RYANAIR BOSS CASHED IN £63m AS SHARES PEAKED
RYANAIR’S boss cashed in £63.5m worth of shares just days after the low-cost carrier’s stock peaked.
Outspoken chief executive Michael O’Leary sold 4m shares on June 8 at €18 a share – just under the firm’s all time high of $18.26 on May 31.
The 56-year-old is still the third largest Ryanair shareholder behind Fidelity Investments and HSBC, owning close to 4pc of shares after the disposal.
Last month Ryanair announced that profits after tax grew by 6pc to £1.2bn in the 12 months to March 31, and announced a £525m share buyback scheme. O’Leary, who was handed options over 5m Rya- nair shares in 2014, which vest in 2019, is also sitting on a £44m paper profit – as long as he hits targets and remains at the company.
The businessman has been vocal in his criticism of Brexit and said the airline plans to pivot growth away from the UK to focus on routes in Europe.
O’Leary lives in Gigginstown House near Delvin in County Westmeath with his wife Anita Farrell and their four children.
He’s an avid horse fanatic and breeds horses at his home. Last year his horse Don Cossack won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he won the Grand National with Rule The World in 2016.