Richard Branson is known as an entrepreneur and the founder of Virgin Group, which has a portfolio of over 400 companies. Branson’s empire grew from the humble roots of a small record store he established in 1972, evolving into a global giant with diverse interests, including transportation, media, and entertainment.
Early Entrepreneurship
From a young age, Branson demonstrated a desire to be an entrepreneur. His first business venture occurred when he was just 15 years old. In 1970, he founded a chain of record stores called Virgin Records, which later became Virgin Megastore. The Virgin brand steadily grew, and by 1980, he established Virgin Atlantic Airlines while continuing to expand his record store chain.
An Adventurous and Free-Spirited Life
While attending Stowe School in Buckinghamshire, England, Branson once told the headmaster that the school needed to change its operations. In his book Screw Business As Usual, he wrote a long list of suggestions to help the school save costs. Upon his graduation, headmaster Robert Drayson remarked, “I guess you will either end up in jail or become a millionaire”.
On the Virgin website, Branson reveals the story behind his purchase of the private island Necker Island. When he first established Virgin Records, he saw an advertisement for Necker Island for sale. Wanting to visit the island, he called the real estate agent and pretended to be a potential buyer. This ruse allowed him and Joan Templeman, who is now his wife, to enjoy a free vacation there. The agent was unaware that Branson couldn’t afford the “discounted price of $6 million”. When the truth came out, the agent allowed them to cover their own travel expenses home. Nevertheless, Branson later became the owner of Necker Island. In 2010, entrepreneur Branson participated in the London Marathon dressed as a butterfly, showcasing his fun-loving and creative spirit.
In 2006, Branson made a memorable entrance at the launch of Virgin Mobile in France by zip-lining down from the rooftop of the Virgin Megastore in Paris.
Branson, along with Virgin Galactic team members Beth Moses, Colin Bennett, and Sirisha Bandla, flew to the edge of space aboard the V.S.S. Unity. Using a single rocket engine, the spacecraft was carried to an altitude of about 15 km by a specialized aircraft before igniting to reach an altitude of 80 km above sea level.
Holding 7 World Records
As an adventure enthusiast, the British billionaire has set 7 world records, including:
– The oldest person to kite-surf across the English Channel.
– The fastest crossing of the English Channel in an amphibious vehicle.
– The first person to cross the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in a hot air balloon.
