Ryanair boss beats U2 on Ireland’s rich list
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has a personal fortune of more than €755 million, according to Ireland’s 2015 rich list.
The list, published yesterday, said the airline chief executive has 51 million shares in Ryanair which are now worth €485 million.
He moved up nine places to number 18 in the Sunday Independent’s list, just above rock band U2.
According to the list’s biography, the outspoken airline chief, aged 53, ‘had a brilliant year’.
“His plan to reinvent Ryanair by being nicer worked spectacularly, with middle-class and business flyers flocking to the new-look airline,” it said.
“Shares rose by almost 45% and his 51 million shares are now worth €485 million. There has been close to €52m in dividends and fees over the last decade.”
It said O’Leary’s fortune has been boosted by his other passion – horse racing. At the glorious Cheltenham festival last year, he won four races on the final day.
Meanwhile, at number 23 on the list were Declan and Shane Ryan, the sons of the late Tony Ryan, one of the co-founders of Ryanair.
Tony Ryan was actively involved in the airline until he sold most of his €260 million stake in 2004.
He also had interests in Singapore-based Tiger Airways and Allegiant Air in the US.
Declan is now following in his father’s footsteps and has signed a €90 million airline joint venture with Mexican transport group Iaamsa for airline Viva Aerobus, in which he has a 46% stake.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026