Just two weeks after using her WSJ Innovator Awards speech to challenge the ultra-wealthy, Billie Eilish has now taken her message straight to one of the world’s most polarizing billionaires: Elon Musk. The 23-year-old singer posted a series of Instagram Stories on Thursday, sharing pointed infographics and adding an unfiltered message of her own.
Her posts, which quickly drew widespread attention, marked the latest chapter in Eilish’s growing willingness to confront wealth inequality and call out figures who represent it.
Instagram Post Highlight How Musk’s Wealth Could Be Used
Eilish reshared a collection of infographics created by the campaign group My Voice, My Choice. The graphics outlined several hypothetical ways Musk could redistribute his future trillion-dollar fortune, presenting a stark contrast between global humanitarian needs and his personal wealth.
Among the proposals:
- Ending world hunger within five years by contributing $40 billion annually through 2030
- Providing universal access to safe drinking water by investing $140 billion per year over seven years
- Protecting more than 10,000 endangered species with $1–2 billion annually
- Rebuilding Gaza and other devastated areas of the West Bank with an estimated $53.2 billion
Each projection illustrated how even a fraction of Musk’s potential earnings could dramatically reshape the lives of millions of people.
Eilish Adds Her Own Blunt Message to the Final Slide
After sharing the organization’s slides, Eilish added a sharp caption of her own: “F***ing pathetic p**** b**** coward.” The message, left without additional explanation, has been widely interpreted to be directed at the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
Her criticism came as Musk edges closer to becoming the world's first trillionaire, thanks to a massive Tesla pay package that could ultimately be worth around $1 trillion (€865 billion) if he hits long-term performance milestones, according to TIME.
That compensation vote passed with more than 75 percent approval at Tesla’s annual meeting last Thursday, despite shrinking sales and intense public scrutiny over the scale of Musk’s executive payout.
Eilish Previously Challenged Billionaires During Her Awards Speech
Musk was not present when Eilish addressed the WSJ Innovator Awards, but the room that night included several members of the billionaire class, from Mark Zuckerberg to George Lucas to Hailey Bieber.
During her speech, Eilish openly questioned the concept of extreme wealth, telling the audience, “There’s a few people in here who have a lot more money than me. If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?”
She went on to urge those with significant resources to give more away, adding: “People need empathy and help more than ever, especially in our country.”
Billie Eilish called out billionaires during her speech at the WSJ Innovator Awards ceremony. Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images.
Singer Donates Millions to Global Causes
Eilish’s comments were backed by her own financial commitment. At the Innovator Awards, it was revealed that she will donate $11.5 million from her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour to The Changemaker Project, an initiative dedicated to addressing poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Her escalating criticism of billionaire wealth, paired with substantial philanthropic action, has only strengthened her reputation as one of the most outspoken young voices in pop culture, and one unafraid to challenge the world’s richest individuals directly.