The Elon Musk Ryanair takeover speculation has sparked intense debate after the US tech billionaire hinted at possibly buying Europe’s largest airline, escalating an already public feud with Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. The controversy unfolded on Musk’s social media platform X, where he posted a poll asking followers whether he should acquire the low-cost carrier.
The poll, which attracted over 900,000 participants, came amid a growing dispute over the potential use of Starlink satellite internet on Ryanair aircraft. Musk, who leads SpaceX and oversees the Starlink project, has been vocal in recent days about his dissatisfaction with Ryanair’s refusal to adopt the technology.
The clash intensified after Michael O’Leary dismissed the idea of installing Starlink on Ryanair planes during an interview with Irish radio station Newstalk. O’Leary argued that the system would cost the airline up to $250 million annually, citing increased fuel consumption caused by added drag from external antennae. He also claimed that Ryanair passengers would not be willing to pay extra for onboard internet access.
O’Leary’s remarks quickly drew a sharp response from Musk, who went as far as calling for the Ryanair chief’s dismissal. In a series of posts, Musk described O’Leary as “a real idiot,” further fueling the public spat. O’Leary fired back by questioning Musk’s understanding of aviation, stating that Musk knew “nothing about flights and drag” and dismissing X as a platform not worth taking seriously.
Despite the heated rhetoric, industry analysts note that an actual takeover would face significant hurdles. Ryanair’s market capitalisation is close to €30 billion, making any acquisition a massive financial undertaking. Moreover, European Union regulations require EU-based airlines to be majority-owned by European nationals, which could block any potential bid from Musk, a US citizen.
The episode has drawn comparisons to Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022, which he later rebranded as X. Whether the Ryanair comments are serious or another example of Musk’s provocative online style, the Elon Musk Ryanair takeover talk has undeniably captured global attention.
