What began as a technical disagreement over in-flight connectivity has devolved into a personal battle between the world’s richest man and the airline industry’s most outspoken executive.
1. The Starlink Dispute
The friction started when Michael O’Leary publicly dismissed the idea of installing Starlink (Musk’s satellite internet) on Ryanair’s fleet. O’Leary argued that the antennas would create aerodynamic drag, costing the airline up to $250 million annually in extra fuel. Musk disputed these figures, calling O’Leary “misinformed” and claiming the fuel penalty would be negligible.
2. Trading Insults
The situation turned personal when O’Leary called Musk an “idiot” during an interview with Irish radio, adding, “I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk.” Musk fired back on X: “Ryanair CEO is an utter idiot. Fire him.”
3. The Outage Jibe
The final straw occurred during a brief X service outage on January 17, when the official Ryanair account mocked Musk by posting: “Perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?” Musk responded by asking, “How much would it cost to buy you?” before launching the now-viral poll.
The “Ryan” Strategy
Adding a layer of his signature humor, Musk suggested that the airline should be run by someone actually named Ryan.
- The “Destiny” Claim: Musk tweeted, “I really want to put a Ryan in charge of Ryan Air. It is your destiny.”
- The “Rightful Ruler”: The poll explicitly mentions “restoring Ryan” to the throne, a reference to the airline’s late founder, Tony Ryan.
Market Impact: A Joke or a Hostile Takeover?
While many view the poll as a joke, history suggests Musk’s social media “jokes” can turn into reality—most notably his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter.
- Market Cap: Ryanair’s current market capitalization is approximately $35 billion.
- Stock Reaction: Following the poll, Ryanair’s US-listed shares (RYAAY) rose 2.5% in after-hours trading as speculators considered the possibility of a hostile takeover.
- Musk’s Net Worth: With a net worth currently estimated at $681 billion, Musk could technically acquire Ryanair using less than 6% of his total wealth.
Conclusion: A 2026 Power Move?
Whether Musk intends to follow through or is simply using the poll to pressure Ryanair into a Starlink contract remains to be seen. However, as the poll nears its closing time, the overwhelming “Yes” vote provides Musk with the “democratic legitimacy” he often cites before making massive business pivots. For Michael O’Leary, the joke may be getting dangerously expensive.
