Billie Eilish has urged the world's wealthiest to use their money for good, as she announced a major donation from her latest tour to charitable causes.

The 23-year-old Grammy winner made the remarks while accepting the Music Innovator Award at the WSJ. Magazine Innovator Awards on Wednesday.

Taking to the stage, Eilish used her acceptance speech to call on the star-studded audience to do more with their wealth.

"We're in a time right now where the world is really, really bad and really dark and people need empathy and help more than, kind of, ever, especially in our country," she said. "I'd say if you have money, it would be great to use it for good things, maybe give it to some people that need it."

The What Was I Made For? hitmaker took the opportunity to address the billionaires in the room.

"Love you all, but there's a few people in here that have a lot more money than me," she said. "If you're a billionaire, why are you a billionaire? No hate, but yeah, give your money away, shorties."

Her comments drew laughter and applause from the audience, which included tech billionaire Mark Zuckerberg and stars such as Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Hailey Bieber, George Lucas, Spike Lee, Karlie Kloss and Questlove.

According to reports, Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta and co-founder of Facebook, did not clap at the end of her speech.

Before Eilish took to the stage, talk show host Stephen Colbert revealed that she would be donating $11.5 million (£9 million) from her recent Hit Me Hard and Soft world tour.

"I also have the privilege of breaking a little news tonight. Thank you, Billie, for allowing me to do this. It's extraordinary," Colbert said.

"Billie Eilish will be donating proceeds from her Hit Me Hard and Soft Tour to support organisations, projects and voices dedicated to food equity, climate justice, reducing carbon pollution and combating the climate crisis," he continued. "That donation, ladies and gentlemen, will be $11.5 million."

The comedian added, "That's wonderful. Billie, on behalf of humans everywhere, thank you."