Elon Musk Flirts with Ryanair Takeover Amid Public Feud with CEO
The world's wealthiest entrepreneur, Elon Musk, has sparked speculation about a potential corporate takeover after suggesting on social media that he might acquire the budget airline Ryanair and remove its long-standing chief executive, Michael O'Leary. This dramatic proposal comes amid an escalating public spat between the two high-profile figures, centred on the implementation of in-flight wifi technology.
Social Media Poll Fuels Acquisition Rumours
In a recent post on his platform X, the Tesla and SpaceX founder posed a direct question to his vast following, asking whether he should purchase the low-cost carrier and "restore [someone called] Ryan as their rightful ruler." The informal poll has already garnered an astonishing level of engagement, with more than thirty-seven million votes cast. A significant majority, exceeding three-quarters of respondents, have voted in favour of the hypothetical acquisition.
The Origin of the Corporate Clash
The feud appears to have originated from a disagreement over technological investment. It escalated over the weekend when the official Ryanair social media account responded humorously to a Musk post about propaganda, quipping that "Wi-Fi on planes" was an example. This exchange followed earlier dismissive comments from O'Leary regarding Musk's Starlink satellite technology, which the billionaire has promoted as a solution for airline connectivity.
O'Leary has publicly argued that integrating such systems would not be cost-effective for Ryanair's predominantly short-haul flight model, citing concerns over added weight and expense. In contrast, competitors like British Airways have begun adopting similar services, a move Musk has suggested will lead to customer attrition for the Irish airline.
A War of Words Escalates
The professional disagreement quickly descended into personal insults during a radio interview. Michael O'Leary labelled Musk a "very wealthy idiot" and described the X platform as a "cesspit." Not one to back down, Musk retaliated by calling the Ryanair CEO an "utter idiot" and directing further colourful insults his way. This heated rhetoric set the stage for Musk's more serious-sounding, though likely provocative, musings about a corporate takeover.
Regulatory Hurdles and Ryanair's Performance
Despite the billionaire's bravado, any acquisition attempt would face significant legal obstacles. European Union regulations stipulate that airlines must be majority-owned and effectively controlled by entities within member states or a select few associated European nations. Musk's ownership would likely violate these strict ownership and control rules designed to protect the regional aviation market.
Furthermore, Ryanair's financial performance suggests it is not a company in distress. In July, the airline reported that its quarterly profits had more than doubled, buoyed by increased air fares following a particularly strong Easter travel season. This robust financial health indicates the airline is weathering current market conditions successfully, despite Musk's warnings about technological obsolescence.
The very public clash between these two titans of industry continues to capture global attention, blending corporate strategy, technological debate, and personal rivalry into a compelling business narrative.
