Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Group, the global brand behind more than 200 businesses spanning travel, telecommunications, health, banking, and space tourism. Co-founding Virgin in 1970 as a student magazine, he built it into one of the world's most recognizable and admired brands.
Richard Branson's Bio
Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson is an English business magnate, investor, and philanthropist best known for co-founding the Virgin Group in 1970.
Born in 1950 in Blackheath, London, Branson struggled with dyslexia and poor academic performance as a child. At age 16, he launched Student, a national youth magazine. The magazine's success led him into music, and by 1970 he had started Virgin Mail Order Records.
In 1972, Branson opened the first Virgin record store on Oxford Street. Virgin Records signed iconic artists including Mike Oldfield and the Sex Pistols. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Virgin diversified into airlines with Virgin Atlantic, telecommunications with Virgin Mobile, and space travel with Virgin Galactic.
Branson is famous for daring publicity feats, including bungee jumping from the Vegas Stratosphere and crossing the Atlantic in a hot air balloon. In 2021, he flew to the edge of space aboard Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity.
Beyond business, Branson has committed significant resources to humanitarian and environmental causes through Virgin Unite. He was knighted in 2000 for services to entrepreneurship. As of 2025, Virgin Group encompasses more than 200 companies in over 35 countries.
Career Timeline
1966 — Launched Student magazine
Started a national youth magazine at age 16, publishing interviews with prominent cultural figures.
1970 — Founded Virgin Mail Order Records
Started selling discounted albums through classified ads, laying the foundation for the Virgin brand.
1972 — Opened first Virgin record store
Opened the first Virgin Records store on Oxford Street in London.
1973 — Founded Virgin Records label
Launched Virgin Records as a record label, signing Mike Oldfield and later the Sex Pistols.
1984 — Launched Virgin Atlantic
Entered the airline industry with Virgin Atlantic, challenging established carriers on service and innovation.
1999 — Formed Virgin Mobile
Expanded into telecommunications with Virgin Mobile, bringing the Virgin brand to mobile phone services.
2004 — Launched Virgin Galactic
Founded Virgin Galactic to develop commercial space tourism, fulfilling a lifelong dream of making space accessible.
2021 — Flew to the edge of space
At age 70, Branson flew aboard Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity, becoming one of the first civilians to experience suborbital spaceflight.
