Billie Eilish is calling out Elon Musk, just as he is edging closer to a potential trillionaire status. Fresh from criticizing billionaires during her WSJ Innovator Awards Speech in the presence of Mark Zuckerberg, the pop star has directly turned her attention to the world’s richest man, who could become a trillionaire after an approved deal by Tesla shareholders (via USA Today).
Eilish presented her views through a post by MY Voice, My Choice, which outlined what Musk could do with that level of wealth. After sharing the slides on Instagram, she added a sharp message aimed at Musk, which included words like “pathetic” and “coward.”
So, let’s look at the problems Musk could resolve, how he’s spent his wealth so far, and the kind of philanthropy he’s indulged in.
What Problems Elon Musk Could Solve With Trillionaire Status
Tesla shareholders have agreed to grant him shares worth trillions, and if Tesla hits its financial goals over the next decade, Elon Musk could have ownership of a quarter of the company, which would be worth $8.5 trillion (via USA Today). The My Voice, My Choice initiative detailed exactly what that kind of money could achieve, and it’s exactly why Grammy-winner Billie Eilish reacted so fiercely.
According to the post, Musk could spend $40 billion annually to combat world hunger for 10 years, which shows the transformative potential of his wealth. They also claimed that he could allocate $10 billion per year to vaccinate 140 million newborn babies for the next century!
Moreover, he could also donate the $53.2 billion needed to rebuild Gaza. These numbers and comparisons are used to show the kind of financial intervention he is capable of and position Eilish’s stance clearly: if someone accumulates the wealth that Musk may reach, then they should strive for a major humanitarian impact.
Elon Musk’s Expenses and His Unconventional Philanthropic Pursuits
Elon Musk lives a minimalistic lifestyle, but he has had major spending phases. Like owning a ranch worth $100 million, several unique vehicles, and multiple private jets. However, when it comes to philanthropy, his record has been somewhat controversial (via BBC).
The Musk Foundation has donated money in the form of shares and pledged millions to various causes. Still, The New York Times has reported that these actions are largely self-serving and motivated by tax benefits. He has also funneled millions of dollars into donor-advised funds, where the money remains under his control and there is no timeline for distribution.
But Musk argues that he is doing good for humanity through SpaceX and Neuralink. So, what’s your take on this? Do you think he deserves to be criticized and called out the way Billie Eilish did?
