Investopedia·2026-01-27 01:00Core Insights - The public feud between Elon Musk and Ryanair's Michael O'Leary has escalated into a notable media spectacle, benefiting both parties in terms of publicity and business [1][2]. Group 1: Background of the Dispute - The conflict began when Ryanair announced it would not adopt SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service due to fuel costs and low demand for short flights [2]. - Musk labeled O'Leary as "misinformed" in response to the airline's decision, igniting a series of public exchanges [2]. Group 2: Escalation of the Feud - O'Leary publicly dismissed Musk, calling him an "idiot," to which Musk retaliated by suggesting O'Leary should be fired [3]. - The exchanges included Ryanair mocking Musk over a reported outage on X, and Musk humorously suggesting he might buy Ryanair [3][4]. Group 3: Business Impact - The ongoing feud has led to Ryanair launching a promotional campaign called the "Big Idiot seat sale," which O'Leary credited for significantly boosting ticket sales [4]. - Ryanair's American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) have increased by over 50% since the feud began, while Tesla's stock has risen approximately 10% during the same period [5].