Ryanair(US:RYAAY) Yahoo Finance·2026-01-20 19:55Core Viewpoint - The ongoing public dispute between Elon Musk and Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary has escalated, with Musk suggesting the possibility of purchasing the airline after a series of exchanges on social media [1][2][3]. Group 1: Musk's Proposal and Social Media Activity - Musk conducted a poll on X asking if he should buy Ryanair and "restore Ryan as their rightful ruler" [2]. - He inquired about the cost of acquiring Ryanair and reiterated his demand for the dismissal of O'Leary [2]. - The feud intensified after O'Leary rejected the idea of installing SpaceX's Starlink on Ryanair's fleet due to concerns over fuel costs [3]. Group 2: Ryanair's Market Position and CEO's Response - Ryanair's shares fell by 1.2% in Dublin trading, with the airline's market value estimated at approximately €30 billion ($35 billion) [3]. - O'Leary, a significant shareholder and the architect of Ryanair's growth, received a substantial bonus for achieving performance metrics, with the stock increasing by 55% last year [4]. Group 3: Broader Context and Implications - The dispute occurs amid scrutiny of Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, related to reports of non-consensual image generation [5]. - Ireland plans to address AI image abuse in European law during its presidency of the European Union later this year [5].