UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 14, 2012, 9:23 a.m. EST
An all-star lineup of music legends came together Wednesday night to raise money for victims of Superstorm Sandy.
The six-hour long concert raised money the Robin Hood Relief Fund, dedicated to addressing the long-term needs of Hurricane Sandy victims. Ticket sales alone amounted to $35 million, according to USA Today.
A grand total donation amount has yet to be tallied.
Performances from big names in music, many of whom were from New York or New Jersey -- weaved images from Hurricane Sandy into their sets or chose songs fittingly themed for the storm. The concert took a somber tone, most artists wore black or grey onstage and continually encouraged viewers to donate, the AP reports.
“We will make sure that that money goes out right away to the most affected (places) in New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut,” David Saltzman, the organization's executive director, told the AP. “The money that we raised from this concert will be distributed in the days, weeks and months, not years.”
Hurricane Sandy left millions of people without heat or power, caused 125 deaths and destroyed 305,000 housing units in New York state alone, the AP reports. Total damage costs for Hurricane Sandy could exceed $50 billion, according to Forbes.com.
Many performers were personally affected by the storm. For Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora, Superstorm Sandy hit home -- literally.
"I had to hold back the tears really," he told the AP describing the devastation he saw in New Jersey. "My mom's house (in Point Pleasant, N.J.) got trashed. They had to evacuate her. She's living with me until we fix it up."
Check out the slideshow below to see how some of the 2 billion viewers reacted to the show.