, best known for his Virgin Group
of more than 400 companies.
His first successful business venture was a magazine called Student at age 16. In 1970, he set up an audio record mail-order business. In 1972, he opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records, later known as Virgin Megastores. Branson's Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s, as he set up Virgin Atlantic Airways
and expanded the Virgin Records
music label.
Branson is the 4th richest citizen of the United Kingdom and 254th richest person in the world, according to the Forbes
2011 list of billionaires
, with an estimated net worth of US$4.2 billion.
Branson was born in Blackheath, London
, the son and eldest child of barrister
Edward James Branson (10 March 1918 – 19 March 2011) and Eve Huntley Branson (née Flindt).
One thing is certain in business. You and everyone around you will make mistakes.
My general attitude to life is to enjoy every minute of every day. I never do anything with a feeling of, “Oh God, I've got to do this today.”
I became an entrepreneur by mistake. Ever since then I've gone into business, not to make money, but because I think I can do it better than it's been done elsewhere. And, quite often, just out of personal frustration about the way it's been done by other people.
My philosophy is that if I have any money I invest it in new ventures and not have it sitting around.
Making money never was my incentive. I just want to fight big companies.
If you want to be a Millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline.
I was born under a lucky star, and I have nothing whatsoever to regret. I wouldn’t change a thing about my life.