A light internet swipe concerning in-flight Wi-Fi connectivity mushroomed into a full-blown social media brawl between billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk and the CEO of low-cost airline Ryanair, Michael O’Leary. The light-hearted exchange, fueled by witty one-liners, memes, and even chatbots, shocked the international community and exposed the often-ridiculous intersection of technology, the airline industry, and billionaire politics.
How the Brawl Started
The disagreement started during a brief outage of X (Twitter) on January 16, which affected individuals in the U.S., India and other places globally. Ryanair tweeted a sarcastic remark targeting Musk: “Maybe you are in need of WI-Fi, @elonmusk?” In response, Musk posted a humorous takeover proposal: “Do you have the Ryanair and appoint someone named Ryan as the boss?” Then a series of memes, jokes, and humorous takeover proposals followed from individuals worldwide.
Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 16, 2026
Who is Michael O’Leary
Michael O’Leary was the longest-serving CEO of Ryanair, the largest budget airline in Europe. He was known for his no-nonsense approach and turned Ryanair into a low-budget airline giant by reducing budgets and defying the conventions of the industry.
Tech & Aviation Angle
The issue started when Ryanair refused to employ the Starlink Internet service provided by SpaceX on its flights. According to O’Leary, the installation of these antennas would increase the fuel consumed, resulting in a 2% fuel penalty, which passengers on flights that only take one hour would not be willing to pay for. The matter also shows the conflict between tech and budget carriers’ means.
Billionaire Wealth & Power Dynamics
The bitter feud between Musk and O’Leary further reflects the huge difference in their resources. Elon Musk’s net worth is over $700 billion, with an accumulated value that surpasses the accumulated net value of Larry Page, Larry Ellison, and Jeff Bezos, the tech czars. In contrast, even though O’Leary is rich, with a looming $116 million bonus in 2028, he is not even a fraction compared to Musk’s enormous value. This gave Musk the comic flair in implying he would buy Ryanair outright.
Public Reaction & Memes
Social media networks carrying forward the conflict also stressed Musk’s AI chat robot Grok, which could ascertain the worth of Ryanair. This conflict also generated memes, jokes, and speculatins, which identified the current fusion of entertainment, rivalry, and online culture. Analysts also pointed out that such events showcase that billionaire feuds are currently witnessing online entertainment along with actual repercussions in the world of business.
Michael O’Leary Net Worth
Estimated net worth of Michael O’Leary exceeds $1 billion and is primarily contributed by his stake of more than 4% in Ryanair. Share incentives tied to his performance have increased his net worth and made him one of the richest among Irish business people.
