Musk Wonders Whether Acquiring Ryanair Is a Good Move as Dispute With CEO Continues

Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Continue Public Dispute

Photographer: Apu Gomes/Getty Images

The ongoing online feud between Elon Musk and Ryanair Holdings Plc’s CEO has entered its second week, with Musk once again suggesting he might acquire the airline following a heated exchange with its chief executive.

On Monday, Musk launched a poll on X, asking users whether he should buy Ryanair and “restore Ryan as their rightful ruler.” Earlier, he had replied to a Ryanair post, inquiring about the airline’s price tag and reiterating his call for the dismissal of Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s long-serving CEO and co-founder, who has been at the helm since 1984.

Top Stories from Bloomberg

The spat began last week when O’Leary dismissed the idea of installing SpaceX’s Starlink internet on Ryanair’s planes, citing concerns about increased fuel consumption due to the added weight and drag from the antenna. Musk responded by accusing O’Leary of being ill-informed, prompting O’Leary to call Musk an “idiot.”

On Tuesday, O’Leary took to Ryanair’s X.com account, announcing he would address Musk’s “Twitter tantrum” at a press conference in Dublin the following day. Ryanair also promoted a “Big ‘Idiot’ Seat Sale,” offering 100,000 seats starting at approximately $20, accompanied by a cartoon image of both men standing on a pedestal labeled “Big Idiots.”

Ryanair’s stock dropped by 1.2% in Dublin. The airline’s market capitalization stands at roughly €30 billion ($35 billion), making it three times larger than Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the leading airline group in Europe.

O’Leary, who has transformed Ryanair into Europe’s largest budget airline over several decades, is among its top ten shareholders. He recently received a substantial bonus for meeting performance targets, with the company’s shares rising 55% last year.

This dispute comes as Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, faces mounting criticism following reports of its misuse to generate non-consensual explicit images on X. According to Irish media, Ireland plans to use its upcoming EU presidency to push for new laws addressing AI-generated image abuse.

Social Media Showdown Continues

WATCH: The online feud between Elon Musk and Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary escalates, with Musk again hinting at a possible acquisition. Reporting by Siddharth Philip. Source: Bloomberg

Echoes of Twitter’s Past

Musk’s recent question to Ryanair about its sale price recalls a similar social media moment in 2017. After expressing his fondness for Twitter, a journalist jokingly suggested he should buy the platform, to which Musk replied, “How much is it?”

Nearly five years later, Musk referenced this exchange with an upside-down smiley emoji, just days after making an unsolicited offer to purchase Twitter.

Ownership Rules and Market Impact

European regulations stipulate that airlines must be majority-owned and controlled by EU citizens. Last year, Ryanair’s board allowed non-EU investors to purchase ordinary shares on Euronext Dublin and depositary shares on Nasdaq.

Ryanair’s website notes that the airline could be removed from certain stock indexes if ownership restrictions are violated.

Musk is known for his candid critiques of business leaders and companies, particularly on social media. During his acquisition of Twitter (now X), he frequently criticized the company’s management and ultimately bought it for $44 billion, subsequently laying off much of its workforce, including top executives.

Musk’s History of Polls

In the past, Musk has used polls to gauge public opinion on various decisions, such as whether Tesla should accept Dogecoin as payment or if he should sell some of his Tesla shares, which he did at the end of 2021.

After acquiring a stake in Twitter, Musk polled users on features like an edit button, converting the headquarters into a homeless shelter, and reviving the Vine video service. Months after asking if he should step down as CEO, he appointed Linda Yaccarino to the role in May 2023.

Challenges of Acquiring Airlines

Purchasing an airline is a complex process. For example, IAG SA, the parent company of British Airways, abandoned its attempt to acquire Air Europa in 2024 due to competition issues, and other airline mergers have also faced significant obstacles.

Reporting assistance by Craig Trudell.

Story updated with latest Ryanair posts and share performance.

Most Popular from Bloomberg Businessweek

©2026 Bloomberg L.P.