Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, commonly known as Richard Branson, is a famous English film and television producer, investor, actor, as well as an entrepreneur. Richard Branson is perhaps best known as a co-founder of the multinational venture capital conglomerate called the “Virgin Group”. The company was co-founded in 1970 by Branson and Nik Powell with intentions of becoming a record shop. However, over the years it expanded to encompass a variety of businesses, including those related to travel, transport, media, entertainment, and financial services to name a few. Among Branson’s many subsidiaries and investments that are included in the “Virgin Group” are “Virgin Books” publisher, “Virgin Holidays” travel agency, “Virgin Mobile”, “Virgin EMI Records” soundtrack label, as well as “Virgin Drinks” drink manufacturer. For his contribution to business, Branson has been rewarded with the German Media Prize, ISTA Prize, and the Business for Peace Award. Yet perhaps the most notable achievement for Branson was being knighted by Prince Charles of Wales in 2000, and receiving the title of “Sir”. Branson had also been ranked on a list of “100 Greatest Britons” and made it to the list of “Top 100 Most Influential People in the World”.
Richard Branson Net Worth $5 Billion
A well-known businessman and investor, how rich is Richard Branson? According to sources, in 2014 he made an investment to the “Expa” company, which amounted to $50 million, and that same year invested in the bicycle innovations company called “Blaze, which cost him $500,000. In regards to his wealth, Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated to be a remarkable $5 billion, most of which he has accumulated from his business ventures.
Richard Branson was born in 1950, in London, United Kingdom. Branson studied at Scaitcliffe School, and then enrolled at the Cliff View House School. He had difficulties concentrating on academic performances, hence he decided to dedicate his life to becoming a businessman. In 1971, he opened a record store, and a year later, with the money earned from his record store, opened a record label called “Virgin Records”, which signified the beginning of the conglomerate.
Aside from business ventures, Richard Branson has become known for his many appearances on television screens. He has appeared as a guest star on such shows as Nick Wood’s “Birds of Feather”, “Friends” with Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer, “Baywatch” and “The Day Today” with Chris Morris, Steve Coogan and Rebecca Front. Branson had also starred in such films as “Superman Returns” with Kevin Spacey and Kate Bosworth, “Casino Royale” starring Daniel Craig, Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen, as well as “Around the World in 80 Days” with Jackie Chan.
Aside from that, Richard Branson has published several books, such as “Screw It, Let’s Do It”, “Business Stripped Bare” and “Screw Business As Usual” among others. His most recent publication is “The Virgin Way: How to Listen, Learn, Laugh and Lead”, which came out in 2014.
In regards to his personal life, Richard Branson’s first marriage was to Kristen Tomassi. The couple got married in 1972 and divorced seven years later. A decade later, Branson celebrated his second marriage, this time to Joan Templeman.
Tony Jannus Award (2000), United Nations Correspondents Association Citizen of the World Award for his support for environmental and humanitarian causes (2007),100 Most Influential British Entrepreneurs (2015), German Media Prize, ISTA Prize, Business for Peace Award, International Crisis Group Cha...
Nominations
Sunday Times "Rich List 2006", Knight Bachelor (New Years Honours list, 1999), "100 Greatest Britons" (2002), National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences' President's Merit Award (2012)
Movies
“Birds of Feather”, “Friends”, “Baywatch”, “The Day Today”, “Superman Returns”, “Casino Royale”, “Around the World in 80 Days”
TV Shows
The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best, Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Oh So Cosmo, The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best, Piers Morgan's Life Stories, Oh So Cosmo
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Trademark
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His Beard
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Quote
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[on his friend, the innovative rock star Peter Gabriel] In the early days, we'd go skiing together and Peter would have an idea every 30 seconds. We'd be sitting on the lift with me scribbling madly in my notebook, trying to get everything down. He's worse than me.
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[the test-flight crash of a space-flight craft, October 2014] There is no way I would ask others to go on a Virgin Galactic flight if Indidnt feel it was safe enough for myself.
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For a while now, space has been looking boring. News about space was reduced to budget cuts and deorbiting schedules, not research and innovation. Then, the private sector began designing spaceships to send payloads and people into orbit and beyond. Today, teams like Elon Musk's "SpaceX" are reopening space for exploration..It's a paradox that Elon is working to improve our planet at the same time he's building spaceships to help us leave it. But true vision is binocular, and Elon Musk is clearly a man who can see many things at once.
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Don't forget: never accept the unacceptable. Now we just need to get on with it and make it happen - quickly. Can you imagine what a different world we will live in when businesses do what's right for the communities and the environment in everything they do?
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The majestic and powerful polar bear is an iconic symbol of Canada around the world. With their habitat increasingly threatened and their very survival in jeopardy, now is the time for action. We owe it to the next generation to ensure that these magnificent animals will live on.
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We're one of the only animals in the world that don't really think of ourselves as animals, but we are animals and we must respect our fellow animals.
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I'm a lad of the '60s. I started a magazine to try and end the Vietnam war, but it was a number of years before I had the profile, the financial resources and the time to do more.
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To me, business isn't about wearing suits or pleasing stockholders. It's about being true to yourself, your ideas and focusing on the essentials.
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If you're embarking around the world in a hot-air balloon, don't forget the toilet paper.
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I'm a bit like the Queen in that I don't carry much cash.
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The funny thing is people won't let me pay for things. I'll be in a restaurant and the manager will say: 'Oh no, it's on the house.'
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A generation ago, the image was that you had to trample everyone else down to succeed - but I don't believe that makes good business sense. If you're the kind of person that jumps down the throat of people, you're not going to be successful.
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For a successful entrepreneur it can mean extreme wealth. But with extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference.
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Fact
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Is a fan of the star trek franchise and named the his first spacecraft of his Virgin Galactic venture VSS Enterprise and the second one VSS Voyager.
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Is a great fan of the Television series Thunderbirds and has named a fleet of rescue locomotives for Virgin Trains after the Thunderbirds craft. During one of Sylvia Anderson's many transatlantic trips, she was traveling in a Virgin plane named after Lady Penelope. Unfortunately, the plane broke down and there was a long delay in LA. Mr. Branson did, however, give Sylvia complementary mileage for the delay.
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For the episode of Only Fools and Horses.... (1981) where the Trotters travel to Miami, because they were booked on Virgin Atlantic, Branson wanted a cameo in the episode. David Jason said he was a great publicist, and a charming man, but not among the best actors in the world. Jason assumed he would get free rides and regular upgrades after that, but nothing came of it.
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Founded Caroline Records in 1973.
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Kensington, London, England [May 2009]
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Keeps a hammock in his office in which he likes to brainstorm.
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Ranked #16 on the 1,000 richest people in the UK with earnings of £3,410m, as documented by The Sunday Times "Rich List" (2012) annual supplement.
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Branson's Caribbean retreat is called Necker Island which is part of the British Virgin Islands (naturally enough). Purchased in the late 1970s for a reported $200K when it was desolate and uninhabited, the paradise island is part home to his family, his $30m catamaran yacht "Necker Belle" and his battery-powered, 3-seater mini-submarine "Necker Nymph".
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First car he ever owned was a 1968 British Morris Mini-Minor.
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Co-founded, with Nelson Mandela and Peter Gabriel, world human rights advocacy group The Elders in July 2007.
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Was featured in the Friends (1994) episode, Friends: The One with Ross's Wedding: Part One (1998), when "Friends" went to London. In the episode, he sold British souvenirs to Joey and Chandler. It had been reported he was very nervous about forgetting his lines but all went well. It was noticeable in all the scenes in the episode, which featured airports or airplanes, show the logo of "Virgin Atlantic", the airline of Richard Branson.
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Dropped out of school when he was 15.
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Dyslexic.
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Father, with Joan Templeman, of son Sam Branson (b. 1985) and the daughters Sarah Clare (*/+ 1979, died when she was just four days old after being born three months premature) and Holly Branson (b. 1982).
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Daughter Holly is studying at London's University College in hopes of becoming a pediatrician
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Has expressed interest in opening a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
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Recently registered the business name "Virgin Interplanetary", in case space travel becomes commercially viable.
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Has opened a chain of bridal shops in England named Virgin Bride.
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Started Virgin Atlantic Airways after a flight he was scheduled for was cancelled. Upon hearing of the cancellation, he quickly had a charter jet liner secured, and invited the passengers of the cancelled flight to fly for free. He jokingly posted a hand-lettered sign above the entryway, reading, "Virgin Atlantic Airways - Flight 1." Several of the passengers of that flight became investors of the airline. Ironically, just before Virgin Records was purchased in 1992 by the EMI Group, the label was distributed as a stand-alone venture by Atlantic Records in the USA from 1986 to 1992.
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When he started his record label, the first artist he signed was his school friend, Mike Oldfield. His album-length composition, "Tubular Bells", became a multi-million seller after it was used as the theme to the film, The Exorcist (1973).
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His first business, a used record store, was called "Virgin Records" because it was his first business venture ever.
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Owner of The Virgin Group, which has more than 200 entertainment, media and travel companies around the world. Virgin's interests include an airline, airships, retailing (music, videos and computer games), beverages, cosmetics, clothing, financial services, night clubs, health clubs, internet services, mobile phone services, passenger trains, publishing, record labels (V2 Records), tour operation, film and TV production, and condoms.
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He was awarded Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in the 2000 Queen's Millennium New Years Honours List for his services to entrepreneurship.
$5 Billion
