Elon Musk, the world's richest billionaire, stirred up social media on Monday. He conducted a poll on his platform X, asking followers and other users a provocative question. Should he buy the airline company Ryanair? This move comes amid an ongoing public feud with Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary.
The Poll and Its Results
In the poll posted on Monday, Musk did not stop at the purchase query. He also asked if he should 'restore' late founder Tony Ryan as their rightful ruler. The poll quickly gained traction, receiving over 635,000 votes. A significant 77.5% of voters opted for Yes, while the remaining 22.5% chose F No.
Background of the Feud
The conflict escalated on Friday when Musk called Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary an utter idiot. He suggested O'Leary should be fired. This public spat began after the airline boss ruled out installing Musk's Starlink internet service on Ryanair aircraft. The two have been trading barbs on the internet, with Musk now using his X poll as a tool in the dispute.
Musk's History with Polls
Elon Musk has a history of using polls on X to make crucial decisions. This tool has become a signature move for him in various high-stakes situations.
Buying Twitter (Now X)
Months before acquiring Twitter in March 2022, Musk conducted several polls on the platform. He asked followers about free speech principles and what should be done to uphold democracy. While polling, he quietly purchased company stocks, eventually buying Twitter and rebranding it as X.
Selling 10% Tesla Stock
On November 6, 2021, Musk posted a Twitter poll asking if he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock. He promised to abide by the results. The poll received millions of responses, with 57% voting yes. Later that year, Tesla confirmed in an SEC filing that Musk sold $1.1 billion worth of Tesla stock.
Stepping Down as X CEO
After naming himself CEO of X post-acquisition, Musk faced continued outrage. On December 18, 2022, he asked users if he should step down as CEO, vowing to follow the poll results. Over 57.5% agreed, and Musk stepped down in 2023.
Reinstating Donald Trump's Account
Shortly after buying Twitter, Musk polled followers on reinstating Donald Trump's banned account. The poll drew over 15 million responses, with nearly 52% voting yes, leading to Trump's account being restored.
Starting a Political Party
On July 4, 2025, after a fallout with Trump, Musk asked followers if he should start a new political party, floating the America Party idea. Most voters supported it, and Musk announced the creation of the party. However, he has not spoken about it since reconciling with Trump.
This latest poll on Ryanair adds to Musk's pattern of using social media engagement to influence his business and personal decisions.
