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Elon Musk Takes Another Dig At Michael O'Leary Over Buying Ryanair, Says He'll Put A 'Ryan' In Charge: 'It Is Your Destiny' - Ryanair Hldgs (NASDAQ:RYAAY), Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Benzinga· 2026-01-20 03:04
Core Viewpoint - Elon Musk humorously suggested acquiring Ryanair, responding to the airline's dismissal of Starlink's Wi-Fi service as propaganda, indicating a potential interest in the airline despite the jest [1][2]. Group 1: Musk's Comments and Ryanair's Response - Musk inquired about the cost to buy Ryanair and proposed appointing a "Ryan" to lead the airline, emphasizing it as "your destiny" [2]. - Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, rejected the idea of installing Starlink devices, citing an estimated annual cost of $250 million due to increased fuel expenses from the added weight [3]. - Musk criticized O'Leary, calling him an "utter idiot" and suggested he should be fired, while also floating the idea of acquiring Ryanair to implement his vision [3]. Group 2: Ryanair's Business Model and Market Position - Ryanair operates a no-frills model, charging extra for various services, and has previously proposed unconventional cost-cutting measures, such as charging for onboard toilets [4]. - The airline has a significant market presence, having transported 200 million passengers in 2024-2025, making it a potential customer for Musk's Starlink service, although its focus on value makes such a partnership unlikely [5]. - Ryanair's market capitalization stands at $35.84 billion, a small fraction of Musk's $640 billion net worth, and the airline's shares rose 4.45% following Musk's comments, indicating positive market sentiment [6].