Ryanair CEO poised to receive over €100 million in bonuses
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary stands to receive a staggering bonus of over €100 million, potentially marking one of the largest payouts in European corporate history. The prospective reward is contingent upon a performance-based incentive plan.
Ryanair's shares closing above €21 for 28 consecutive days, a feat achieved on Thursday, triggers this bonus. If O'Leary remains with the airline until July 2028, he will have the option to acquire 10 million shares worth approximately €111.2 million.
Despite Ryanair reporting a drop in full-year profits earlier this year, O'Leary remarked that the company was still delivering exceptional value to its shareholders. Although an alternative condition for the bonus involves the airline achieving an annual profit of more than €2.2 billion, this has not been realized recently.
The bonus plan is part of a broader incentive structure established in 2019 and incorporated into O'Leary's contract renewal in 2022. The high value of the bonus has attracted scrutiny from regulatory bodies and activist groups concerned about executive compensation.
The performance-based incentive plan, established in 2019, has the potential to make Michael O'Leary one of the highest-paid executives in European corporate history, with a bonus largely contingent on financing, investing, and wealth-management strategies that would see Ryanair's shares maintaining a high value over a significant period, contributing to the growth and profitability of the business.
The bonus plan, which includes the acquisition of 10 million shares, is a significant aspect of Ryanair's overall business strategy, with its value closely tied to the success of Ryanair's operations and future growth prospects in the finance, investing, and wealth-management sectors.
