A public dispute between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has escalated into a bizarre back-and-forth, with Musk threatening to buy the airline just to fire its leader. The conflict centers on whether Ryanair should install Starlink Wi-Fi on its planes.
The Initial Disagreement
The feud began when O’Leary dismissed Starlink as an unnecessary expense. He argued that adding Wi-Fi would increase fuel consumption by 2% (costing Ryanair roughly $200–250 million annually) and that passengers wouldn’t pay extra for the service. Musk countered, claiming Ryanair would lose customers without in-flight internet.
Escalating Insults
The disagreement quickly turned personal. O’Leary publicly called Musk an “idiot,” stating he knew “zero” about flights and drag. Musk responded in kind, labeling O’Leary an “utter idiot” and demanding his removal as CEO. Ryanair then mocked Musk on X (formerly Twitter) about platform outages, to which Musk suggested he might simply buy the airline.
The Takeover Threat
Musk even floated the idea of acquiring Ryanair for $53 billion—a mere 7% of his net worth—and replacing O’Leary with someone named “Ryan.” The suggestion sparked online speculation, with some noting that a 50% premium buyout would instantly increase O’Leary’s wealth by the same amount, given his 4% stake in the company.
Why This Matters
This public spat highlights the tensions between tech innovation and cost-cutting business models. Ryanair has built its success on bare-bones fares, while Musk is pushing for connectivity as a standard airline feature. The underlying issue is whether consumers will pay for amenities like Wi-Fi or if airlines should absorb the costs to stay competitive. The conflict also underscores the increasing volatility of billionaire behavior on social media, where personal insults can quickly escalate into business threats.
The Bottom Line
Elon Musk and Michael O’Leary are locked in a childish argument over in-flight Wi-Fi, with Musk threatening a hostile takeover just to fire his rival. The feud is a reminder that even the wealthiest individuals can get caught up in petty disputes, and that business decisions are often influenced by personal egos as much as economic logic.
