Billie Eilish, the 23-year-old Grammy-winning singer known for hits like “Bad Guy” and “Ocean Eyes,” took to Instagram Stories on November 13, 2025, to deliver a sharp, expletive-filled critique of Elon Musk. She labeled the 54-year-old tech billionaire a “f–king pathetic p–y bitch coward” for hoarding his vast fortune instead of using it to address pressing global crises. This outburst followed her reposting a series of infographics from the activist organization My Voice My Choice, which detailed actionable ways Musk could deploy his wealth to combat issues like world hunger, species extinction, and post-conflict reconstruction. Eilish’s comments underscore her growing advocacy for wealth redistribution amid rising inequality, coming just weeks after she publicly challenged other billionaires at a high-profile awards ceremony. The posts quickly went viral, sparking widespread discussions on social media about the responsibilities of the ultra-wealthy in a world facing humanitarian and environmental emergencies.
Eilish’s direct words capped off the reposts, where she emphasized the potential impact of Musk’s resources with a simple “etc…” before her insult, implying even more possibilities exist. This isn’t the first time the young artist has used her platform to call out economic disparities; her message aligns with a broader pattern of using her influence to promote empathy and action during turbulent times. Fans and critics alike praised her boldness, while others debated the feasibility of her suggestions, highlighting the complex interplay between personal wealth, philanthropy, and systemic change.
Musk’s Growing Fortune Sparks Backlash
Elon Musk’s net worth has skyrocketed in recent years, fueled by his leadership at Tesla, SpaceX, and other ventures, positioning him as the world’s richest person. In October 2025, Forbes confirmed Musk as the first individual to reach $500 billion in wealth, a milestone driven largely by Tesla’s surging stock value and SpaceX’s expanding role in space exploration and government contracts. Bloomberg’s Billionaires Index estimated his fortune at approximately $470 billion around that time, with the bulk tied to his 13% stake in Tesla and 42% ownership of SpaceX, valued at over $200 billion. This rapid accumulation has drawn scrutiny, especially as global challenges like climate change and poverty intensify.
The backlash intensified in early November 2025 when Tesla shareholders overwhelmingly approved a new compensation package for Musk during the company’s annual meeting. Over 75% of voters supported the plan, which could award him stock options worth up to $1 trillion if Tesla achieves specific performance targets over the next decade, such as revenue growth and market share expansion in electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. This approval came after Musk’s brief stint advising on government efficiency earlier in 2025, from which he stepped back in April to refocus on Tesla. Since then, Tesla’s shares have nearly doubled, propelled by strong sales of models like the Cybertruck and advancements in robotics through Optimus, the company’s humanoid robot project. On the day Forbes announced the $500 billion mark, Tesla stock rose almost 4%, adding roughly $9.3 billion to Musk’s net worth in hours alone.
Musk’s wealth trajectory has not gone unnoticed by activists and policymakers. Reports from organizations like Oxfam highlight how billionaire fortunes exacerbate inequality; for instance, the richest 1% have captured nearly two-thirds of all new wealth created since 2020. Musk himself has donated about $5.6 billion to charity over the years, including through the Musk Foundation, which supports renewable energy and pediatric research. However, critics argue these amounts pale in comparison to his overall holdings, especially as Tesla benefits from billions in U.S. government subsidies for clean energy initiatives. Eilish’s pointed remarks tap into this tension, questioning why such immense resources aren’t directed more aggressively toward immediate global needs.
Eilish Shares Ideas for Musk’s Money
Eilish’s Instagram Stories on November 13, 2025, amplified content from My Voice My Choice, a European feminist organization focused on gender equality, wealth taxation, and social justice. The infographics, originally posted by the group, framed Musk’s potential as the world’s first trillionaire—though his current net worth falls short of that—and outlined concrete, data-backed proposals for his funds. The first slide posed the question: “Elon Musk became the world’s first trillionaire, here’s what he could do with it,” setting the stage for practical interventions.
One key suggestion targeted food insecurity, citing the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). The WFP estimates that $40 billion annually could eradicate world hunger by 2030, a goal aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Alternatively, $140 billion could provide universal access to safe, clean water for the next seven years, addressing a crisis affecting over 2 billion people globally who lack reliable drinking water sources. Eilish’s repost highlighted this as a straightforward choice, emphasizing how Musk’s yearly donations at that scale could transform lives in regions plagued by famine, such as parts of sub-Saharan Africa and Yemen.
Another slide focused on biodiversity loss, a pressing environmental issue. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists 10,443 critically endangered species worldwide, from rhinos to certain bird populations. My Voice My Choice proposed that $1-2 billion per year from Musk could fund conservation efforts to downgrade all of them to “endangered” status, including habitat restoration, anti-poaching measures, and breeding programs. This amount, they noted, is a fraction of Musk’s wealth and could prevent mass extinctions accelerated by climate change and habitat destruction. The organization drew parallels to SpaceX’s ambitious Mars colonization plans, questioning why similar innovation isn’t applied to Earth’s vanishing wildlife.
The posts also addressed geopolitical recovery efforts. Rebuilding Gaza and the occupied West Bank to European Union standards would cost $53.2 billion, according to estimates from the EU and humanitarian groups, though the UN has revised Gaza’s needs upward to $70 billion due to ongoing conflict damage from the Israel-Hamas war. Expanding further, $793.2 billion could reconstruct Ukraine—devastated by Russia’s 2022 invasion—and Syria, where civil war has left infrastructure in ruins since 2011. These figures come from World Bank and UN assessments, factoring in housing, schools, hospitals, and economic revitalization. My Voice My Choice, known for campaigns like advocating higher taxes on billionaires and opposing space tourism subsidies, uses such data to push for equitable resource allocation. Eilish’s decision to share this content, ending with her visceral insult, resonated with followers who see it as a call to action against “billionaire hoarding,” a term gaining traction in public discourse.
As of November 15, 2025, Musk has not publicly responded to Eilish’s comments. His representatives also declined to comment when approached by media outlets. This silence contrasts with Musk’s active presence on X (formerly Twitter), where he often engages in debates on politics and technology, but philanthropy remains a sensitive topic amid ongoing lawsuits over his compensation and Tesla’s governance.
Earlier Criticism of Billionaires at Awards Event
Eilish’s confrontation with Musk builds on her earlier public stand against extreme wealth, voiced at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards on October 29, 2025, held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Accepting the Music Innovator Award, she addressed an elite audience that included Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, Star Wars creator George Lucas, fashion mogul Tory Burch, model Karlie Kloss, and model Hailey Bieber. The event, which honors leaders in business, entertainment, and technology, provided a stark backdrop for her message on empathy in dark times.
Eilish began by acknowledging the global mood”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.” She urged those with financial means to step up, saying, “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.” Turning directly to the billionaires present, she asked, “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.” The room responded with laughter and applause, but sources close to the event told People magazine that Zuckerberg remained stone-faced, showing no reaction despite the lighthearted tone.
Zuckerberg, worth around $200 billion per Forbes, attended with Chan, whose Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has committed over $3 billion to education, health, and scientific research since 2015. The couple has pledged 99% of their Meta shares to philanthropy over their lifetimes, inspired by the Giving Pledge co-founded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett. Still, Eilish’s words highlighted perceived gaps in billionaire giving; for context, the top 25 richest Americans hold more wealth than the bottom 50% of the U.S. population combined, per Federal Reserve data. Her speech echoed sentiments from figures like Senator Elizabeth Warren, who praised it on social media as “the right question,” arguing no one builds fortunes entirely alone and that billionaires should pay fairer taxes to fund public services.
The event’s host, late-night comedian Stephen Colbert, amplified Eilish’s impact by announcing her donation on stage, tying her words to tangible action. This moment not only elevated the discussion but also positioned Eilish as a voice for younger generations frustrated by economic divides, with her speech clips circulating widely on platforms like TikTok and X.
Eilish Puts Her Words into Action with Major Donation
True to her advocacy, Eilish has demonstrated commitment through substantial giving. During the WSJ awards, Colbert revealed that she donated $11.5 million from proceeds of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” world tour to support initiatives in food equity, climate justice, carbon pollution reduction, and broader climate crisis mitigation. This gesture, announced to thunderous applause, included partnerships with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, Feeding America, and climate-focused nonprofits such as the Sierra Club and 350.org. The funds aim to bolster grassroots projects, from urban farming programs to renewable energy transitions in vulnerable communities.
The “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour, promoting Eilish’s third studio album released in May 2024, launched on September 29, 2024, in Quebec City, Canada, and is scheduled to conclude on November 23, 2025, in San Francisco after 106 dates across North America, Europe, and Asia. To date, the tour has grossed over $200 million worldwide, with 22 reported shows alone generating $82.3 million from 543,224 tickets sold, averaging $3.7 million per night according to Pollstar data. Eilish’s sustainability efforts extend beyond the donation; she collaborates with Reverb, an environmental nonprofit, to establish Eco-Villages at each venue. These hubs educate fans on reducing waste, offer recycling stations, and promote low-impact travel options like carpooling or public transit.
A portion of the donation stems from a $1-per-ticket pledge, but the bulk derives from overall tour earnings, showcasing Eilish’s business acumen in blending artistry with activism. The tour features immersive stage designs with energy-efficient lighting and LED screens to minimize power use, and Eilish advocates for plant-based concessions at arenas, influencing menus long-term—many venues, like Madison Square Garden, have retained vegan options post-tour. Her efforts build on previous tours, where she offset carbon emissions and banned single-use plastics, earning praise from environmental groups. This $11.5 million contribution positions Eilish as a model for artists using commercial success for social good, contrasting with criticisms of less transparent celebrity philanthropy.
Broader Context of Wealth and Global Crises
Eilish’s critiques occur against a backdrop of escalating global challenges and debates on wealth inequality. The UN’s 2025 World Food Security report warns that 783 million people face chronic hunger, worsened by conflicts, climate events, and supply chain disruptions—issues that targeted philanthropy could alleviate but often don’t due to tax loopholes favoring the rich. On biodiversity, the IUCN’s Red List indicates one million species at risk of extinction, with annual funding shortfalls of $700 billion; Musk’s proposed contributions could bridge gaps in underfunded areas like Amazon rainforest protection or ocean conservation.
Reconstruction costs in conflict zones underscore the scale Ukraine’s needs exceed $500 billion per World Bank estimates, including demining and energy grid repairs, while Syria’s total damage from war and sanctions tops $1 trillion. Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with over 40,000 deaths reported since October 2023 per UN figures, demands urgent aid beyond reconstruction. Oxfam’s 2025 inequality report reveals billionaires’ wealth grew by $2 trillion in 2024 alone, emitting carbon equivalent to millions of lifetimes in just days, fueling climate disasters like wildfires and floods.
Eilish’s voice amplifies calls from economists and activists for progressive taxation, such as a billionaire wealth tax proposed in the U.S. and EU, potentially raising trillions for public welfare. While Musk has invested in futuristic projects like Neuralink brain implants and Starlink internet for remote areas, critics argue these prioritize profit over immediate relief. Her comments, echoed by public figures like Warren and even some billionaires like Gates who advocate more giving, highlight a cultural shift toward accountability, encouraging fans to engage in local activism and vote for equitable policies. As of November 15, 2025, the conversation continues to evolve, with Eilish’s posts inspiring petitions and discussions on platforms worldwide.
