ryanair

As of January 21, 2026, Elon Musk has publicly floated the idea of buying Ryanair Holdings plc, though experts and regulatory experts remain highly skeptical of the move.

Current Status of the Ryanair "Bid"
The speculation began after a heated online dispute between Musk and Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary.
The Conflict: The feud erupted when O'Leary rejected the installation of Starlink internet on Ryanair flights, citing high costs and technical drag on the aircraft.
The "Offer": In response, Musk called O'Leary an "utter idiot" and asked his followers on X (formerly Twitter) in a poll whether he should buy the airline to "restore Ryan as their rightful ruler".
Poll Results: As of January 20, 2026, the poll had nearly 1 million votes, with approximately 76% favoring an acquisition.
Significant Hurdles
Despite Musk's provocations, a takeover is considered unlikely for several reasons:
Regulatory Restrictions: European Union aviation rules mandate that airlines operating within the bloc must maintain at least 50% ownership and control by EU nationals. As a U.S. citizen, Musk is legally barred from owning a controlling stake in an Irish airline.
Financial Feasibility: Ryanair’s market capitalization is estimated at roughly $35.8 billion. While Musk's net worth is approximately $779 billion, analysts note that the financial strain from his previous acquisition of X may make another multi-billion dollar purchase less attractive.
Other Ongoing Corporate Moves (2025–2026)
While the Ryanair talk is largely seen as billionaire banter, Musk is active with other major corporate transitions:
SpaceX IPO: In late 2025, Musk confirmed that SpaceX is moving toward an initial public offering (IPO) with a target valuation of $1.5 trillion.
Intel Rumors: Rumors circulated in early 2025 regarding a potential acquisition of Intel to support Musk's AI company, xAI, though these have not resulted in a formal deal.
Tesla Expansion: Musk continues to consolidate control over Tesla, recently seeking greater voting power to ensure AI projects remain within the company.

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