According to Bloomberg, shares of Irish low-cost airline Ryanair closed above €21 for the 28th consecutive calendar day on Thursday—triggering a milestone that unlocks a massive bonus for the company’s longtime CEO, Michael O’Leary.
To claim the bonus, O’Leary is required to remain with the airline for an additional three years until the stock options fully vest.
At 64 years old, O’Leary’s compensation ranks among the highest for European executives who have received substantial bonus packages. This includes figures like Bart Becht, the former CEO of Reckitt Benckiser Group, who famously earned £90 million (approximately $121 million) from stock options a decade ago.
So far this year, the largest variable pay awarded in Europe went to Simon Peckham, the former head of Melrose Industries, who received £57 million, according to corporate governance advisory firm PIRC.
After more than three decades at the helm of Ryanair, O’Leary remains one of the longest-serving CEOs in the aviation industry.





