Musk responded quickly with a tongue-in-cheek remark that went viral: “Should I buy Ryanair and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?” While clearly humorous, the comment reignited speculation about Musk’s tendency to blur the lines between jokes and serious business moves.
This exchange unfolded alongside an escalating feud between Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary. The tension stems from O’Leary’s rejection of installing Starlink Wi-Fi across Ryanair’s fleet, citing a potential 2% fuel penalty due to added weight and drag. O’Leary also dismissed Musk personally in blunt terms during a radio interview, further intensifying the conflict.
Musk pushed back by disputing the technical claims, arguing that the impact on fuel efficiency would be negligible, especially on short flights, and even suggested Starlink could be more efficient than existing systems. The back-and-forth escalated when Musk echoed O’Leary’s insult, and later endorsed a social media user’s suggestion to simply buy Ryanair and remove him.
While there is no indication that Musk intends to acquire the airline, the episode highlights how corporate rivalries, social media, and personality clashes increasingly play out in public view—often blurring satire with serious speculation.