Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked controversy after publicly questioning pop star Billie Eilish's intelligence in a heated online exchange about wealth distribution.
The social media confrontation
The dispute began on November 13, 2025, when 23-year-old Eilish shared a post from the account My Voice My Choice on her social media channels. The post highlighted what Musk, 54, could potentially achieve with his enormous wealth, suggesting he could end world hunger, cure diseases, rebuild Gaza, and save endangered species.
Eilish concluded her post with a strongly worded message directed at the Tesla CEO, writing: 'F***ing pathetic p***y b**** coward'.
Five days later, on November 18, 2025, Musk responded directly to a tweet recapping Eilish's Instagram Stories, writing simply: 'She's not the sharpest tool in the shed.'
Background of the wealth distribution debate
This isn't the first time Eilish has spoken out about billionaire wealth. Just weeks earlier at the WSJ Innovator Awards in late October, the singer addressed wealth distribution directly.
'We're in a time right now when the world is really, really bad and really dark,' Eilish stated during her speech. '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.'
She continued with a direct challenge to wealthy attendees: 'Love you all, but 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? No hate, but yeah, give your money away.'
The staggering wealth gap
The financial disparity between the two celebrities is enormous. Billie Eilish's net worth is estimated at around $50 million (£38 million), while Elon Musk's fortune stands at approximately $467.9 billion (£370.9 billion).
In October 2025, Musk briefly became the world's first half-trillionaire when his net worth reached $500.1 billion, according to the Forbes billionaires index. This remarkable wealth accumulation stems largely from increased share values in his businesses, including Tesla, artificial intelligence startup xAI, and rocket company SpaceX.
Not the first celebrity criticism
Musk has faced public criticism from other high-profile figures in recent times:
- Neil Young referenced Musk in a song this year, telling 'fascists' to 'get a Tesla'
- Bette Midler called Tesla a 'symbol of racism, greed and ignorance' when she sold her car
- Comedian Bill Burr previously labelled Musk an 'idiot'
- Actor Michael Keaton said of both Trump and Musk: 'They don't really respect you, they laugh at you behind your back, they think you're stupid'
As of publication time, representatives for Billie Eilish had not responded to requests for comment about Musk's latest remarks. The online spat continues to generate significant discussion across social media platforms about wealth, responsibility, and celebrity behaviour.
