Elon Musk Floats Ryanair Takeover Idea Amid Public Spat with Airline CEO
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has publicly floated the idea of purchasing budget airline Ryanair, escalating a heated exchange with the carrier's outspoken chief executive, Michael O'Leary. The suggestion came via a poll on Musk's social media platform X, where he asked followers whether he should "Buy Ryan Air and restore Ryan as their rightful ruler."
The Origins of the Corporate Clash
The conflict between these two prominent business figures began last week when O'Leary was questioned about installing Musk's Starlink satellite internet technology across Ryanair's fleet of 650 aircraft. The airline boss firmly rejected the proposal, citing significant financial and operational concerns.
O'Leary argued that adding Starlink antennas would create "2% fuel drag," potentially increasing the company's annual kerosene bill by $200-250 million on top of its existing $5 billion expenditure. He dismissed Musk's expertise in aviation matters during an Irish radio interview, stating: "He's an idiot. Very wealthy, but he's still an idiot."
Social Media Escalation and Public Polling
Musk responded directly on X, calling O'Leary's interpretation "misinformed" and initiating a series of public exchanges where each businessman labeled the other an "idiot." The Tesla and SpaceX CEO went further, suggesting O'Leary should be dismissed from his position.
The situation intensified when Musk posted his takeover poll, asking followers: "Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?" This reference humorously nods to Tony Ryan, the Irish billionaire who co-founded the airline in 1984 and passed away in 2007.
Remarkably, more than three-quarters of the nearly 900,000 respondents supported the hypothetical acquisition just three hours before the poll concluded, demonstrating significant public engagement with the unconventional proposal.
Ryanair's Playful Retaliation and Market Response
Ryanair's official X account joined the fray with its own pointed commentary, posting during a recent US outage: "Perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?" Musk responded by directly questioning: "How much would it cost to buy you?"
Despite the social media spectacle, financial markets appeared skeptical about any genuine takeover prospects. Ryanair shares closed nearly 1% lower on Tuesday, suggesting investors weren't treating the proposal as a serious business development.
Historical Precedent and Regulatory Hurdles
While some might dismiss Musk's comments as mere banter, the billionaire has previously transformed similar social media musings into reality. In 2017, he engaged in an exchange about purchasing Twitter, eventually acquiring the platform for $44 billion nearly five years later and rebranding it as X.
However, significant regulatory obstacles would complicate any potential Ryanair acquisition. European Union regulations mandate that airlines based within the bloc must be majority-owned by EU nationals or citizens of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein. Musk, born in South Africa and now residing in the United States after time in Canada, would need to navigate these ownership restrictions.
Broader Implications for Aviation Technology
The dispute highlights ongoing debates about technology adoption in the aviation industry. O'Leary maintained that passengers wouldn't pay for internet access, stating: "If it's free, they'll use it – but they won't pay one euro each to use the internet."
The 64-year-old executive also noted his deliberate avoidance of social media accounts, describing himself as "thankfully" too old for such platforms, creating an interesting contrast with Musk's very public, platform-driven communication style.
This corporate clash continues to unfold publicly, blending business strategy discussions with personal rivalries and social media spectacle, while raising questions about technology implementation, corporate governance, and the boundaries of executive communication in the digital age.
