Richard Branson

Richard Branson
Richard Branson
Born	Richard Charles Nicholas Branson; July 18, 1950 (age 76); Blackheath, London, England
Other names	Sir Richard Branson
Occupation(s)	Business magnate, entrepreneur
Years active	1966–present
Known for	Co-founder of Virgin Group
Notable work	Founder of Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950) is a British business magnate and co-founder of the Virgin Group established in 1970. By 2016, he held control over five distinct companies.

Branson embarked on his entrepreneurial path at a young age, initiating his first project, the magazine Student, when he was just 16 years old. In 1970, he launched a mail-order record business and followed this by opening Virgin Records retail outlets in 1972. The Virgin brand experienced swift growth throughout the 1980s, notably with the inception of Virgin Atlantic airline and the expansion of Virgin Records. In 1997, Branson created Virgin Rail Group to participate in bidding for passenger rail franchises amid the British Rail privatisation. Virgin Trains managed key franchises such as InterCity West Coast (1997–2019), InterCity CrossCountry (1997–2007), and InterCity East Coast (2015–2018). In 2004, he established space tourism enterprise Virgin Galactic, headquartered at Mojave Air and Space Port, which is recognized for its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane.

In recognition of his contributions to entrepreneurship, Branson was knighted in March 2000. His business interests cover sectors including retail, music, transportation, and space tourism, positioning him as a leading international business personality. Time magazine included him in their list of the 100 Most Influential People in 2007. As of June 2023, Forbes valued his net worth at approximately US$3 billion.

On 11 July 2021, Branson participated as a passenger on Virgin Galactic Unity 22, a suborbital test flight that reached roughly altitude near the boundary of space. At age 70, he became the third-oldest individual to journey into space.

Early life

Richard Charles Nicholas Branson entered the world on 18 July 1950 in Blackheath, London. He is the son of Edward James Branson, a barrister by profession, and Evette Huntley Branson, who was formerly a ballet dancer and air hostess. He has two younger sisters named Lindy and Vanessa. His paternal grandfather was Sir George Arthur Harwin Branson, who served as a High Court judge and Privy Councillor.

Branson’s lineage includes historical connections to India, with family members residing there over four generations beginning in 1793. According to the series Finding Your Roots, he possesses about 3.9% South Asian ancestry, likely resulting from intermarriage. He later disclosed that one of his great-great-great-grandmothers was of Indian descent.

His education included attendance at Scaitcliffe School and a brief period at Cliff View House School before enrolling at Stowe School until age sixteen. Branson faced academic challenges due to dyslexia and has also publicly discussed having ADHD. A headmaster once predicted he would either be imprisoned or become wealthy. His parents encouraged his business initiatives early on; notably, his mother ran profitable enterprises creating and selling wooden tissue boxes and wastepaper baskets. Between 1967 and 1968, Branson lived as a squatter in London.

Branson identifies as an atheist, supporting beliefs in evolution and humanitarianism while rejecting belief in God.

Early business career

Following unsuccessful ventures selling Christmas trees and budgerigars, Branson co-launched the magazine Student in 1966 alongside Nik Powell. The publication's first issue was released in January 1968, and by 1969 Branson’s net worth had reached an estimated £50,000. Operations were based in the crypt of St John's Church near Bayswater Road, London. Although initially modest in impact, the magazine played a pivotal role in promoting Branson’s mail-order record enterprise by advertising popular albums to boost sales. He secured interviews with prominent personalities such as Mick Jagger and R. D. Laing. Eventually, Branson gained full ownership after persuading Powell that staff opposed converting Student into a cooperative.

His company sold records at prices considerably below those found at "High Street" retailers like WHSmith. Branson emphasized that his business ventures often began out of dissatisfaction with existing market practices. At that time, restrictive marketing agreements curtailed discounting despite attempts to regulate retail price maintenance.

He subsequently opened a record store on London's Oxford Street. In 1971, authorities questioned him regarding sales of records labeled as export stock; however, he avoided prosecution by agreeing to repay unpaid purchase tax amounting to 33%, along with a £70,000 fine. To assist with this settlement, his parents re-mortgaged their home.

1972–1980: Establishment of Virgin Records

In 1972, Branson, along with Powell, founded the record label Virgin Records using capital from his record shop. The term "Virgin" symbolized their fresh entry into the industry. He acquired a countryside property near Oxford to set up The Manor Studio, a residential recording venue. The label’s inaugural release was Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells (1973), which achieved significant commercial success.

Virgin Records signed provocative artists such as the Sex Pistols, drawing in talents including the Rolling Stones, Peter Gabriel, UB40, and Paula Abdul. It evolved into the largest independent record company worldwide and supported experimental German groups like Faust and Can. Virgin was also responsible for launching Culture Club.

By 1979, Branson’s wealth was estimated at £5 million, and Virgin Records began expanding its operations overseas the following year.

1981–1987: Holiday packages, music compilations, and Virgin Atlantic

Branson’s aviation journey started after a cancelled flight to Puerto Rico led him to charter an aircraft and sell seats to stranded travelers for a fee.

In 1982, Virgin took over the London nightclub Heaven. During this period, Branson earned his only production credit on the novelty track "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep", which reached number 42 on UK charts.

The Now That's What I Call Music! compilation series debuted in 1983 as a collaboration between Virgin Records and EMI, conceived aboard Branson’s boat. The series title drew inspiration from vintage advertisements, reflecting Branson’s fascination with classic branding.

Branson broadened Virgin's travel ventures by launching Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Cargo in 1984, followed by Virgin Holidays in 1985.

1988–2000: Telecommunications, railways, and global expansion

To support his airline in 1992, Branson sold the Virgin label to EMI for £500 million. He re-entered the music industry in 1996 by founding V2 Records, maintaining a 5% ownership stake. Virgin extended its European aviation presence by acquiring Euro Belgian Airlines and rebranding it as Virgin Express. In 1997, Branson entered rail transport amid British Rail's privatisation. The Virgin Rail Group won the InterCity CrossCountry and InterCity West Coast franchises, commencing operations that year with contracts spanning 15 years.

During the early 1990s, Virgin Atlantic had confrontations with British Airways, which viewed Virgin as a rival. Virgin accused BA of tactics including passenger poaching, computer hacking, and leaking damaging press stories in a "dirty tricks" campaign. The conflict concluded with BA paying Branson £500,000, £110,000 to Virgin Atlantic, plus up to £3 million for legal expenses. Branson distributed these funds among his employees.

Further diversification included launching Virgin Mobile in 1999 and establishing Australian airline Virgin Blue in 2000.

2001–2007: Space tourism and Virgin Media developments

On 25 September 2004, Branson revealed plans for Virgin Galactic, a space tourism company licensing technology from SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan and financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Virgin Galactic aimed to offer suborbital flights to customers at $200,000 per ticket using the Scaled Composites White Knight Two. The spacecraft, called SpaceShipTwo, is produced by The Spaceship Company, co-founded by Branson and Rutan and now fully owned by Virgin Galactic. In 2013, Branson intended to take his children on SpaceShipTwo’s first public flight initially scheduled for 2014. To promote the brand image, he applied Virgin Galactic livery to his Dassault Falcon 900EX business jet named "Galactic Girl" (G-GALX).

In 2006, Branson ranked ninth on The Sunday Times Rich List with net assets exceeding £3 billion. That year saw the merger of Virgin Airlines with SN Brussels Airlines forming Brussels Airlines, retaining distinct listings. Virgin also launched Virgin Nigeria (which ceased operations in 2009) and introduced Virgin America flights from San Francisco International Airport in August 2007.

Branson established Virgin Fuels focused on developing affordable and eco-friendly fuels for cars and aircrafts. He pledged profits from Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains—estimated at $3 billion—to sustainable fuel research after meeting former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

On 4 July 2006, Branson sold Virgin Mobile to NTL:Telewest for £900 million. The combined company rebranded as Virgin Media in February 2007 to unify compatible services. Although previously owning three-quarters of Virgin Mobile, Branson retained no equity in Virgin Media but receives £8.5 million annually through brand licensing agreements.

In 2006, he co-founded Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation alongside Deepak Chopra, Shekhar Kapur, Sharad Devarajan, and Gotham Chopra to produce global entertainment content. Additionally, he launched the Virgin Health Bank in February 2007 for umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation.

Following information provided by Virgin Atlantic in June 2006, British and American regulators investigated price-fixing between Virgin Atlantic and British Airways; BA was fined £271 million in August 2007 while Virgin Atlantic received immunity due to cooperation.

On 9 February 2007, Branson announced the US$25 million Virgin Earth Challenge prize incentivizing technologies capable of permanently removing greenhouse gases annually for at least ten years without adverse effects. The judging panel included experts such as Al Gore and James Lovelock.

In July 2007, Branson purchased Makepeace Island in Australia and acquired a 20% stake in Malaysian airline AirAsia X in August. In October that year he made a bid for Northern Rock aiming to acquire a 30% share and rebrand it as Virgin Money. His proposal faced resistance including concerns related to his prior tax evasion conviction.

In September 2023, Branson declared he would not provide further financial support to Virgin Galactic amid ongoing losses citing limited liquidity within his business empire.

2008–2019: Expansion into hospitality, healthcare, and philanthropy

On 9 January 2008, Virgin Healthcare revealed intentions to establish clinics that integrate traditional medical treatments with homeopathic methods, initially receiving backing from health minister Ben Bradshaw. Nevertheless, plans to compensate GPs for directing NHS patients towards Virgin's services were abandoned by June 2008 due to concerns about maintaining clinical impartiality. Later that year, Virgin also withdrew from its proposal to manage an NHS practice located in Swindon.

In February 2009, Virgin submitted a bid to purchase the Honda Formula One team. While Richard Branson showed enthusiasm for Formula One involvement, he stressed the importance of enhancing economic efficiency and environmental sustainability. During the 2009 season, Virgin sponsored the Brawn GP team and subsequently acquired an 80% ownership in Manor Grand Prix, which was rebranded as Virgin Racing.

The launch of Virgin Hotels occurred in 2010, with the first UK venue announced for Edinburgh in February 2018. That same year, Branson took on the role of patron for the UK's Gordon Bennett gas balloon race.

In April 2012, Virgin Care secured a five-year agreement to deliver health services previously overseen by NHS Surrey. By 2015, Virgin Care was managing more than 230 healthcare services across the country.

July 2012 marked Branson’s announcement of LauncherOne, an orbital launch system designed to serve commercial small satellite markets, supported by multiple clients and collaborators.

In August 2012, Virgin Rail was unsuccessful in retaining the InterCity West Coast franchise, which was awarded to FirstGroup amid controversy over the bidding process; this contract was later cancelled due to procedural errors. Virgin Rail continued its operations until December 2019 when Avanti West Coast took over.

Branson invested in drone manufacturer 3D Robotics in September 2014, emphasizing drones’ potential to provide cost-effective aerial imagery. That year also saw the introduction of the "Foodpreneur" competition aimed at supporting emerging food and beverage businesses with mentorship and legal assistance; this initiative evolved into the Virgin StartUp Foodpreneur Festival in 2015.

Virgin Trains East Coast commenced operation of the InterCity East Coast franchise in March 2015 as a joint venture with Stagecoach holding a 90% stake and Virgin owning 10%. Due to financial underperformance, the government ended this contract prematurely in June 2018, transferring management to London North Eastern Railway.

In November 2015, Branson expanded Virgin Limited Edition’s portfolio by acquiring Moskito Island’s luxury resort.

Virgin Group made an investment in Hyperloop One during 2017, establishing a strategic alliance that included Branson joining its board and becoming chairman by December. That year also saw The Snaffling Pig Co. win Virgin StartUp’s Foodpreneur award.

Branson appeared as a guest investor on the Season 9 premiere of Shark Tank in October 2017, investing in Locker Board—a sustainable skateboard brand founded by an eleven-year-old—making him the highest net worth investor on the show.

In April 2018, Branson purchased Las Vegas’ Hard Rock Casino-Hotel with intentions to convert it into a Virgin Hotels property; Virgin Hotels Las Vegas officially opened on 25 March 2021.

May 2018 marked Branson’s entrance into private equity through a collaboration with Metric Capital focused on investments within consumer goods sectors.

In September 2018, Branson completed his fourth Virgin Strive Challenge—a journey exceeding 2,000 km from Sardinia to Mont Blanc powered by human effort and sailing—raising over £1 million for Big Change, a charity supporting young people.

In February 2019, he played a key role in organising Venezuela Aid Live, an international benefit concert held at the Colombia–Venezuela border aimed at raising funds and awareness for Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis.

2020–present: Challenges from the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, as global international air travel plummeted by approximately 60% due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Branson and Virgin encountered backlash for requesting employees to take eight weeks of unpaid leave. To prevent the collapse of Virgin Atlantic, Branson leveraged his upscale Necker Island as security for a commercial loan. He characterized this period as the toughest in his fifty years of entrepreneurship, marked by unparalleled impact and unpredictable length.

By May 2020, Virgin Atlantic revealed plans to cut 3,000 jobs, reduce its fleet to 35 planes by summer 2022, retire all Boeing 747-400 aircraft, and permanently halt operations at Gatwick Airport following the pandemic.

On 11 July 2021, Branson traveled aboard Virgin Galactic's spacecraft VSS Unity, ascending to the edge of space at 86 km altitude, becoming the first billionaire founder to achieve this milestone.

In October 2024, Virgin Money UK was acquired by Nationwide Building Society, generating £724 million for Branson—£414 million from his 14.5% equity stake and £310 million from Nationwide’s licensing of the Virgin Money brand for up to six years.

Unsuccessful Business Initiatives

Branson has experienced several unsuccessful ventures such as Virgin Cola, Virgin Cars, Virgin Publishing, Virgin Clothing, and Virgin Brides. Despite these failures, he maintains a positive perspective on setbacks, viewing them as valuable lessons and motivators. He has expressed that errors are acceptable provided they are not repeated.

Attempts at World Records

Beginning in 1985, Branson embarked on various world record pursuits, notably striving for the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing by boat. His initial endeavor with the Virgin Atlantic Challenger ended with the vessel capsizing and a Royal Navy rescue operation, attracting media scrutiny and demands for compensation. In 1986, he successfully broke the record by two hours aboard Virgin Atlantic Challenger II alongside sailing expert Daniel McCarthy. The following year, his hot air balloon Virgin Atlantic Flyer completed an Atlantic crossing.

In January 1991, Branson set a record for crossing the Pacific from Japan to Arctic Canada in a balloon with a volume of 2.6 million cubic feet, achieving speeds up to 145 mph. Between 1995 and 1998, he partnered with Per Lindstrand, Vladimir Dzhanibekov, Larry Newman, and Steve Fossett in attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon. Their flight from Morocco to Hawaii in 1998 set records but did not complete a full global circumnavigation, which was later accomplished by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in 1999.

In March 2004, Branson established the fastest English Channel crossing in an amphibious vehicle—the Gibbs Aquada—finishing in 1 hour and 40 minutes, far surpassing the previous six-hour mark. The television program Top Gear subsequently tried to break this record but failed.

In September 2008, Branson and his children attempted an eastbound transatlantic sailing record aboard the 99-foot sloop Virgin Money. With co-skippers Alex Jackson and Mike Sanderson, the effort was halted due to severe weather that damaged sails and equipment. The sloop proceeded on to St. George's, Bermuda without completing the record attempt.

Television, film and print

Branson has frequently appeared on television, often portraying himself, with guest roles on shows such as Friends, Baywatch, Birds of a Feather, Only Fools and Horses, and Goodness Gracious Me. During the 1990s, he featured on the BBC program Live & Kicking, where comedians Trev and Simon dubbed him 'the pickle man'.

His presence extended to music videos, including a role in XTC's "Generals and Majors," and he was the star of Fox’s reality series The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best in 2004, which ran for a single season. Branson’s public persona has also been the subject of satire in various media, such as the comic book series Zenith, the animated show The Simpsons, and Terry Pratchett’s novel Wings.

In cinema, Branson made brief appearances in films like Around the World in 80 Days (2004), as well as Superman Returns (2006), where he appeared alongside his son Sam with a spacecraft reminiscent of Virgin Galactic’s shuttle. He also had a cameo in the James Bond movie Casino Royale (2006), although British Airways notably removed his scene from their onboard version. His early screen presence includes a short role in the documentary Derek and Clive Get the Horn (1979) and an appearance with his mother in Lemonade Stories. On Australian television’s Rove Live in 2006, Branson engaged in a lighthearted pool stunt with host Rove McManus.

A devoted fan of Star Trek, Branson named Virgin Galactic’s spaceplane VSS Enterprise after the iconic ships from the series and reportedly invited William Shatner to join its inaugural flight. In 2007, during an interview on The Colbert Report, he humorously christened a new aircraft Air Colbert, which led to a playful water fight with host Stephen Colbert.

Branson made a cameo appearance in the Bollywood film London Dreams in March 2008, coinciding with Virgin Mobile’s launch in India. He narrated the 2010 documentary about Australian sailor Jessica Watson’s solo global voyage. In April 2011, he joined CNN’s Mainsail alongside Kate Winslet to reenact a scene from the movie Titanic. Later that year, he was featured in Hulu’s original series A Day in the Life.

At the 2012 Pride of Britain Awards, Branson participated with other notable figures in reciting Rudyard Kipling’s poem "If—" to celebrate British Olympic and Paralympic athletes.

Branson authored his internationally best-selling autobiography, Losing My Virginity, published in 1998. After adventurer Steve Fossett went missing in 2007, Branson wrote an article for Time magazine entitled "My Friend, Steve Fossett".

Humanitarian initiatives

In the late 1990s, Branson collaborated with musician Peter Gabriel and Nelson Mandela to explore establishing a leadership group focused on resolving global conflicts. This vision materialized on 18 July 2007 in Johannesburg, when Mandela announced The Elders, chaired by Kofi Annan with Gro Harlem Brundtland as deputy chair, receiving partial funding from Branson and Gabriel.

Branson became a founding sponsor of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children ("ICMEC") in 1999, an organization dedicated to locating missing children and combating exploitation; his mother Eve serves on ICMEC's board.

Through the Carbon War Room launched in 2009, Branson has focused on sustainable innovations addressing climate change and energy challenges across sectors including shipping, energy efficiency, aviation, and renewable jet fuels. He has highlighted entrepreneurs’ critical role in advancing technologies for a low-carbon future.

Virgin Startup, initiated by Branson as an official partner of the UK Start Up Loans programme, offers financial support to entrepreneurs aged 18–30 throughout the United Kingdom. An initial pilot phase distributed £600,000 across 100 startups over 11 months.

In South Africa, Branson supports economic empowerment through the Branson School of Entrepreneurship, established in 2005 via Virgin Unite alongside entrepreneur Taddy Blecher. The school provides startups and micro-enterprises with training, mentorship, networking opportunities, and financing aimed at stimulating economic development. Fundraising efforts include auctions held at The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 event sponsored by Virgin Group.

In March 2008, Branson convened an environmental summit at his Necker Island residence that brought together entrepreneurs, celebrities, and leaders such as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales, and Google co-founder Larry Page, to address climate change challenges.

On 8 May 2009, Branson took over a hunger strike initially begun by Mia Farrow, protesting Sudan’s expulsion of aid organizations from Darfur. In 2010, he co-established Enterprise Zimbabwe with the Nduna Foundation and Humanity United to promote economic growth.

As a signatory of the Global Zero initiative advocating nuclear disarmament since its inception in 2008, Branson has supported efforts engaging over 300 world leaders and contributing to the documentary Countdown to Zero.

Since 2010, Branson has served on the United Nations Broadband Commission for Digital Development to advance universal broadband access. The following year he joined the Global Commission on Drug Policy to promote more compassionate drug legislation.

In December 2013, he publicly urged corporations to boycott Uganda due to its "anti-homosexuality bill," underscoring his support for LGBTQ+ rights.

In partnership with African Wildlife Foundation and WildAid during 2014, Branson backed the "Say No" Campaign targeting wildlife poaching and trafficking.

A vocal opponent of capital punishment worldwide, Branson has actively opposed executions. In 2015 he advocated for American inmate Richard Glossip, while in 2021 he appealed to Singapore authorities to halt plans for executing Malaysian drug offender Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam. Following Nagaenthran's execution in 2022, Branson criticized Singapore’s approach as lacking empathy. Later that year Singapore invited him for a televised debate on drugs and capital punishment; he declined. In 2023, he protested Singapore’s intended execution of Tangaraju Suppiah and petitioned for clemency for Saridewi Djamani—the first woman executed there in nearly twenty years.

Branson has also championed American death row prisoner Toforest Johnson, utilizing social media platforms to raise awareness about Johnson's case and encouraging public engagement through the podcast Earwitness.

Following Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder in October 2018, Branson suspended his advisory role related to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea tourism project as a response to concerns regarding business associations with the Saudi government.

On 10 April 2023, Branson was appointed ambassador for the United24 fundraising initiative. Virgin Unite announced programs facilitating evacuation of children with cancer to leading medical centers worldwide through collaboration with Ukraine's Tabletochki Charity Foundation.

Commitment to Climate Change

In 2006, Branson committed to allocating US$3 billion over ten years to address global warming. Nevertheless, by 2014, author and activist Naomi Klein criticized his contribution as falling "well under $300 million," significantly short of the initial promise. Klein further highlighted that Virgin Airlines' greenhouse gas emissions had risen considerably following the pledge.

The B Team

Branson played a key role in establishing the B Team in 2013, a nonprofit collective of business leaders dedicated to promoting sustainable corporate practices. The B Team prioritizes areas such as climate change mitigation, human rights, fair tax policies, gender equity, and fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace—essential elements for enduring business sustainability.

Political Involvement

During the 1980s, Branson was briefly appointed "litter Tsar" by Margaret Thatcher, with the responsibility of enhancing cleanliness across Britain. He appeared in an interview at the Labour Party victory celebrations during the 1997 general election. By 2005, he expressed that economic distinctions among major UK political parties were minimal. Although considered a potential candidate for Mayor of London in 2000, he ultimately chose not to run.

In March 2015, Branson publicly supported the decriminalization of most drug use in the UK, citing Portugal’s approach as a model. He advocated for the UK’s continued membership in the European Union and opposed the 2016 referendum. Following the referendum outcome, he disclosed that Virgin Group’s value fell by one-third and postponed a project that would have employed over 3,000 people. He also supported calls for a second referendum. Additionally, Branson endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 United States presidential election.

Branson has openly condemned the Philippine drug war, which has been associated with allegations of extrajudicial killings. He co-signed a letter urging President Rodrigo Duterte to cease violent tactics and adopt policies grounded in evidence. Opposing the death penalty for drug-related offenses, Branson declined an invitation from Singapore in 2022 to participate in a televised debate on its drug laws and capital punishment, citing concerns that such forums tend to emphasize personalities over substantive issues.

Awards and Recognitions

In 1992, Branson was honored with the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement.
The following year, he received an honorary Doctor of Technology degree from Loughborough University.
In the 2000 New Year Honours, Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon him the title of Knight Bachelor for his "services to entrepreneurship." His knighthood was conferred by Charles, Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace on 30 March 2000.
Also in 2000, Branson earned the Tony Jannus Award recognizing accomplishments in commercial air transport and was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at San Diego’s Air & Space Museum.
Ranked No. 85 on BBC’s 2002 list of 100 Greatest Britons, Branson also featured in Time magazine’s 2007 compilation of the 100 Most Influential People Worldwide. On 7 December 2007, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presented him with the United Nations Correspondents Association Citizen of the World Award for his environmental and humanitarian contributions.
On 24 January 2011, he received the German Media Prize, an honor previously awarded to figures such as Bill Clinton and the Dalai Lama.
On 14 November 2011, Branson was presented with the ISTA Prize by the International Space Transport Association for his pioneering work on suborbital space travel through Virgin Galactic.
On 11 February 2012, he was granted the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' President's Merit Award acknowledging his impact on the music industry.
On 2 June 2013, Kaunas Technology University in Lithuania awarded him an honorary Doctor Honoris Causa degree.
In May 2014, Branson received the Business for Peace Award from Oslo’s Business for Peace Foundation.
The Sunday Times named him as the most admired businessperson over five decades on 21 September 2014.
On 9 October 2014, OUTstanding recognized him as their top LGBT ally.
Richtopia ranked Branson as the most influential British entrepreneur on 29 October 2015.
In October 2015, he was honored with the International Crisis Group Chairman's Award during the United Nations Development Programme’s Pursuit of Peace Awards Dinner.
On 16 October 2018, Branson earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for co-founding Virgin Records; his star is located at 6764 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

Tax evasion

In 1971, Branson was found guilty of tax evasion and briefly imprisoned for illicitly acquiring export documentation to sell records within the UK, thereby circumventing Purchase Tax. The fraud was uncovered by customs authorities through a covert operation using marked records. Despite receiving an anonymous tip and efforts to eliminate incriminating evidence, Branson was ultimately apprehended.

Branson’s business interests are organized through intricate offshore trusts and corporate entities. The Sunday Times valued his fortune at £3 billion, noting that relocating to his Caribbean estate would significantly reduce his tax obligations. This approach has drawn criticism, with some labeling him a carpetbagger, allegations he has consistently rejected.

By 2013, Branson identified himself as a "tax exile," having saved substantial sums by ceasing UK residency and establishing residence in the British Virgin Islands. This status became a point of contention among politicians during discussions about his knighthood. Branson asserts that his stay on Necker Island is motivated by health considerations rather than tax avoidance.

Personal life

Branson married Kristen Tomassi in 1972; the marriage ended in divorce in 1979 without children. He began a partnership with Joan Templeman in 1976, with whom he fathered three children: Clare Sarah (born 1979, who died after four days), Holly (born 1981), and Sam (born 1985). The couple wed on Necker Island in 1989.

His residence on Necker Island suffered extensive damage twice: first from a lightning-triggered fire during Hurricane Irene in 2011, then again from Hurricane Irma in 2017. In January 2021, Branson’s mother Eve died at age 96 due to complications related to COVID-19.

In 2007, Branson was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church Monastery to officiate an inflight wedding as part of a promotional campaign for Virgin America’s domestic services. Between 2013 and 2017, he held the position of President of the Old Stoic Society at Stowe School.

In November 2017, Antonia Jenae, a backing vocalist for Joss Stone, accused Branson of sexual assault occurring at Necker Island in 2010. A spokesperson for Branson stated there was no recollection of the incident and emphasized no intent to cause offense; Branson expressed regret if anyone felt uncomfortable.

An accomplished kitesurfer, Branson set two world records: becoming the oldest person to kiteboard across the English Channel in 2012 and achieving the Guinness World Record for the greatest number of individuals simultaneously riding a surfboard while kitesurfing in 2014, assisted by professional kiteboarder Susi Mai and entrepreneur Alison Di Spaltro. As an enthusiastic cyclist, he sustained torn ligaments and a fractured cheekbone following a cycling accident in the British Virgin Islands in 2016.

Influences

Branson attributes significant influence to non-fiction literature, particularly admiring Nelson Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, describing Mandela as "one of the most inspiring men I have ever met and had the honour to call my friend." His passion for humanitarian and environmental causes is reflected in his appreciation for Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and James Lovelock’s The Revenge of Gaia. In his own book, Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life, Branson also references Jung Chang’s Wild Swans and Antony Beevor’s Stalingrad. Among fictional works, he holds admiration for Peter Pan, and in 2006 he established Virgin Comics LLC with the goal of empowering young creative talents.

Bibliography

Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way (2010), National Geographic Books
Screw It, Let's Do It (2006), Virgin Books
Let's Not Screw It, Let's Just Do it: New Lessons for the Future (2007), Random House Australia
Business Stripped Bare (2008), Virgin Books
Arctic Diary: Surviving on Thin Ice (2008), Virgin Books
Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting into Space (2010), Virgin Books
Globalisation Laid Bare: Lessons in International Business (2010), Gibson Square Books
Screw Business as Usual (2011), Portfolio/Penguin
Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School (2013), Virgin Books
The Virgin Way: How to Listen, Learn, Laugh and Lead (2014), Virgin Books
Finding My Virginity (2017), Ebury Publishing

Also released under the titles: The Virgin Way: If It's Not Fun, It's Not Worth Doing and The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership.

Audiobook

Losing and Finding My Virginity: The Full Story, issued 4 April 2024 by Virgin Digital, ISBN 978-0-7535-6110-2

External links

Sir Richard Branson profile at The Bail Project
Branson's second island featured in Architectural Digest
Richard Branson's blog hosted on virgin.com
Richard Branson's profile on Forbes
Interview with Branson on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, 1990