Ryanair's CEO may secure a unprecedented reward bonus worth EUR 100 million by 2028.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary on Track for €100 Million Bonus by 2028
Ryanair's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, could potentially receive a €100 million bonus by 2028, according to recent reports. To qualify for this payout, O'Leary must remain at the helm of the airline until the specified date. Forbes magazine estimates O'Leary's current fortune at $1.1 billion.
The multimillion-euro bonus is linked to specific financial and stock performance targets set by the low-cost airline. The main conditions for O'Leary’s eligibility include the airline's share price staying above €21 for 28 consecutive days and the company posting an annual profit exceeding €2.2 billion.
In May 2025, Ryanair's shares closed at €23.74 and had maintained above the €21 threshold for the required consecutive days. Furthermore, the airline's profit target might be achievable by 2027, given the company's financial recovery and projected growth spurt. An extended timeline for the bonus plan until 2028 substantially bolsters O’Leary’s chances of receiving the payout, allowing the company’s strategic share buybacks to take full effect.
Ryanair has engaged in numerous share buybacks, canceling 7% of its share capital and announcing additional buyback programs worth hundreds of millions of euros through mid-2026. These activities help support the share price, making it easier to meet the incentive plan’s stock price conditions.
O’Leary's contract renewal in December 2022 extends his tenure through the 2027-28 financial year, aligning with the bonus plan period. Consequently, O'Leary can only collect the bonus if he remains CEO until the end of July 2028.
As the aviation industry grapples with recovering revenues following pandemic-induced setbacks, Ryanair's performance has been mixed in recent months. During this period, the airline recorded a 16% drop in profit and a 7% decrease in fares, while traffic increased by 9%. Despite these shortcomings, the potential €100 million bonus highlights Ryanair's financial resilience and the CEO's significant impact on the company's success.
Correspondingly, analysts at Barclays have expressed concerns about O'Leary’s self-engineered fortune via share buybacks. However, amid growing optimism about the airline's potential to surpass the profit target by 2027, as well as the extended bonus plan timeline, O’Leary's chances of qualifying for the payout appear promising.
[Source: Forbes Magazine, BFMTV, and other relevant sources]
Given Ryanair's financial resilience, if CEO Michael O'Leary continues to lead the business and the airline exceeds specific financial targets, he stands to gain a substantial €100 million bonus through investing in Ryanair shares by 2028. Analysts predict that this bonus, linked to share price performance, could be achievable, thanks to Ryanair's extensive share buyback programs and strategic financial recovery strategies.
