Richard Branson, organizer of Student Advisory Service
Gallery of Richard Branson
1966
Richard Branson, organizer of Student Advisory Service
Gallery of Richard Branson
1966
The first issue of Student magazine
Gallery of Richard Branson
1973
Virgin Records
Gallery of Richard Branson
1973
His first artist on the Virgin Records label, Mike Oldfield, recorded his single "Tubular Bells" in 1973 with the help of Branson's team.
Gallery of Richard Branson
1980
Richard Branson & Mick Jagger
Gallery of Richard Branson
Virgin Records
Gallery of Richard Branson
1984
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited
Gallery of Richard Branson
2000
Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited
Gallery of Richard Branson
2012
4 April 2012: Sir Richard Branson attends the Launch of Virgin America's First Flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Gallery of Richard Branson
1983
Branson launches Virgin Gaming
Gallery of Richard Branson
2009
Milan, Italy
Sir Richard Branson (L) and Clarence Seedorf attend the Virgin Games press conference on November 2, 2009, in Milan, Italy.
Gallery of Richard Branson
2012
6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320, United States
Virgin Atlantic Airways chairman Richard Branson introduced the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to the flying public recently in a ceremony at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Gallery of Richard Branson
1991
Virgin Books
Gallery of Richard Branson
2014
The Virgin Way: How to Listen, Learn, Laugh and Lead
Gallery of Richard Branson
1994
Virgin Cola
Gallery of Richard Branson
1996
Richard Branson wore a wedding gown at the launch of Virgin Bride, a short-lived 1990s business venture.
Gallery of Richard Branson
2000
Virgin Radio
Gallery of Richard Branson
1999
Virgin Mobile
Gallery of Richard Branson
1999
Virgin Mobile
Gallery of Richard Branson
2000
Virgin Australia
Gallery of Richard Branson
2000
Virgin Cars
Gallery of Richard Branson
2004
Virgin Galactic
Gallery of Richard Branson
2004
Virgin Galactic
Gallery of Richard Branson
2009
Virgin Health Bank
Gallery of Richard Branson
2006
Virgin Media
Gallery of Richard Branson
1982
London, England, UK
Richard Branson pictured holding a baby on his houseboat on the Grand Union canal in London on 26th May 1982. (Photo by United News)
Gallery of Richard Branson
1984
Richard Branson inaugurates his new airline Virgin Atlantic Airways, on the steps of the Boeing 747-200 'Maiden Voyager', 22nd June 1984. (Photo by Terry Disney)
Gallery of Richard Branson
1984
London, England, UK
Richard Branson at the time of the launch of his Virgin Atlantic airline, London 1984. (Photo by Chalkie Davies)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2010
5757 Wayne Newton Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States
Sir Richard Branson holds burlesque artist Dita Von Teese as they appear on the wing of a Virgin Atlantic Airways 747-400 aircraft at McCarran International Airport on June 15, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2010
3730 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158, United States
Sir Richard Branson puts on a leather jacket backstage at the "Viva ELVIS" production by Cirque du Soleil at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter on June 15, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2010
Perth Airport WA 6105, Australia
Sir Richard Branson with AirAsia Stewardess' at Perth International Airport on May 12, 2013, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Matt Jelonek)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2013
Perth Airport WA 6105, Australia
Sir Richard Branson blows a kiss before boarding his flight to Kuala Lumpur at Perth International Airport on May 12, 2013, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2014
Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA, United Kingdom
Sir Richard Branson attends as Free The Children hosts their debut UK global youth empowerment event, We Day at Wembley Arena on March 7, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2014
Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA, United Kingdom
Richard Branson attends We Day UK, a charity event to bring young people together at Wembley Arena on March 7, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2015
San Francisco, California, USA
Sir Richard Branson arrives at Virgin America and Airbnb Hawaii Launch Party at Various Locations on November 2, 2015, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Alison Buck)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2018
Los Angeles, California, USA
Richard Branson Sits Down With SiriusXM's John Fugelsang For SiriusXM's 'Learning With Richard' Branson on October 15, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2018
Hollywood Boulevard, Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States
Sir Richard Branson is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on October 16, 2018, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2019
New York City, New York, USA
Sir Richard Branson attends SiriusXM's John Fugelsang Special Broadcast Of "Learning With Richard Branson" With Guest David Miliband at SiriusXM Studios on September 25, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant)
Gallery of Richard Branson
Little Venice, London, England, UK
Richard Branson reading the newspaper in the bath on his boat at Little Venice. (Photo by Michael Ward)
Gallery of Richard Branson
Sydney, Australia
Sir Richard Branson celebrates with champagne during the launch of The B Team Australasia on October 11, 2018, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James D. Morgan)
Gallery of Richard Branson
1976
Virgin Megastores
Gallery of Richard Branson
2007
Virgin1 (Channel One)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2007
Virgin1 (Channel One)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2007
Virgin1 (Channel One)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2007
Virgin1 (Channel One)
Gallery of Richard Branson
2010
Virgin Racing
Gallery of Richard Branson
2014
Virgin Voyages
Gallery of Richard Branson
1998
Richard published an autobiography, Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way (1998, updated ed. 2011), and iterated his business philosophy in The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership (2014).
Gallery of Richard Branson
2011
Richard Branson
Gallery of Richard Branson
2014
Richard Branson
Achievements
Forbes cover
Membership
Old Stoic Society of Stowe School
2013
Awards
Knight Bachelor
Tony Jannus Award
German Media Prize
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' President's Merit Award
Richard Branson inaugurates his new airline Virgin Atlantic Airways, on the steps of the Boeing 747-200 'Maiden Voyager', 22nd June 1984. (Photo by Terry Disney)
Richard published an autobiography, Losing My Virginity: How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way (1998, updated ed. 2011), and iterated his business philosophy in The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership (2014).
5757 Wayne Newton Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119, United States
Sir Richard Branson holds burlesque artist Dita Von Teese as they appear on the wing of a Virgin Atlantic Airways 747-400 aircraft at McCarran International Airport on June 15, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller)
3730 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158, United States
Sir Richard Branson puts on a leather jacket backstage at the "Viva ELVIS" production by Cirque du Soleil at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter on June 15, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller)
6000 N Terminal Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30320, United States
Virgin Atlantic Airways chairman Richard Branson introduced the airline's new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner to the flying public recently in a ceremony at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Sir Richard Branson blows a kiss before boarding his flight to Kuala Lumpur at Perth International Airport on May 12, 2013, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane)
Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA, United Kingdom
Sir Richard Branson attends as Free The Children hosts their debut UK global youth empowerment event, We Day at Wembley Arena on March 7, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Anthony Harvey)
Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA, United Kingdom
Richard Branson attends We Day UK, a charity event to bring young people together at Wembley Arena on March 7, 2014, in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang)
Sir Richard Branson arrives at Virgin America and Airbnb Hawaii Launch Party at Various Locations on November 2, 2015, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Alison Buck)
Richard Branson Sits Down With SiriusXM's John Fugelsang For SiriusXM's 'Learning With Richard' Branson on October 15, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vivien Killilea)
Sir Richard Branson attends SiriusXM's John Fugelsang Special Broadcast Of "Learning With Richard Branson" With Guest David Miliband at SiriusXM Studios on September 25, 2019, in New York City. (Photo by Robin Marchant)
Sir Richard Branson celebrates with champagne during the launch of The B Team Australasia on October 11, 2018, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James D. Morgan)
(Sir Richard Branson is a world-famous entrepreneur and bu...)
Sir Richard Branson is a world-famous entrepreneur and businessman. Here he discusses his life and achievements in a series of interviews from the BBC radio and TV archive.
(Do It reveals the lessons from life that have helped Bran...)
Do It reveals the lessons from life that have helped Branson through his business and personal life, such as, believe it can be done and that, if others disagree with you, try and try again until you achieve your goal; or that you must love what you do.
Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
(In little more than twenty-five years, Richard Branson sp...)
In little more than twenty-five years, Richard Branson spawned nearly a hundred successful ventures. From the airline business (Virgin Atlantic Airways) to music (Virgin Records and V2), to cola (Virgin Cola), and others ranging from financial services to bridal wear, Branson has a track record second to none. Many of his companies were started in the face of entrenched competition.
Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur
(Richard Branson is an iconic entrepreneur and the founder...)
Richard Branson is an iconic entrepreneur and the founder of Virgin Airways, Virgin Records, and many other Virgin businesses around the world. Now he shares the inside track on his life in business and reveals the incredible truth about his most risky, brilliant, and audacious deals. Combining invaluable advice with remarkable, and candid stories of Virgin's greatest achievements, as well as some of its setbacks, this is a dynamic, inspirational, and truly original guide.
Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen, and Blasting into Space
(One of the world's most famous business leaders (and a we...)
One of the world's most famous business leaders (and a well-known avian fanatic) explores the pioneers of flight. In Reach for the Skies, Branson examines the history of aviation over the last two hundred years.
Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School
(Like a Virgin brings together some of Branson's best advi...)
Like a Virgin brings together some of Branson's best advice, distilling the experiences and insights that have made him one of the world’s most recognized and respected business leaders.
The Virgin Way: If It's Not Fun, It's Not Worth Doing
(Branson gives an inside look at his strikingly different,...)
Branson gives an inside look at his strikingly different, swashbuckling style of leadership. Learn how fun, family, passion, and the dying art of listening are key components to what his extended family of employees around the world has always dubbed (with a wink) "the Virgin Way."
(In this book, global opinion-leaders on the frontline of ...)
In this book, global opinion-leaders on the frontline of the drug debate describe their experiences and perspectives on what needs to be done. Highlighting the pitfalls behind drug policy to-date and bringing to light new policies and approaches, which make a clear case for galvanizing governments to end the war on drugs - once and for all.
Screw Business As Usual: Turning Capitalism into a Force for Good
(Richard Branson, one of the world’s most famous and admir...)
Richard Branson, one of the world’s most famous and admired business leaders, argues that it’s time to turn capitalism upside down - to shift our values from an exclusive focus on profit to also caring for people, communities and the planet.
(Branson shares the candid details of a lifetime of triump...)
Branson shares the candid details of a lifetime of triumphs and failures and what he really thinks about his unique life and career. Finding My Virginity is an intimate look at his never-ending quest to push boundaries, break rules, and seek new frontiers - even after launching a dozen billion-dollar businesses and hundreds of other companies.
Richard Branson, in full Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, is a British entrepreneur and adventurer, head of Virgin Group Ltd., known for his publicity stunts and also for setting records in powerboat racing and hot-air ballooning. His entrepreneurial projects started in the music industry and expanded into other sectors, including the space-tourism venture Virgin Galactic, making him a billionaire.
Background
Ethnicity:
Richard Branson has English, small amounts of Scottish and Welsh, 1/32 Indian, 1/64 German, and distant Irish ancestry.
Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950, into a middle-class family in Blackheath, London, the United Kingdom. Branson was the oldest of three siblings. His father, Edward (Ted) Branson was an attorney, in the tradition of the Branson family ancestry. Most agree that Branson inherited his Nordic looks as well as his adventurous spirit from his mother, Eve Branson, a one-time dancer and actress, and a former flight attendant. So energetic and spirited was Eve Branson, that she learned to fly gliders at a time when few women drove cars. She flew so well, in fact, that she trained with the Royal Air Force (RAF) cadets for duty during the Second World War. The Branson children were raised to be hearty, active, and brave.
Though she was a flight attendant, Eve Branson didn’t sit idly by on her days off. She built wooden trash cans and tissue boxes, selling them for extra money for the family. Watching his mother’s success built Branson’s admiration for entrepreneurs, and gave him an option for when school just wasn’t working out. She was always supportive of him and was even known to tell people he would one day be Prime Minister of England.
Richard Branson was not adventurous by nature. Out of concern, his mother left him alone in the countryside one day, with instructions to find his own way home through the fields of Devon. Branson was only four at the time, and a neighboring farmer eventually discovered the boy and alerted the Bransons to retrieve their son. Young Richard, who spent that day chasing butterflies, was enamored by the exhilaration of freedom at such a young age.
Education
Richard’s father went to boarding school and his father before him, so it was a traditional practice for the family. Richard hated it because he always got into trouble and struggled in class. Aged 8, he still could not read and could not make out the letters and numbers on the blackboard. Richard had dyslexia. Back then, no one knew or cared about it which meant that the rest of the class and the teachers just thought he was lazy.
Branson attended Scaitcliffe School, a prep school in Surrey, before briefly attending Cliff View House School in Sussex, and later Stowe school. Suffering from dyslexia, Branson did not excel at studies; he was more interested in extracurricular activities, such as football and cricket. He found the school environment too restrictive and dropped out of high school and moved to London.
Branson had poor academic performance; on his last day at school, his headmaster, Robert Drayson, told him he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire. When he dropped out of school, he already knew that being an entrepreneur was the right life for him. He started out with an idea, and with an ultimate goal far beyond just earning money.
Branson dropped out of school at the age of 16 to start a youth-culture magazine called Student. The publication, run by students, sold $8,000 worth of advertising in its first edition, launched in 1966. The first run of 50,000 copies was disseminated for free, with Branson afterward covering the costs through advertising. By 1969, Branson was living in a London commune, surrounded by the British music and drug scene. It was during this time that Branson had the idea to begin a mail-order record company called Virgin to help fund his magazine efforts.
Student magazine died quietly in 1970, as the Virgin Mail Order (named so because Branson considered himself inexperienced in business) took its place. Though the mail-order business was popular, it wasn’t making enough money to stay afloat, and Branson needed cash. He decided the best way to do that was to avoid giving the government their entire share of the taxes he actually owed. He came up with a scheme through which he avoided reporting all the records that were sold in the United Kingdom, falsifying the numbers of those that were exported. Branson ended up in jail and ended up having to pay over $60,000 in fines. This obstacle and a short time in jail didn’t slow him, or his business ambitions down, though.
With modest profits from his magazine and mail-order business, he was able to get a record shop on Oxford Street, London. With the success of the new store, the high school dropout was able to build a recording studio in 1972 in Oxfordshire, England.
The first artist on the Virgin Records label, Mike Oldfield, recorded his single "Tubular Bells" in 1973 with the help of Branson's team. The song was an instant smash, staying on the UK charts for 247 weeks. Using the momentum of Oldfield's success, Branson then signed other aspiring musical groups to the label, including the Sex Pistols.
Following the scandalous success of the Sex Pistols, Virgin Records easily attracted a variety of the most popular artists of the times, including Boy George and the Culture Club, who sold 1.4 million records in the United Kingdom in 1983. Branson went on to sign contracts with singers and guitarists including Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Janet Jackson, and the Rolling Stones. By 1983, Branson's Virgin empire included 50 diverse companies.
Branson expanded his entrepreneurial efforts yet again, this time to include the Voyager Group travel company in 1980, the Virgin Atlantic airline in 1984, and a series of Virgin Megastores. The airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited, survived the threat of foreclosure and in time grew into the world's third-largest transatlantic carrier. However, Branson's success was not always predictable, and by 1992, Virgin was suddenly struggling to stay financially afloat. The company was sold later that year to Thorn EMI for $1 billion.
Branson was crushed by the loss, reportedly crying after the contract was signed, but remained determined to stay in the music business. In 1993, he founded the station Virgin Radio, and in 1996 he started a second record company, V2, which signed artists such as Powder Finger and Tom Jones.
The Virgin Group eventually reached 35 countries around the world, with nearly 70,000 employees handling affairs in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, Asia, Europe, South Africa, and beyond. He has expanded his businesses to include a train company, a luxury game preserve, a mobile phone company, and a space-tourism company, Virgin Galactic.
In 1998, Branson further unnerved financial pundits when he invested his own private interests into a series of rail lines including British Rail. As with many Branson business endeavors, the investments were in conflict with every traditional business tactic and mainstream corporate practice, yet Branson ably accomplished his ends.
In 1999, and less than 30 years after the original conception of the Branson Virgin businesses, Branson boasted over 200 Virgin Megastores worldwide and a soft drink business-Virgin Cola-in direct competition with Coca-Cola. All told, Branson employed 24,000 employees in 150 companies, with revenues totaling an estimated five billion dollars each year from the entire Virgin Group-including the music stores and airline. The Virgin empire was last valued at an estimated $1.5 billion and was the largest privately owned business in England.
In recent years, the ever-adventurous Branson has focused much of his attention on his space-tourism venture. In 2004 Branson formed Virgin Galactic, a space tourism company that was working toward offering commercial suborbital passenger flights. In 2006 Branson sold Virgin Mobile, a wireless phone service, though he remained the largest shareholder of the company, which was later renamed Virgin Media, Inc. That same year he formed the collaborative entertainment companies Virgin Comics LLC and Virgin Animation Private Limited. He partnered with Scaled Composites to form The Spaceship Company, which set to work developing a suborbital spaceplane. In April 2013, the project made an impressive leap forward with the test launch of SpaceShipTwo.
Branson was delighted by the success of his spaceship's first test, telling NBC News that "We're absolutely delighted that it broke the sound barrier on its very first flight, and that everything went so smoothly." By April 2013, more than 500 people had reserved tickets to ride on a Virgin Galactic spaceship.
In 2015, Branson announced the launch of Virgin Voyages, a new cruise line. On October 31, 2017, the company commemorated the milestone of laying down the keel for its first ship. Virgin's cruise ships, designed to hold 2,800 guests and a crew of 1,150, remained on track to debut in 2020.
Additionally, the mogul moved forward with his upstart Virgin Hotels, founded in 2010. In 2018, Virgin announced its presence in Las Vegas by taking over ownership of the Hard Rock Hotel. The company planned to generally maintain the status quo in the hotel before embarking on renovations in 2019.
(Branson gives an inside look at his strikingly different,...)
2015
Religion
Branson is an atheist who says he would be delighted if someone could convince him that God exists. He says he thinks "religion has done a lot of harm over the years," and that evolution and science are at direct odds with religion. Presumably referring to concepts like intelligent design and creationism, which are conservative Christian responses to evolution, Branson said: "Anyone who questions evolution I find completely and utterly bizarre. Evolution is magnificent, that’s all I can say."
For Branson, it seems like his religion is the connections between people that happen here on Earth every day. Religion is just beside the point: "I see myself as a humanitarian who loves people. Maybe one day somebody will be able to convince me that there is a God, and there is a particular God. But to me, I love people, and that’s to me the most important thing."
Branson was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church Monastery.
Politics
In the 1980s, Branson was briefly given the post of "litter Tsar" by Margaret Thatcher - charged with "keeping Britain tidy". In 2005 he declared that there were only negligible differences between the two main parties on economic matters. He was suggested as a candidate for Mayor of London before the first 2000 election, with polls indicating he would be a viable candidate, but he did not express interest.
Branson has expressed his support for both Labour and the Conservatives. Across the pond, he also expressed support of Barack Obama’s stimulus package and the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. His political philosophy seems to revolve around how government can best help people, whether that be encouraging business investment or providing free, quality health care. He thinks that, although capitalism seems to be the only economic system that works, it’s greatly flawed in that large concentration of wealth end up in the hands of only a few.
Views
Branson is well known to donate vast sums to humanitarian and environmental causes. In 2007, he helped establish The Elders which is a human rights advocacy group that is designed to help the disadvantaged and vulnerable. He devotes 80% of his time to Virgin Unite, the charitable arm of the Virgin Group. Branson and The Virgin Group fund overheads and costs to the non-profit.
Branson expressed support of the welfare state including the National Health Service and regulations on big businesses to provide better maternity and paternity leave.
Quotations:
"You don't learn to walk by following rules. You learn by doing, and by falling over."
"Business opportunities are like buses, there’s always another one coming."
"A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts."
"Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again."
"My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. I never do anything with a feeling of, ’Oh God, I’ve got to do this today.’"
"One thing is certain in business. You and everyone around you will make mistakes."
"I never get the accountants in before I start up a business. It's done on gut feeling, especially if I can see that they are taking the mickey out of the consumer."
"I love the freedom of movement that my phone gives me. That has definitely transformed my life."
"I cannot remember a moment in my life when I have not felt the love of my family. We were a family that would have killed for each other - and we still are."
Membership
In 2013 Branson became President of the Old Stoic Society of Stowe School.
Old Stoic Society of Stowe School
,
Stowe
2013
Personality
Being an entrepreneur and a friendly manager is something Branson has perfected. According to business records, he is one of those corporate people who believe in a ‘bottom heavy’ approach, loves to delegate and give responsibility to workers and inculcate in his employees, a habit to love the work they do and enjoy it. He is a jeans and a white shirt, or board shorts and a t-shirt type of guy.
A media phenomenon, Branson remains unaffected and dresses casually, in comfortable clothes. Richard Branson’s favorite food is shepherds pie or a Great British roast dinner.
His favorite musicians are Peter Gabriel and Mike Oldfield and his favorite band is The Sex Pistols. He is an avid skier and speedboat racer, in addition to his skydiving and ballooning exploits. Branson is also an experienced kitesurfer, holding some world records in the sport. In August 2016 Branson was injured while riding his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands and suffered torn ligaments and a cracked cheek as a result. He was taken to hospital in Miami for X-rays and scans.
Richard Branson still finds time in his busy schedule to read. Over the years he has offered up dozens of titles that have kept his attention and helped him grow as a businessman.
Branson is as well known for his death-defying "near-miss" accidents as for his business acumen. In 1987, he made his "virgin" parachute jump just weeks before embarking on a trans-Atlantic balloon voyage with co-pilot Per Lindstrand in the largest balloon ever made-replete with eight burners and twelve miles of fabric. In preparation for the balloon flight, Branson took a skydiving lesson and nearly killed himself when he inadvertently unhooked his own parachute. A courageous jump instructor rescued Branson in mid-air. Shortly afterward, Branson made the balloon trip from Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, across the Atlantic to Ireland for the first trans-Atlantic crossing in a balloon. Branson attempted a landing upon arrival in Ireland, but encountered severe problems with the wind and narrowly escaped a harrowing death in the icy Atlantic Ocean.
In 1991, Branson became the first person to cross the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. He traveled nearly 7,000 miles between Japan and Canada, and clocked speeds as high as 240 miles per hour. The trip was fraught with tense moments, including the loss of two fuel tanks. The loss of balloon altitude control caused the crew to reach treacherous altitudes, well over 40,000 feet. Pilot and co-pilot later missed their landing goal by 2,000 miles. Originally headed for Los Angeles, they landed in a remote part of the North Canadian Rocky Mountains instead.
In January 1997, Branson made one of his first attempts to successfully circumnavigate the earth in a hot-air balloon. By December 1998, he was on his fourth attempt. Along with Lindstrand and Steve Fossett, Branson set out to be the first in history to accomplish the feat. Fossett and Branson-one-time adversaries in the race to circumnavigate-left Marrakech, crossed through Asia Minor and Asia and into the Pacific before a hurricane downed the crew off the coast of Hawaii. For these and other exploits, Branson was cited by Business Week, as a new breed of "daredevil" CEO that needs to be curtailed by boards of directors in the interests of shareholders, in order to forestall pending doom that often accompanies such antics.
Richard loves Star Trek. He’s an unashamed Trekkie who invited William Shatner on the first Virgin Galactic flight, the VSS Enterprise. Richard Branson enjoys collecting memorable cars. Owning priceless vintage pieces like the Morris Mini-Minor and the Humber Super Snipe, the Virgin leader loves to invest in pricey yet elegant collectibles. For driving around casually, his Range Rover is a must on a warm sunny day in London.
Physical Characteristics:
Branson's height is 5 feet 9 inches (179 cm), and his weight is 87.5 kg (193 lbs). His eyes are blue.
Branson has dyslexia.
Interests
playing chess, yoga
Politicians
Barack Obama
Writers
1984 by George Orwell, Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed, Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck, Cosmos by Carl Sagan, If I Could Tell You Just One Thing by Richard Reed, Winners by Alastair Campbell, Start With Why by Simon Sinek, Mandela's Way: Fifteen Lessons on Life, Love, and Courage by Richard Stengel, Stalingrad by Antony Beevor, Wild Swans by Jung Chang, The Quiet American by Graham Greene, Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome, Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Tales of the Unexpected by Roald Dahl
Sport & Clubs
Kitesurfing, speedboat racing, skiing, tennis
Music & Bands
Peter Gabriel, Oldfield, The Sex Pistols.
Connections
Branson's first marriage was in the heyday of Virgin Records when he wed Kristin Tomassi in 1972. That marriage lasted only seven years, and the couple divorced in 1979. Branson is married to his second wife, Joan Templeman, with whom he has two children: Holly and Sam. Joan and Branson met in 1976. He stated in an interview with Piers Morgan that he and Joan also had a daughter named Clare Sarah, who died when she was four days old in 1979. They were married in 1989 on Necker Island.