Billionaire Feud Erupts Over Starlink Internet on Ryanair Flights
What started as a simple business disagreement has exploded into a full-blown public spat between two of the world's most outspoken corporate leaders. The conflict centers on SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service and its potential installation on Ryanair's aircraft fleet.
Ryanair's Firm Rejection and Fuel Cost Concerns
Michael O'Leary, the CEO of Europe's largest low-cost airline, delivered a definitive verdict on Wednesday. He completely ruled out equipping Ryanair planes with Starlink technology. The primary reason cited was a significant operational penalty.
"You need to put the antenna on the fuselage. It comes with a 2% fuel penalty because of the weight and drag," O'Leary explained in an interview with Reuters. He emphasized the core budget airline philosophy, stating, "We don't think our passengers are willing to pay for WiFi for an average 1-hour flight."
Musk's Swift and Sharp Rebuttal
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and owner of the X platform, did not take the rejection lightly. He responded almost immediately, labeling O'Leary as "misinformed." Musk issued a stark warning, suggesting that Ryanair would inevitably lose customers to competing airlines that have already adopted the high-speed in-flight internet service.
This exchange marked the beginning of a rapid deterioration in the dialogue between the two billionaires.
The Spiral into Personal Insults
The debate quickly shifted away from the technical and economic merits of in-flight connectivity. Instead, it descended into a war of words filled with personal attacks. During an appearance on Irish radio station Newstalk on Thursday, O'Leary launched a direct assault on Musk's expertise.
He claimed Musk knows "zero" about aircraft and flight dynamics. O'Leary also projected a staggering annual operational cost of $250 million for Starlink on Ryanair's fleet. His criticism turned intensely personal when he declared, "I would pay no attention whatsoever to Elon Musk... He's an idiot, very wealthy, but he's still an idiot."
Musk fired back with equal venom on Friday. On his X platform, he called the Ryanair chief an "utter idiot" and suggested he should be fired from his position. When another user proposed Musk should simply buy Ryanair and dismiss O'Leary himself, Musk replied succinctly, "Good idea."
The Stark Contrast in Wealth and Incentives
The public brawl highlights a dramatic financial disparity between the two men. According to Bloomberg data, Michael O'Leary is poised to receive a performance-based bonus of $116 million in 2028. While substantial, this sum represents only a fraction of Elon Musk's colossal fortune.
Musk's net worth recently soared past the $700 billion mark. This figure alone surpasses the combined wealth of the next three tech billionaires on the rich list: Google's Larry Page, Oracle's Larry Ellison, and Amazon's Jeff Bezos. In fact, Musk's wealth exceeds that of Larry Page by nearly $500 billion.
Despite the fiery rhetoric, the fundamental question for budget travelers remains unanswered. Do passengers on short European flights actually desire or need expensive, high-speed internet? For now, that practical concern is drowned out by the noise of a very public and very personal billionaire feud.
