Michael O'Leary (37), the casually-dressed chief executive of Ryanair, is single and has shares in the company worth over £70 million. At the time of the company's stock market float it was revealed that he had made £17 million over the previous three years through a company bonus scheme.
From a family of seven in Co Westmeath, he was educated at Clongowes Wood College and Trinity College Dublin. He has an apartment in Ballsbridge, Dublin, and owns a listed heritage building, Gigginstown House, in Mullingar.
Apart from running the no-frills airline his main interests are rugby and football.
After completing a business studies degree he worked for accountants Stokes Kennedy Crowley, and in the property market, then bought a number of ailing newsagents, making them profitable and selling them. In 1991 he began working for Ryanair as chief operating officer, and became chief executive in 1993.
He has been known to work as a baggage-handler from time to time and encourages other staff to do likewise.