Elon Musk floats idea of buying Ryanair after calling CEO ‘an idiot’

Elon Musk has suggested the possibility of purchasing the budget airline Ryanair, intensifying his ongoing public dispute with the airline's CEO, Michael O’Leary. This conflict began when O’Leary declined to install Musk's Starlink satellite internet technology on Ryanair's fleet of 650 aircraft, which led to a series of insults exchanged between the two businessmen. Musk referred to O’Leary as "an idiot," a sentiment that was reciprocated by O’Leary, who also labeled Musk similarly during their exchanges (BBC, DW.com). The feud has attracted significant media attention, with both parties engaging in a public mudslinging match. O’Leary has dismissed Musk's idea of acquiring Ryanair, indicating that he welcomes the public nature of their disagreement. He has also utilized the situation for promotional purposes, launching a "Great Idiots" sale in response to the insults exchanged (Yahoo Finance, thestreet.com). Musk's proposal to buy Ryanair appears to be a provocative remark rather than a serious business proposition, as O’Leary has made it clear that he does not take the suggestion seriously. The exchange highlights the contentious relationship between the two figures and the potential for such public disputes to generate publicity for both parties involved (Google News, ABC News).