logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2025
48m 55s

Michael O’Leary: Ryanair’s cost-cutting ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

How Michael O’Leary, the outspoken CEO of Ryanair, turned a struggling regional airline into a €28 billion powerhouse by relentlessly cutting costs and embracing controversy.

BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng uncover how O’Leary - who neither founded Ryanair nor intended to work in aviation - redefined the airline industry. Through radical cost-cutting, lightning-fast plane turnarounds, and headline-grabbing stunts, he transformed the company into a disruptive, ultra-low-cost giant. From his early ventures to his rise as the face of budget flying, this episode charts how his bold tactics reshaped how millions travel across Europe.

Good Bad Billionaire is the podcast that explores the lives of the super-rich and famous, tracking their wealth, philanthropy, business ethics and success. There are leaders who made their money in Silicon Valley, on Wall Street and in high street fashion. From iconic celebrities and CEOs to titans of technology, the podcast unravels tales of fortune, power, economics, ambition and moral responsibility, before asking the audience to decide if they are good, bad, or just billionaires.

Up next
Jul 13
Reed Hastings: Netflix’s co-founder and media disruptor
As co-founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings is responsible for one of the most recognisable brands in the world. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng recount how he evolved Netflix from a DVD-by-mail rental service to the streaming giant responsible for bringing ... Show More
43m 46s
Jul 6
Roger Federer: The billion-dollar backhand
Roger Federer isn’t just one of the greatest tennis players of all time - he’s also one of the richest. BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng follow his journey: from a fiery, racket-smashing junior in Switzerland to the calm, composed global icon who conquere ... Show More
37m 7s
Jun 29
Luana Lopes Lara: Prediction market payout
Luana Lopes Lara, the co-founder of prediction market platform Kalshi, went from the Bolshoi ballet school in Brazil to becoming the world’s youngest female self-made billionaire.BBC business editor Simon Jack and journalist Zing Tsjeng explain how - in today's online world - lit ... Show More
45m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2023
Ryanair: Low Cost Obsessed - [Business Breakdowns, EP. 98]
This is Matt Reustle and today we are breaking down Europe's largest airline, Ryanair. As we do more breakdowns, we start to look for patterns of successful business models that succeed across different industries. Ryanair is another case study in low-cost shared economies of sca ... Show More
47m 43s
May 2025
Virgin Territory: Richard Branson’s Business Beginnings | Flight Path | 4
Virgin Atlantic takes to the sky and upends the aviation industry, but the new venture also throws Richard Branson into battle with one of Britain’s biggest corporations.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https: ... Show More
34m 30s
May 2021
#185 with Andrew Wilkinson - The Secretive Billionaire Who Acquired Burger King, Creating Better Babies & How Much Money is Enough?
Sam (@theSamParr) and Andrew (@awilkinson) break down billionaire Jorge Paulo Lemann. Lemann has built his fortune by acquiring consumer businesses and running them profitably by slashing costs. He famously sells all corporate jets when he acquires a company. The guys then get in ... Show More
1h 11m
Jun 2025
Virgin Was Under Attack. Richard Branson Fought Back And Built A £3B Empire
Welcome back to 100 CEOs, with me Steven Bartlett of Diary of a CEO, Behind The Diary & Dragon's Den. Today, I'm diving into the story of an entrepreneur who transformed the music industry with Virgin Records, and became one of the world's most recognised self-made billionaires - ... Show More
45m 13s
Jul 2025
#248: Mike Cessario, Founder and CEO of Liquid Death – Disrupt with discipline
They sold a $300 coffin. They made a candle with Ozzy Osbourne’s DNA. And built a $1.4B beverage brand doing it. Mike Cessario, founder and CEO of Liquid Death, has turned irreverent ideas into a marketing juggernaut. But behind the stunts is a seriously disciplined approach to b ... Show More
1h 1m
Jun 2025
Navigating Turbulence: The Evolution of Leadership with Blair LaCorte
Anthony Taylor interviews Blair LaCorte, a seasoned CEO with extensive experience in private equity and aviation. They discuss Blair's journey, particularly his time at XOJet, where he transformed a struggling airline into a successful business through innovative strategies and a ... Show More
20m 35s
Aug 2023
Rey Flemings: A Different Definition of Success
Dubbed during his career as “The Man Who Knows What the World’s Richest People Want (and How To Get It),” Rey Flemings has years of experience dealing with success. He sees it every day as the co-founder and CEO of Myria, a company that provides concierge services to fewer than 1 ... Show More
1h 6m
May 2024
How Simple Modern Built a $200M+ Brand on Generosity & Culture
<p><span style="font-size: 10pt;">How can a business blend substantial growth with a robust culture of generosity? Today on the show, I'm joined by Mike Beckham, CEO and co-founder of Simple Modern, a nine-figure drinkware company nearly a decade old. Mike is also a well-known po ... Show More
1 h