Will.I.Am donates ALL earnings from The Voice to charity
Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am has donated £500,000 to disadvantaged young people in London through The Prince's Trust.
The musician said he doesn't need the money the BBC paid him to be a judge on The Voice.
"I don't need any more luxury items," he said at a news conference.
"And equipping our young people with education and inspiration is real homeland security."
The 37-year-old philanthropic pop star was raised by a single mother in one of the toughest areas of Los Angeles and started his own foundation, i.am.angel, in 2009 to provide educational support for young people.
"I grew up seeing kids selling drugs at 11 and getting pistols and things they shouldn't be doing. My life could have turned out very differently.
"But I was encouraged to dance, sing by my mum and teachers… that changed my life," he said.
However, he told Sky News he is not interested in finding new pop stars, he wants to find the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg.
"It takes one person from Brixton to turn into Mark Zuckerberg and it changes a neighbourhood forever. Technology and science is our future," Will added.
"Look at Instagram, that's the way to make billions. We don't have to have ghettos, we just need to give those people the skills."
The seven-times Grammy winner performed in the Queen's Jubilee Concert and is a favourite of the Princes William and Harry.
He said he is impressed with the work of The Prince’s Trust which has a 36-year history of assisting deprived youth.
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£500k - That is a real gentleman.
