Richard Branson Wiki Biography

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.



Full Name Richard Branson
Net Worth $5 Billion
Date Of Birth July 18, 1950
Place Of Birth Blackheath, London, United Kingdom
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.791 m)
Profession Businessperson, Actor, Film Producer, Entrepreneur, Investor, Television producer
Education Scaitcliffe School, Cliff View House School
Nationality British
Spouse Joan Templeman (m. 1989), Kristen Tomassi (m. 1972–1979)
Children Holly Branson, Sam Branson, Clare Sarah Branson
Parents Edward James Branson, Eve Branson, Edward James Branson, Eve Branson
Siblings Vanessa Branson, Andrea Branson, Lindy Branson, Tom Branson, Vanessa Branson, Andrea Branson, Lindy Branson, Tom Branson
Nicknames Richard Charles Nicholas Branson , Sir Richard Branson , Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson , Rich
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/RichardBranson
Twitter http://www.twitter.com/richardbranson
Google+ http://plus.google.com/+RichardBranson
Instagram http://www.instagram.com/richardbranson
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbranson
IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0105232
Awards 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
Trademark
1 His Beard
Quote
1 [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.
2 [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.
3 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.
4 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?
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 If you’re embarking around the world in a hot-air balloon, don’t forget the toilet paper.
10 I’m a bit like the Queen in that I don’t carry much cash.
11 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.’
12 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.
13 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.
Fact
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Founded Caroline Records in 1973.
5 Kensington, London, England [May 2009]
6 Keeps a hammock in his office in which he likes to brainstorm.
7 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.
8 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”.
9 First car he ever owned was a 1968 British Morris Mini-Minor.
10 Co-founded, with Nelson Mandela and Peter Gabriel, world human rights advocacy group The Elders in July 2007.
11 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.
12 Dropped out of school when he was 15.
13 Dyslexic.
14 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).
15 Daughter Holly is studying at London’s University College in hopes of becoming a pediatrician
16 Has expressed interest in opening a casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
17 Recently registered the business name “Virgin Interplanetary”, in case space travel becomes commercially viable.
18 Has opened a chain of bridal shops in England named Virgin Bride.
19 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.
20 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).
21 His first business, a used record store, was called “Virgin Records” because it was his first business venture ever.
22 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.
23 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.

Producer

Title Year Status Character
Chloe & Theo 2015 executive producer
Pandora’s Promise 2013 Documentary executive producer
Jambo Jumbo 2010 Documentary executive producer
Equation of Change 2010 TV Movie documentary executive producer
The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best 2004-2005 TV Series executive producer – 12 episodes
Electric Dreams 1984 executive producer
The Space Movie 1980 Documentary producer
Acids of Virgin Music 1976 producer

Actor

Title Year Status Character
The Simpsons 2015 TV Series Richard Branson
Casino Royale 2006 Man at Airport Security (uncredited)
Superman Returns 2006 Shuttle Engineer (as Sir Richard Branson)
Around the World in 80 Days 2004 Balloon Man
Sin City Spectacular 1998 TV Series
Friends 1998 TV Series The Vendor
Only Fools and Horses…. 1991 TV Series Richard Branson
Derek and Clive Get the Horn 1979 Man With A Beard

Camera Department

Title Year Status Character
Nova 1997 TV Series documentary camera operator – 1 episode

Miscellaneous

Title Year Status Character
Food Matters 2008 Documentary inspired by

Thanks

Title Year Status Character
Aladdin 1993/I Video Game special thanks

Self

Title Year Status Character
Mornings with Kerri-Anne 2009 TV Series Himself
Bransons: Come Hell or High Water 2008 TV Movie documentary Himself
Caia Quem Caia 2008 TV Series Himself
Fuel 2008/I Documentary Himself – Founder, Virgin Group
Iconoclasts 2008 TV Series documentary
The Alan Titchmarsh Show 2008 TV Series Himself
NextWorld 2008 TV Series documentary Himself
ETalk Festival Party 2008 TV Movie Himself (as Sir Richard Branson)
The Early Show 2008 TV Series Himself
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson 2008 TV Series Himself
Oh So Cosmo 2008 TV Series Himself
Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show 2008 TV Series Himself
Charlie Rose 1997-2008 TV Series Himself – Guest
Jimmy Kimmel Live! 2004-2008 TV Series Himself
The Apprentice 2008 TV Series Himself
Fields of Fuel 2008 Documentary Himself – Founder of Virgin (as Sir Richard Branson)
Virgin Rides America 2008 TV Movie Himself
The Soup 2007 TV Series Himself
Business 2025 2007 TV Movie documentary Himself
We Love ‘The Sky at Night’ 2007 TV Movie documentary Himself
Quest 2007 TV Series Himself
HypaSpace 2007 TV Series documentary Himself
Richard & Judy 2004-2007 TV Series Himself
The Daily Politics 2007 TV Series Himself – Earth Challenge
Should I Really Give Up Flying? 2007 TV Movie documentary Himself
Bryan’s Journals 2006 Video documentary Himself
Requiem for Krypton: Making ‘Superman Returns’ 2006 Video documentary Himself – Shuttle Astronaut
CNN Future Summit: World in Motion 2006 TV Movie Himself
Tripping Over 2006 TV Series Himself
Real Time with Bill Maher 2006 TV Series Himself
Rabbit Fever 2006 Himself
Getaway 2005-2006 TV Series Himself
Open Access 2006 TV Series Himself
Tout le monde en parle 2006 TV Series Himself
Le grand journal de Canal+ 2006 TV Series documentary Himself
Dusty Wright’s Culture CatchCulture Catch 2005 TV Series Himself
Trista and Ryan’s Honeymoon Hotspots – USA 2005 Himself
American Princess 2005 TV Series Himself
Cribs 2005 TV Series Himself
Breakfast with Frost 2001-2005 TV Series Himself
Explorations 2005 TV Series documentary Himself
The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best 2004-2005 TV Series Himself
The Daily Show 2004 TV Series Himself
Black Sky: Winning the X Prize 2004 TV Movie documentary Himself
Force of Nature 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
E! True Hollywood Story 2004 TV Series documentary Himself
Lemonade Stories 2004 Documentary Himself
Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway 2004 TV Series Himself
Larry King Live 2003 TV Series Himself
Extreme 2003 TV Series documentary Himself – Presenter
Question Time 1998-2003 TV Series Himself
Jonathan Dimbleby 2003 TV Series Himself
One Shot 2003 TV Series documentary Himself
There’s Only One Paul McCartney 2002 TV Movie documentary Himself
2001 World Awards 2001 TV Special Himself
Goodness Gracious Me: Back Where They Came from 2001 TV Movie Himself
Loose Women 2000 TV Series Himself
Capital 1999 TV Series documentary Himself – Guest
The Great Balloon Race 1999 TV Movie documentary Himself
The Sunday Programme 1999 TV Series Himself
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno 1998 TV Series Himself
The Basement 1998 TV Series documentary Himself – Special Guest
Late Night with Conan O’Brien 1998 TV Series Himself
Omnibus 1998 TV Series documentary Himself
Panorama 1998 TV Series documentary Himself
Dateline NBC 1998 TV Series documentary Himself – Billionaire (segment “Out of Gas”)
World in Action 1993-1997 TV Series documentary Himself
Diana: The Nation’s Farewell 1997 TV Movie Himself
Venture 1997 TV Series Himself
Nulle part ailleurs 1997 TV Series Himself
Richard and Judy Exclusive 1997 TV Series Himself
Election 97 1997 TV Movie Himself
Ruby Wax Meets… 1996 TV Series documentary Himself
Live & Kicking 1995 TV Series
Anyone for Pennis? 1995 TV Movie Himself
The London Programme 1995 TV Series documentary Himself
Baywatch 1995 TV Series Himself
Royal Variety Performance 1995 1995 TV Movie Himself
The Day Today 1994 TV Series Himself
Whicker’s Miss World 1993 TV Special Himself
Birds of a Feather 1993 TV Series Himself
Moving Pictures 1993 TV Series documentary Himself
American Affair 1993 TV Series Himself
Surprise Party 1993 TV Series documentary Himself
Root Into Europe 1992 TV Series Himself (uncredited)
This Week 1992 TV Series Himself
Condom 1990 Documentary Himself
A Beetle Called Derek 1990 TV Series Himself
This Is Your Life 1985-1988 TV Series documentary Himself
Going Live! 1988 TV Series Himself
Record Breakers 1987 TV Series documentary Contributor
Queen: Magic Years, Volume Two – A Visual Anthology 1987 Documentary Himself
Royal Variety Performance 1987 1987 TV Movie Himself
XTC at the Manor 1980 TV Special Himself (uncredited)
All You Need Is Love 1977 TV Series documentary Himself
One Planet 2017 Documentary filming Himself
Coked Up! 2016 Documentary post-production Himself
Radio Caroline Documentary filming Himself
CBS This Morning 2012-2016 TV Series Himself / Himself – Virgin Airlines / Himself – Guest
Chapter One: The Kiteboard Legacy Begins 2016 Documentary Athlete
Don’t Look Down 2016 Documentary Richard Branson (playing Himself)
Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 2016 TV Series documentary Himself
The 80s: Ten Years That Changed Britain 2016 TV Movie documentary Himself – Entrepreneur & Founder, Virgin Records & Virgin Airlines (as Sir Richard Branson)
Virgin Galactic Media Project 2016 TV Series documentary Himself
Stop the Burning 2015 Short Himself
Global Citizen Festival 2015 TV Movie Himself
Visioneer: The Peter Diamandis Story 2015 Documentary Himself
Today 2008-2014 TV Series Himself / Himself – Guest
Choccywoccydoodah 2014 TV Series documentary Himself
The Culture High 2014 Documentary
Late Show with David Letterman 2006-2014 TV Series Himself
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver 2014 TV Series Himself
Nelson Mandela Redrawn 2014 Documentary Himself
Virgin Active UK 2014 TV Series Himself
We Are Many 2014 Documentary Himself
C à vous 2013 TV Series Himself
South at Six 2013 TV Series Himself
Hawking 2013 Documentary Himself
The Story of Now 2013 TV Movie documentary Himself (as Sir Richard Branson)
Bono, Richard Branson, and Olivia Wilde Join Matt Damon’s Strike 2013 Video short Himself
Fox and Friends 2013 TV Series Himself
The Railway: Keeping Britain on Track 2013 TV Series documentary Himself
Miracle Rising: South Africa 2013 Documentary
When Albums Ruled the World 2013 TV Movie documentary Himself
Freeloaders 2012 Himself
Erin Burnett OutFront 2012 TV Series Himself
Late Night with Jimmy Fallon 2009-2012 TV Series Himself
Shameless Idealists 2012 TV Mini-Series Himself
CNBC Meets 2012 TV Series documentary Himself
Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis 2012 TV Series Himself
The Hour 2005-2012 TV Series Himself
The Secret Policeman’s Ball 2012 TV Movie Himself
The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia 2012 Documentary Himself
Arise World Economic Forum Davos Special 2012 TV Movie Himself
Choice Point: Align Your Purpose 2012 Video documentary Himself
Hot Spots 2012 2012 TV Movie documentary Himself – Founder, Virgin Group (as Sir Richard Branson)
The Colbert Report 2007-2011 TV Series Himself – Guest / Himself
Steve Jobs: One Last Thing 2011 TV Movie documentary Himself (uncredited)
Piers Morgan Tonight 2011 TV Series Himself
A Day in the Life 2011 TV Series documentary Himself
The Earth Awards 2011 TV Movie documentary Himself (2011)
Bloomberg Game Changers 2011 TV Series documentary Himself – Founder and Chairman, Virgin Group
The 7PM Project 2010-2011 TV Series Himself
Nova 2011 TV Series documentary Himself
Breakfast 2005-2011 TV Series Himself – Virgin Oceanic / Himself
Jambo Jumbo 2010 Documentary Himself
Virgin Galactic 2010 TV Series Himself
Carbon Nation 2010 Documentary Himself – CEO, Virgin Group
A Man’s Story 2010 Documentary Himself
Truth in Numbers? Everything, According to Wikipedia 2010 Documentary Himself
Equation of Change 2010 TV Movie documentary Himself
210 Days: Around the World with Jessica Watson 2010 TV Movie documentary Narrator
The X Factor 2010 TV Series Himself
Stand Up to Cancer 2010 TV Special Himself
Entourage 2010 TV Series Himself
GMTV 2010 TV Series Himself
Formula 1: BBC Sport 2009-2010 TV Series Himself
Kyocera’s All Access @ Virgin Mobile Freefest 2009 Documentary short
We Are the People We’ve Been Waiting For 2009 Documentary Himself
Bondi Rescue 2009 TV Series Himself
Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 2009 TV Series Himself

Archive Footage

Source:

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