as well as The Picture Company’s Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona.
Weil produces with partner Natalie Laine Williams, with Stan Wlodkowski serving as executive producer.
Moore arrives at this project on the back of one of the strongest periods of her career.
Her performance in The Substance, in which she played a fading star who takes a mysterious drug to reclaim her youth, earned her a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award, as well as an Oscar nomination.
She will next be seen in Boots Riley’s I Love Boosters in late May, and currently stars in the top-rated Taylor Sheridan series Landman.
Switzerland’s apparel imports grow double-digit in Jan–Feb 2026
No vote after NCAA urges further study of age eligibility changes to college sports
Taylor Swift on bond with Dakota Johnson: ‘Curious’
-
Fashion1 week agoIndia’s exports face reset as EU links trade to carbon metrics: EY
-
Entertainment1 week agoLamar Odom shocking response to Khloé Kardashian account of his overdose
-
Entertainment1 week agoQueen Elizabeth II emotional message for Archie, Lilibet sparks speculation
-
Tech1 week agoAzure customers up in arms over ‘full’ UK South region | Computer Weekly
-
Tech1 week agoAs the Strait of Hormuz Reopens, Global Shipping Will Take Months to Recover
-
Fashion1 week agoCII submits 20-pt agenda to Indian govt to back firms hit by Iran war
-
Tech7 days agoThis AI Button Wearable From Ex-Apple Engineers Looks Like an iPod Shuffle
-
Politics6 days agoIndian airlines hit hardest after Dubai limits foreign flights until May 31