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A public dispute between Elon Musk and the chief executive of Europe’s largest low-cost airline has taken an unexpected turn. During the second week of a heated verbal exchange, the tech billionaire hinted that he could consider acquiring the airline—after its CEO publicly insulted him during an online confrontation.
On Monday, Musk turned to users on X with a poll asking whether he should buy Ryanair and “restore Ryan as its rightful ruler.” Shortly before that, he publicly asked how much the airline would cost and once again suggested that the company should part ways with its long-time leader, Michael O’Leary, who has run Ryanair almost since its founding.

A Starlink Dispute Ignites the Conflict
The clash began last week after O’Leary rejected the idea of installing SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet system on Ryanair aircraft. He cited concerns over the added weight of the antenna, higher fuel consumption, and potential negative effects on aerodynamics.
Musk responded by saying O’Leary did not understand the technology. The airline chief fired back, dismissing Musk as “an idiot—very rich, but still an idiot.” Musk escalated the exchange, calling O’Leary a “complete idiot” who, in his view, should lose his job.

Two Hard-Charging Leaders From Different Worlds
Both men are known for taking bold risks and speaking their minds. Over more than three decades, O’Leary transformed Ryanair from a small regional carrier into Europe’s largest low-cost airline. The company’s shares rose 55% last year, earning him substantial bonuses—including a potential €100 million payout in 2028 if performance targets are met.
Musk, meanwhile, has built Tesla into a dominant force in electric vehicles and reshaped the space industry through SpaceX. Despite O’Leary’s success, his personal wealth remains far below Musk’s.
Ryanair shares climbed 2.3% following the comments. The airline’s market capitalization stands at around €30 billion, roughly three times that of Germany’s Lufthansa Group.

Echoes of the Twitter Acquisition
Musk’s remarks revived memories of his once-joking comments about buying Twitter. In 2017, he casually asked how much the platform would cost after a journalist praised it. Years later, that joke became reality—Musk paid $44 billion to acquire Twitter and subsequently dismissed most of its senior leadership.
This time, his question—“How much would it cost to buy you?”—has again caught market attention. Whether it represents genuine interest or another provocation remains unclear.

Buying an Airline Is Far More Complex
Acquiring an airline is significantly more complicated than purchasing a technology company. The sector is heavily regulated, and many countries strictly limit how much of a national carrier can be owned by foreign investors.
Recent examples highlight these challenges. Airline group IAG abandoned plans to acquire Air Europa last year, while other proposed airline mergers have failed due to regulatory resistance.
Still, Musk is known for testing boundaries—whether by polling users about Dogecoin adoption at Tesla, selling large portions of his own shares, or reshaping corporate leadership. Whether his comments about Ryanair are merely another social-media episode or the beginning of a real takeover attempt remains to be seen in the weeks ahead.

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