Richard Branson

Richard Branson: Profile

The face, spirit, and entrepreneurial mastermind behind Virgin, one of the world’s most dynamic brands, Richard Branson is known for his unique vision, competitive style, and showy nature – not only in business, but in all aspects of life.

A global entrepreneur by every definition of the term, Branson, who has grown Virgin Group, Ltd. to include over 360 companies, is credited as the world’s greatest brand building visionary in recent history. From Virgin Records, which he recently sold for an astonishing $1 billion, to Virgin Mobile USA, the fastest growing company in history to reach $1 billion in revenue, the business tycoon has extensively developed his brand in all areas of entertainment, lifestyle, and travel.

Crediting “fun” as his guiding life principle, Branson is known for his fanatical record-breaking attempts, including such widely reported stunts as being the first to fly a hot air balloon across the Atlantic. Applying this same zeal to business ventures, he has proven the validity of his mantra that one can “have fun while making a fortune,” having become revered for his unconventional management style and brilliant ability to motivate employees.

Branson also has a philanthropic streak. He's pledged the next 10 years of profits from his transportation empire (an amount expected to reach $3 billion) to the development of renewable alternatives to carbon fuels. And then there's his Virgin Earth Challenge, which offers a $25 million prize to the first person to come up with an economically viable solution to the greenhouse gas problem.

A man who stops at no limits – and someone who was once told by a British school headmaster that he would either “go to prison or become a millionaire” – Branson has created one of the most recognized and trusted brands across the globe. With his signature wit and down-to-earth attitude, he candidly shares the real-life experiences and inspiring vision that have brought him such unyielding success.