Ryanair Turns Elon Musk Feud into Marketing Gold with 'Big Idiot Seat Sale'
January 21, 2026
Dublin, Ireland – January 21, 2026 – The ongoing online spat between Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has escalated into one of the most entertaining corporate rivalries of the year, with the Irish budget airline capitalizing on the drama by launching a cheeky "Big Idiot Seat Sale" promotion.
The feud ignited last week when O'Leary dismissed Musk's push to install Starlink satellite internet on Ryanair flights, citing added fuel costs from antenna drag and bluntly calling Musk "an idiot" during a podcast appearance. Musk fired back on X (the platform he owns), labeling O'Leary an "utter idiot" and suggesting the airline fire him. The barbs quickly intensified, with Musk floating the idea of buying Ryanair outright.
On Monday, Musk posted a poll asking followers: "Should I buy Ryan Air and restore Ryan as their rightful ruler?" — a playful reference to the airline's late founder, Tony Ryan. The poll garnered massive engagement, with over 76% of nearly 900,000 respondents voting yes.
Ryanair wasted no time turning the heat into hype. On Tuesday, the airline's official X account announced the "Great Idiots Seat Sale" (also dubbed "Big 'Idiot' Seat Sale"), offering 100,000 seats at €16.99 one-way. The promotion cheekily targeted "Elon and any other idiots on X," accompanied by a cartoon graphic depicting cartoon versions of Musk and O'Leary standing on a pedestal labeled "Big Idiots," with O'Leary playfully whacking Musk over the head with an "I ❤️ Ryanair" sign.
In a video statement shared via Sky News, O'Leary addressed the row directly, calling Musk's outbursts a "Twitter tantrum" and inviting him to "invest" in the airline if serious. He scheduled a press conference in Dublin for Wednesday to "address/undress" the situation, adding that Musk "knows even less about airline ownership rules than he does about aircraft aerodynamics." O'Leary also reiterated his stance on Starlink, emphasizing that Ryanair passengers won't pay for onboard Wi-Fi and that the added weight would inflate fuel costs significantly.
Musk responded in characteristic style, escalating the insults by calling O'Leary an "insufferable, special needs chimp" who "has no idea how airplanes even fly" and doubling down on the accountant jab (a nod to O'Leary's background). Despite the personal attacks, the exchange has generated massive publicity for both sides.
Ryanair, known for its no-nonsense, low-fare model and provocative marketing, appears to be winning the PR battle. The airline has framed the feud as free advertising, with O'Leary reportedly thanking Musk for the "boost" in ticket sales. Prediction markets like Polymarket briefly priced the odds of Musk actually acquiring Ryanair (valued at around €30 billion) at around 8-9%, though experts note strict EU airline ownership rules (requiring majority EU control) make a takeover highly unlikely for the U.S.-based billionaire.
The clash highlights contrasting styles: Musk's meme-driven, impulsive social media approach versus O'Leary's blunt, publicity-savvy airline executive persona. While the row shows no signs of cooling—O'Leary promised more commentary at his press conference—the real winners may be consumers snagging ultra-cheap fares and observers enjoying the spectacle.
As one X user quipped amid the chaos: "Don't thank us, thank that big 'IDIOT' Elon Musk." For now, the skies remain friendly for bargain hunters, even if the boardroom banter is anything but.