Elon Musk is now worth close to $800 billion, a staggering fortune that grew by another $62 billion this month after investors more than doubled the valuation of his AI company xAI to $250 billion. Yet even as his wealth reaches historic heights, Musk spent part of last week publicly feuding with the CEO of Ryanair, and joking about buying the airline on a whim.
Why Musk’s Net Worth Is Surging
Forbes now estimates Musk’s net worth at roughly $780 billion, making him over $500 billion richer than the world’s second-wealthiest person. The recent leap came after a $20 billion funding round for xAI Holdings, the AI and social media firm born from his merger of xAI and X (formerly Twitter).
Musk owns about 49% of xAI, now worth around $122 billion.
But xAI Isn’t His Only Rocket:
- SpaceX is privately valued at ~$800 billion, with Musk’s 42% stake worth ~$336 billion.
- Tesla remains a cornerstone, Musk’s stock and recently restored pay package contribute ~$307 billion.
Analysts now project Musk could become the world’s first trillionaire by 2027.
Meanwhile, on X: The Ryanair Rumble
Against this backdrop of almost incomprehensible wealth, Musk turned his attention to Europe’s largest low-cost carrier.
It started when Ryanair’s social media team cheekily tweeted at Musk during an X outage: “Perhaps you need Wi-Fi @elonmusk?”
Musk shot back by floating a mock takeover: “Should I buy Ryan Air and put someone whose actual name is Ryan in charge?”
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary, never one to back down, called Musk an “idiot” and said he’d pay “no attention whatsoever” to Starlink, Musk’s satellite internet service, calling it too costly for Ryanair planes.
Musk then posted a poll asking followers if he should “buy Ryan Air and restore Ryan as their rightful ruler.”
The exchange racked up millions of views, a classic social media spat between two of the world’s most outspoken CEOs.
Could He Actually Buy Ryanair?
Legally, no.
EU aviation rules require airlines operating in the bloc to be at least 50% owned and effectively controlled by EU nationals. As a U.S. citizen, Musk couldn’t take a controlling stake without Ryanair losing its operating licenses — a non-starter for an airline that flies hundreds of routes across Europe.
This isn’t just theoretical: after Brexit, several UK airlines had to restructure ownership to comply. Ryanair’s €30.4 billion market cap wouldn’t be the issue — regulation would.
The Bigger Picture: Wealth, Whims, and Limits
The episode highlights a fascinating tension: even with near-unprecedented wealth, Musk can’t buy everything. Some doors — especially in highly regulated sectors like European aviation, remain closed.
But in the age of viral engagement, it hardly matters. The back-and-forth gave both Musk and Ryanair massive visibility, blending billionaire drama, regulatory reality, and social media spectacle into one irresistible story.
For now, Musk will have to be content with adding billions in AI valuation, and letting the idea of “Ryan Air under Ryan rule” live on, happily, as just another tweet.
