During her appearance at the Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, Eilish announced she would be donating $11.5 million to multiple charities focused on youth mental health, climate action, and social justice. But her powerful words quickly went viral for another reason: she called out billionaires, including Mark Zuckerberg, who happened to be in the audience.

“We’re in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help in our country,” Eilish said during her acceptance speech. “I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things and give it to some people that need it.”

Then came the moment that had the room buzzing:

“Love you all, but there’s a few people in here that have a lot more money than me. If you are a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but give your money away, shorties.”

According to People, Mark Zuckerberg — who attended the event alongside his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, an honoree recognized for her work in science philanthropy — did not clap with the rest of the audience after Eilish’s remarks.

The couple has long pledged to give away 99 percent of their Meta shares (then Facebook) to charitable causes “during their lifetimes,” but Eilish’s words reignited online debate about how much the world’s richest actually give — and how quickly.

Social media lit up within minutes. Many praised the 22-year-old Grammy winner for using her moment to speak truth to power. Fans called her “fearless” and “the real deal,” while others joked that she made Zuckerberg “malfunction” on camera.

Eilish’s $11.5 million donation reportedly supports a combination of U.S.-based and global initiatives addressing youth mental health, sustainability, and humanitarian crises — issues she’s been vocal about throughout her career.

Critics and fans alike noted that Eilish’s approach — mixing humor, honesty, and accountability — reflected a generational shift in how young artists view wealth and social responsibility.

As one viral X post summed it up:

“Billie Eilish just told billionaires to share their lunch money — and she put her own cash on the table first.”