Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary Escalates Public Feud With Elon Musk

Key Facts Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here: joinsubtext.com/forbes. Key Background O'Leary was shutting down the idea of installing satellite internet services from Musk's company Starlink on Ryanair planes on a podcast last week when he said Musk is "very wealthy, but he's still an idiot." O'Leary said Musk knows "zero" about flights and drag, and said he "wouldn't pay any attention to anything that Elon Musk puts on that cesspit of his called X." Musk responded on Friday by writing, "Ryanair CEO is an utter idiot. Fire him." When a follower suggested he buy Ryanair and fire O'Leary, Musk wrote, "Good idea." The billionaire then posted, “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?” On Sunday, the Ryanair X account responded to a post that said "what is a propaganda you're not falling for??" by saying "Wi-Fi on planes." Musk then re-upped his idea, responding, "How much would it cost to buy you?" and adding, “I really want to put a Ryan in charge of Ryan Air. It is your destiny.” Forbes Valuation Musk, CEO at Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, is the richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $770 billion as of Tuesday. O'Leary briefly appeared on Forbes' billionaire list in 2018 but dropped off in 2019 due to a slump in Ryanair's stock prices and has not been named a billionaire since. Ryanair's stock price has increased more than 60% over the last 12 months. O’Leary said his airline's profits were boosted 40% between April and September of last year thanks to Europeans who chose to travel locally for holidays out of a "reluctance" to travel to the United States. Further Reading ForbesElon Musk Again Floats Buying Ryanair: ‘How Much Would It Cost’ForbesElon Musk Closes In On $800 Billion Net Worth After XAI’s Latest Funding Round