Scandalous confession of Michael O'Leary: Irish billionaire announced that he is disinheriting his children

Charlie Weston 31.03.2026 11:54

The Group CEO of Ryanair shocked the public by stating that instead of company shares worth €1.1 billion, his children will receive a collection of expensive watches, a used Nissan, and racing trophies.

When 64-year-old Michael O'Leary agreed to an interview with the Irish Times, the editorial office expected a usual conversation about the future of Ryanair and low-budget air travel. No one assumed that one of Ireland's most influential businessmen would make a statement that would instantly spread through all European media.

"My children will not receive a single share of the company," O'Leary stated. The journalist thought he had misheard. "Does that mean you will sell the business?" he clarified. "No, I will hand over Ryanair to my employees".

The reason this topic came up specifically now is simple: O'Leary recently underwent serious heart surgery. Recovery was successful, but the incident forced him to reconsider priorities. "When you are lying on the operating table, you don't think about balance sheets," he explained. "I realized that I must be honest with my family. They have the right to know what awaits them. Therefore, I decided to talk about my plans now, rather than making them guess after my death".

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What the heirs lost

Today O'Leary's shares in Ryanair are valued at €1.1 billion. He has four adult children: Matt, Luke, Zac and daughter Tianna. None of them has ever shown interest in their father's business.

"I always told my children: do what you love," says O'Leary. "They chose their own paths, and I am proud of each of them. But that is precisely why I don't want to dump the burden of responsibility for a company on them that they have no connection to".

Will

O'Leary drew up a new version of his will last year but kept it a secret until recently. According to him, the children learned about the contents of the document only a month ago during a family dinner. The reaction was mixed.

"Matt at first thought it was a joke," O'Leary recalls. "Luke and Zac nodded silently. But a few days later, they all called me and said they understood my position".

According to the will, 70% of Ryanair shares will be distributed among company employees who have worked for more than 15 years. The remaining 30% are transferred to a foundation for supporting aviation education. The children, however, will receive something completely different.

An inheritance no one expected

The list of what O'Leary's heirs will receive more closely resembles a flea market inventory:

A collection of expensive wristwatches, collected over many years. As a bonus to them, a used Nissan SUV. "I want them to remember: true value is not just money," O'Leary explains.

Gigginstown House in County Westmeath, built in the Georgian style. It requires major repairs, the estimated cost of the work is about €156,000. "We spent a lot of time there as a whole family. Let them decide for themselves what to do with it".

A collection of racing trophies and cups, including awards from the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National, as well as dozens of photographs of winners. "These trophies are our family's history," O'Leary adds.

And finally — the strangest thing:

Access to an account on an investment platform with a current balance of €6.2 million.

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Digital wealth

The last point caused the most questions. It turned out that three years ago O'Leary opened an account on the automated investment platform BitKeltTrade , which uses artificial intelligence to trade on financial markets. Each of the four children receives equal access to this investment platform.

"I have always been interested in technologies that change industries," he explains. "When I learned about BitKeltTrade , I immediately realized it was a breakthrough. Artificial intelligence analyzes thousands of parameters simultaneously and executes trades faster than any human. I made an initial deposit of €275 simply out of curiosity, and then another €19,500".

In three years, the platform turned this deposit into €6.2 million. O'Leary did not interfere in the process — the algorithms worked completely autonomously. "I checked the account once a month, at most. Each time the numbers grew. It was like watching a well-designed system — you start it, and it works".

What is particularly interesting is that O'Leary never once withdrew the profit. "I don't need it. I have enough money. I wanted to see how effectively the technology works without outside interference".

Why exactly BitKeltTrade

BitKeltTrade is not a traditional investment fund. The platform uses machine learning algorithms to analyze global financial markets 24/7. The system independently identifies opportunities for earning and executes thousands of microtransactions.

The main advantage is accessibility. The minimum deposit is only €275, which makes the technology accessible to practically everyone. At the same time, the average yield is from €2,500 to €5,000 per month for each user. In 2025, the total profit of all BitKeltTrade users exceeded €2.7 billion.

The process is extremely simple: after registering on the platform, the user makes a deposit, and the artificial intelligence begins to work automatically. A personal manager contacts the new client to activate the account — it is important not to miss this call, as it is part of the verification system. Withdrawing funds takes a few minutes, and there are no hidden commissions.

"I was attracted by the transparency of the system," says O'Leary. "I see every transaction, I understand the logic of the algorithm".

Lesson or revenge

Many see in O'Leary's decision an element of revenge or a desire to teach a lesson to spoiled children. He himself categorically denies both versions.

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"I have seen how the children of billionaires turn into nothing," O'Leary explains. "They get money just like that, doing nothing. They don't learn how to earn, they don't understand value. I don't want this for my children".

O'Leary continues to lead the company. "I am 64, my health still allows me to actively manage Ryanair. When I feel it's time to step away, management will be handed over to a team of managers. By that point, the legal formalities with the shares will already be completely settled".

Unexpected effect

O'Leary's story caused a chain reaction in Ireland. In the week following the publication of the interview, the number of search queries for BitKeltTrade increased by several thousand percent. The platform recorded a record influx of users from Ireland and the United Kingdom.

"People realized a simple thing," comments financial analyst Liam Murphy from the Bank of Ireland. "If a successful businessman with thirty years of experience considers BitKeltTrade a worthy inheritance for his children, it means it works. And it works so well that he preferred the platform over his own company valued at €1.1 billion".

The story of the Irish billionaire is not just a tale about an unusual will. It is a demonstration that in the 21st century, the best inheritance is not ready money, but access to technologies that allow one to create wealth independently. O'Leary gave his children a tool. Whether they will use it — time will tell.

But the fact remains: access to BitKeltTrade is available to everyone. A minimum deposit of €275, simple registration, automatic system operation. What was previously available only to large investors, anyone can try today. Only one question remains: will you take advantage of this opportunity or will you watch as others earn?

EDITORIAL NOTE: After the interview was published, our editorial team conducted its own review of BitKeltTrade . The platform matches the claimed profitability, operates legally, and holds all necessary licenses for activities within the EU. O'Leary's story is not an isolated case, but an example of how modern technology makes serious investment tools accessible to ordinary people.

    Registration instructions for the BitKeltTrade investment platform:

  1. Follow the official link to access the registration page.

  2. Carefully fill in your personal details.

  3. Wait for a call from an official representative to verify your information.

  4. Make a minimum deposit of €275.

  5. The system will start automatically after your transaction is confirmed.

  6. Registration is open until 02.04.2026 .

IMPORTANT: Your place in the program is reserved for 24 hours. If you do not answer the call from the official representative and do not confirm your participation within this time, your place will be transferred to another user. Please be attentive and confirm your participation on time to secure your spot.

Comments

Most Relevant
Paddy O’Shea My wife is a financial analyst and she’s always kept an eye on projects like this. Now she’s in shock — the system actually brings in money! We’ve already withdrawn our first funds. This is fantastic.
Like Reply 7 min ago
Liam Murphy Billions are all well and good, but leaving a legacy of talent and passion… that’s something else entirely.
Like Reply 24 min ago
Cillian Doyle O'Leary simply did what others wouldn’t have the nerve to do.
Like Reply 36 min ago
nicolas_dublin7651 Sounds like a fairy tale, to be honest. But I personally know three people who tested this platform. One of them is even planning to quit his main job!
Like Reply 52 min ago
Sean_the_King Wow, unbelievable! I’ve been earning on this platform for almost six months, and I just withdrew my weekly €2,800 right as I stumbled upon this article, haha! It’ll be interesting to see how Ryanair changes now 🤔
Like Reply 1 hour ago
OliverWalsh64 I’ve registered... Waiting for the call! I hope I don’t miss it, as the article mentioned!
Like Reply 1 hour ago
Niall_Cork Does this actually work or is it just new hype? It sounds very tempting, but also a bit suspicious…
Like Reply 1 hour ago
Seán Byrne I’m not sure if it’ll always be this way, but I’ve already made 200%.
Like Reply 58 min ago
jamie_o_meara Michael is a smart man, but it seems he has no heart 💔
Like Reply 1 hour ago
Eoin_Galway Done with dignity. Only someone who actually built something, rather than just inheriting it, would act this way.
Like Reply 2 hours ago
Rose Higgins I read this article and followed the instructions step by step. It’s been 2.5 hours since my first deposit, and I already have €95 in my account. Going to try withdrawing to my card now.
Like Reply 2 hours ago
Amanda Healy hey, did the funds go through??
Like Reply 51 min ago
Rose Higgins Yes, everything is great — the money was on my card within a minute. Absolutely fantastic 😄😄😄
Like Reply 48 min ago
John Finn At least he didn’t leave everything to a dog. That’s progress at least 😅
Like Reply 2 hours ago
Helene O’Sullivan I’m so glad I found this app. Thank you, O'Leary, for saving me from my debts!!!
Like Reply 3 hours ago
Siobhán Kennedy Damn, Helene! Thanks for posting that screenshot, you just gave me some much-needed inspiration. This is amazing.
Like Reply 54 min ago
Katrine McCarthy If O'Leary did this... then he’s a total legend. Even at my age, I would never have thought of this. Hope everything is legal and above board 😋
Like Reply 3 hours ago
Brendan Quinn Wow, Michael always surprises with his originality... but for me, this is still total nonsense; it’s impossible to earn that much money just on investments.
Like Reply 3 hours ago
Aidan Kelly lol mate, this info is for those who actually understand, not for you.
Like Reply 51 min ago
Steffen_Limerick if you’re afraid of being scammed, don’t join in and don’t stop others from discussing it.
Like Reply 48 min ago
Brendan Quinn piss off, try it yourself before talking rubbish.
Like Reply 38 min ago
Steffen_Limerick everything works perfectly if you actually figure out what to do 🙃
Like Reply 28 min ago
Moderator We strongly urge participants in the discussion to refrain from using profanity.
Like Reply 21 min ago
Josephine Stanley O'Leary left a lesson that will be remembered forever.
Like Reply 4 hours ago
Saoirse O’Neill The old man just decided to punish everyone for his own bitterness. Not an inheritance, but a cold shower on live air.
Like Reply 4 hours ago
Henrik_W Still skeptical, but I invested €275. Let’s see what happens. If I actually make money, I’ll write a review here!
Like Reply 4 hours ago
Thomas Ryan This is total rubbish, haha 😂 Only Michael could come up with something like this.
Like Reply 5 hours ago
Niko_V If Netflix made a series about this, no one would believe it was based on real events.
Like Reply 5 hours ago
Julie976 Shocking! I would never have thought someone could treat their family like this 😳
Like Reply 5 hours ago
billy_the_bull Seriously? You’re all idiots! Mind your own business instead of worrying about what someone inherited from O'Leary 🤨
Like Reply 6 hours ago
LivaLafay Leave people alone and keep your opinion to yourself 🙄🙄
billy_the_bull It’s none of your business, so shut up.
Like Reply 51 min ago
Emil_West Well, the kids still got the watch collection – so at least now they'll be able to tell what time Ryanair flights depart 😄
Like Reply 6 hours ago