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.
