Elon Musk Threatens to Buy Ryanair and Fire CEO After Being Called an Idiot

TLDR

• Elon Musk threatened to buy Ryanair after CEO Michael O’Leary called him an idiot and refused Starlink internet installation
• O’Leary said Starlink equipment would add $250 million yearly in fuel costs due to aerodynamic drag on aircraft
• Musk launched an X poll asking followers if he should buy the airline, receiving 77% approval from 766,000 voters
• Ryanair stock climbed 2.52% in after-hours trading following Musk’s acquisition comments on social media
• The airline’s $35 billion market cap is easily affordable for Musk, who has a net worth of $681 billion

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A public clash between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has sparked speculation about a potential airline acquisition. The conflict began when O’Leary refused to install Starlink satellite internet on Ryanair’s aircraft fleet.

O’Leary appeared on Irish radio station Newstalk on Friday to explain his decision. He stated that Starlink’s satellite receivers would create excessive aerodynamic drag on planes. The added drag would increase annual fuel costs by approximately $250 million.

The Ryanair CEO calculated this would add about one dollar to each passenger’s ticket price. He said customers would not pay for internet access despite potentially using it if offered free. O’Leary dismissed Musk’s aviation knowledge entirely.

During the interview, O’Leary called Musk an idiot while acknowledging his wealth. He also labeled X as a cesspit and said he would ignore anything Musk said about aircraft operations. These comments triggered an immediate response from the billionaire entrepreneur.

Musk countered by calling O’Leary misinformed about Starlink technology. He claimed the Ryanair CEO was wrong about the drag calculations. The SpaceX founder then suggested O’Leary should be fired from his position.

Stock Market Reacts to Buyout Speculation

Musk posted several messages on X indicating serious interest in purchasing the budget airline. He asked his 232.5 million followers how much Ryanair would cost to acquire. He joked about naming someone actually called Ryan as the new CEO.

The Tesla founder created a poll asking if he should buy Ryanair. The poll gathered over 29 million views on the platform. More than 766,000 people voted, with 77% supporting the acquisition idea.

Ryanair Holdings trades on NASDAQ with a market capitalization of $35 billion. Shares jumped 2.52% in after-hours trading on January 20 following Musk’s posts. The price movement suggests investors are taking the possibility seriously.

Ryanair Holdings plc, RYAAY

Musk has proven he follows through on social media statements. He purchased Twitter for $44 billion in 2022 and renamed it X. He fired Twitter’s CEO and top executives after completing that deal.

Social Media War Escalates Between Companies

Ryanair’s official X account participated in the dispute with characteristic sarcasm. The airline asked Musk if he needed WiFi during a previous X platform outage. This comment appeared to escalate the conflict further.

Musk responded by demanding O’Leary be removed as CEO. He used explicit language to criticize the airline executive. Users on X began suggesting various people named Ryan to replace O’Leary.

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian weighed in on the situation. He commented that the timeline becomes entertaining during these exchanges. Some X users joked about changing their names to Ryan for consideration.

The acquisition poll remains open with voting continuing on X. Musk has made no formal purchase offer for the airline. The exchange continues primarily on social media as of January 20, 2026, with Ryanair stock responding to each development.

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