Elon Musk wanting to buy Ryanair and hiring a CEO named Ryan is the most Elon Musk thing ever
A public back-and-forth between Elon Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has drawn attention in recent days.
Sometimes business news feels less strategic and more like an art performance. Verbal jabs are being thrown, and neither is backing down from stating exactly how they feel and the outcome they expect. Musk is eyeing a purchase of Ryanair to expand, while O’Leary is holding firm on his low-price business model. Elon has publicly stated that buying Ryanair was on his radar, and sealing the deal by putting someone named Ryan in charge was an option. The result? A social media frenzy prompted Ryanair’s CEO to call a press conference.
What happened
The friction between the two likely started over a disagreement about whether to have WiFi on planes. While it wasn’t just one instance, this is one that likely played a part. Musk asked, “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”
The showdown between the two continued on X when Ryanair posted an answer to the question, “What’s a progranda you’re not falling for?” His responses – “Wi-Fi on planes.” An immediate comment from Elon Musk appeared below, asking, “How much would it cost to buy you?”
From there, the gloves have been taken off. In the days since the initial post interaction, the comments and “friendly” jabs have continued full force. The result? A press conference to address the latest comments from Elon Musk, while also taking the opportunity to launch a seat sale, which is no doubt going to be boosted by the viral moment.
At the recent press conference in Dublin, Michael O’Leary explained how they ended up here and promoted the company’s big “idiot” seat sale, offering 100,000 seats at around $20 each. O’Leary said they are in discussions with Stralink to provide internet on Ryanair flights, but according to the airline, only about 10% of its customers would pay extra for the WiFi, which would not cover the cost.
He said that to show his appreciation, Ryanair will deliver free Ryanair tickets to Musk this week for his help in boosting sales. Ryanair is using this moment to double down on the fact that Elon Musk won’t be buying the company, but there is always a possibility he could invest in it.
Musk, who currently owns the X platform, has a large following that interacts with his questions and humor there. His asking the public whether he should buy Ryanair and put someone named Ryan in charge went viral quickly, with people chiming in with comments and ideas.
While no one knows whether Elon is actually serious, the world of X enjoys hopping in to share ideas and more humorous tips. Over 12 thousand people have commented on the thread so far. One person said, “Name a son Ryan and call it Ryan Heir.” Another wrote, “Legally changing my name to Ryan.” This person said, “Somewhere mid-flight, the pilot will just announce that you’re now going to space.”
Elon interacted as he typically does on X, with emojis, memes, and reposts. He is known for his quick wit online and for saying what comes to his mind.
Why this matters
The public exchange between the two goes beyond trading jokes. It shows how business leaders use social media and controversy as tools to shape brand identity and drive sales and attention. For Ryanair, this moment has turned into a marketing opportunity. For Musk, the whole ordeal follows a familiar pattern: using his online platform X to comment and involve the public. At this point, no one is certain whether a real acquisition would ever be on the table between the two, but it’s certainly making a good story that’s getting a lot of attention.
