Billie Eilish Calls Out Elon Musk’s Wealth, And Musk Fires Back

Billie Eilish and Elon Musk are back in the headlines together, and it’s not for anything remotely collaborative.

The tension kicked off when Eilish publicly criticised Musk for hoarding wealth during a global crisis, a moment that started onstage at the WSJ Innovator Awards and spread quickly across social media.

Musk didn’t address it immediately, he circled back days later, replying to a post from November thirteen that summarised Eilish’s comments and Instagram Stories. His response? “She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.” A short, dismissive line, but one that instantly reignited the conversation.

Eilish had already set the tone with her speech, calling out billionaires who refuse to part with their fortunes when “people need empathy and help more than, kind of, ever, especially in our country.” She then amplified the message on Instagram, reposting graphics from activist group My Voice, My Choice. Those posts listed specific ways Musk could redistribute his enormous wealth, and she didn’t soften her language, labelling him a “pathetic pussy bitch coward.”

The infographics weren’t vague gestures, they outlined measurable goals, ending world hunger within five years by investing $40 billion annually through 2030 and providing universal access to safe, clean water for $140 billion per year over seven years. Whether those numbers would ever shift Musk’s stance is unclear, but his brief snipe suggests otherwise.

Billie donates $11.5 million

Meanwhile, Eilish is contributing in her own way. At the same event, she confirmed she’s donating $11.5 million from her ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ tour to a range of organisations. She delivered the line bluntly, surrounded by ultra wealthy attendees including Mark Zuckerberg: “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 pushed the point further, “We’re in a time right now when the world is really, really bad and really dark. People need empathy and help more than, kind of, ever, especially in our country. I’d say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things and maybe give it to some people that need it.”

Watch: Billie Eilish at the WSJ Innovator Awards