Early Life
Richard Branson, or Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson. On July 18, 1950, at Shamley Green, Surrey, England. He founded Virgin Group Ltd, a British entrepreneur, and adventurer. And is famous for his public relations antics. As well as setting records in both powerboat racing and hot-air ballooning.
Richard Branson dropped out of high school. And started his first successful business as a teenager with the publication Student. In the late 1960s, as the magazine began to lose money. Branson founded Virgin Mail Order Records to generate finances. And in 1971 he built the first British cheap record store. In 1973, he went on to found Virgin Records, which became the world’s leading punk and new wave label. He became the principal shareholder in the airline. He renamed Virgin Atlantic Airways in 1984. Virgin Atlantic began with a single plane. And grew against tough competition from existing airlines. In 1992, Branson sold Virgin Records to get money for Virgin Atlantic.
The Virgin group has grown to be one of the largest holding companies in the UK by the 1990s. Virgin Megastores is one of 100 businesses. Branson’s space travel company, Virgin Galactic, was born in 2004. Commercial suborbital passenger excursions will be undertaken. In 2006, Branson sold Virgin Mobile, a mobile phone business. He remained, besides, the company’s biggest shareholder. Virgin Media, Inc. was the new name. In the same year, he launched two collaborative entertainment companies. Virgin Comics LLC and Virgin Animation Private Limited.
Branson was part of a two-man crew. That established a record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a powerboat in 1986. He and Swedish aeronaut Per Lindstrand. Became the first to span the Atlantic Ocean in a hot-air balloon in 1987. And the first to cross the Pacific Ocean in 1991. Branson was also a part of three teams. That attempted three failed round-the-world balloon flights in the late 1990s.
On their third attempt. The pair were set up by American adventurer Steve Fossett in December 1998. They also became the first to cross Asia in a hot-air balloon, covering 8,200 miles (13,200 kilometers). Before getting compelled to make an emergency landing off the coast of Hawaii. Branson later assisted with the finance of Fossett’s 2005 world-record-breaking expedition. When he completed the first nonstop solo circumnavigation of the world. In 2021, Branson traveled to suborbital space on a Virgin Galactic jet.
Among Branson’s many humanitarian endeavors. He pledged $3 billion in 2006 to finance friendly fuel research. Branson earned the Citizen of the Year Award. From the United Nations Correspondents Association in 2007. For his continued support of humanitarian and environmental concerns (UNCA).
“Losing My Virginity, How I’ve Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way (1998, revised ed. 2011) was his autobiography”. And “The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership”. Was his business philosophy (2014). In 1999, Branson was knighted.