Richard Branson

Richard Charles Nicholas Branson was born on July 18, 1950. His father Edward was a lawyer and his mother Eve BransonEve BransonEve Branson (1924–2021) was a British philanthropist, writer and former flight attendant, and Richard Branson’s mother. She founded the Eve Branson Foundation to support crafts, vocational training and communities in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains.Open the full entry had worked as a flight attendant. Dyslexia affected his experience at school.⁠[1]

After leaving school at 16, Richard Branson pursued Student, launched in 1968. The magazine offered a platform for young people beyond conventional school publications, covering music, youth culture, education and the wars in Vietnam and Biafra.⁠[2]

Richard Branson and Nik PowellNik PowellNik Powell was a British music and film entrepreneur and producer. A co-founder of Virgin Records, he later developed Palace Pictures with Stephen Woolley and led the National Film and Television School from 2003 to 2017. He died in 2019.Open the full entry established the Virgin mail-order record business in 1970, followed by an Oxford Street shop and The Manor recording studio in Oxfordshire. Virgin RecordsVirgin RecordsVirgin Records is a record label originating in the UK from Richard Branson and Nik Powell’s early Virgin music business. Launched as a label in 1973, it became associated with artists including Mike Oldfield and the Sex Pistols and later entered EMI and Universal Music ownership.Open the full entry launched in 1973, with Mike Oldfield’s album Tubular Bells providing its early breakthrough. Recording, publishing and retail businesses followed.⁠[3]

Necker Island, purchased in 1978, later became his home and part of Virgin’s hospitality portfolio. Virgin AtlanticVirgin AtlanticVirgin Atlantic is a British airline founded by Richard Branson in 1984, providing long-haul passenger and cargo services. It operates a transatlantic joint venture with Delta Air Lines and Air France-KLM, joined SkyTeam in 2023 and appointed Josh Bayliss chair in 2026.Open the full entry began operating in 1984, taking the brand from music into long-haul aviation and, subsequently, holiday travel and other consumer services.⁠[4]

In 1987 he and Per Lindstrand completed the first Atlantic crossing by hot-air balloon. Later activities included an amphibious-vehicle crossing of the English Channel, a kitesurfing crossing and a 2018 submarine expedition into Belize’s Great Blue Hole.⁠[1]

The Virgin record business was sold to Thorn EMI for approximately $1 billion in 1992. The network subsequently developed through sales, joint ventures, investments and brand licensing.⁠[4][5]

In January 1993, British Airways settled the libel dispute concerning its conduct toward Virgin Atlantic, agreeing to £610,000 in damages, costs and an apology. Chair Lord King subsequently reiterated the apology, and the airline announced board oversight of a code of conduct.⁠[6]

Virgin expanded into mobile communications, fitness and spaceflight through brands including Virgin MobileVirgin MobileVirgin Mobile is a mobile-services brand used in multiple markets. Its UK operation launched as a mobile virtual network operator in 1999. Local businesses have different operators, network partners and histories; the original UK customer base moved to O2 plans in 2023.Open the full entry, Virgin ActiveVirgin ActiveVirgin Active is an international health-club brand whose first club opened in Preston, UK, in 1999. It operates across Southern Africa, the UK, Italy and Asia-Pacific. Major shareholder Brait reported a 61.3% stake following a 2026 capital restructuring.Open the full entry and Virgin GalacticVirgin GalacticVirgin Galactic is a commercial spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson in 2004. It develops air-launched suborbital spacecraft for private passengers, research and other missions. VSS Unity began commercial flights in 2023, followed by a transition to Delta-class spacecraft development.Open the full entry. Richard Branson founded Virgin Unite in 2004 and co-founded The B TeamThe B TeamThe B Team is a business-leadership initiative launched by Richard Branson and Jochen Zeitz in 2013 to promote environmental and social responsibility and long-term prosperity. Its work includes climate action, corporate transparency, responsible taxation and a just transition.Open the full entry with Jochen Zeitz in 2013 to promote corporate action on social and environmental issues.⁠[4]

Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel brought Nelson Mandela the idea of a group of experienced global leaders. Mandela convened and founded The EldersThe EldersThe Elders is an independent group of global leaders launched by Nelson Mandela in 2007 to work for peace, justice, human rights and a sustainable future. Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel proposed the original concept; it is not a Virgin Group commercial subsidiary.Open the full entry in 2007. Branson helped develop and support the initiative; he was not a member in the capacity of a former head of government.⁠[7]

The pandemic severely disrupted aviation. Virgin Atlantic completed a £1.2 billion privately financed solvent recapitalisation in September 2020, including £200 million from Richard Branson. Virgin Group and Delta Air Lines supplied a further £400 million in late 2021, alongside substantial cost and workforce reductions.⁠[8]

Richard Branson flew aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity on the Unity 22 suborbital test flight, departing from and returning to Spaceport America in New Mexico. The mission provided brief weightlessness; it was not an orbital journey around Earth.⁠[9]

The 2024 audiobook Losing and Finding My Virginity combined his autobiographies in his own narration. His children with Joan Branson include Holly BransonHolly BransonHolly Branson is a Virgin Group leader and philanthropic co-founder. Trained in medicine and physiology, she worked as a doctor before joining Virgin in 2008. She leads work on the group’s vision and culture, chairs Virgin Unite and co-founded Big Change.Open the full entry and Sam BransonSam BransonSam Branson is a British filmmaker, musician and philanthropic co-founder, and the son of Richard and Joan Branson. He founded Sundog Pictures, co-founded HiddenLight Productions and Big Change, and releases music as Waves Rush In.Open the full entry. Joan died in 2025. Holly works in Virgin leadership and philanthropy, while Sam pursues film, music and charitable projects.⁠[9]

Emails released in 2026 documented Richard Branson’s 2013 contacts with Jeffrey Epstein, including public-relations advice. Virgin Group said meetings were limited to group or business settings, and that due diligence led Virgin Unite to reject a proposed donation and the Bransons to end contact. Appearance in the files alone does not establish criminal involvement.⁠[10]

ForbesForbesForbes is an American business media brand that began with Forbes magazine, founded by B.C. Forbes in 1917. It is known for rankings such as the Forbes 400, the World’s Billionaires list and 30 Under 30, and operates Forbes.com, ForbesLive events and licensed editions in 81 countries. Since 2014 a majority stake has been held by the Hong Kong investment group Integrated Whale Media; a 2021 plan to list on the New York Stock Exchange through a special purpose acquisition company was terminated in 2022. It is headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey.Open the full entry’ real-time profile on November 3, 2026 estimated Richard Branson’s net worth at approximately $2.8 billion and listed British citizenship. This is an estimate of personal net assets that changes with asset values.⁠[11]

Richard Branson: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson (opens in a new window).⁠[9]

Holly Branson: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/holly-branson (opens in a new window).⁠[9][12]

Nik Powell: Official link: https://nfts.co.uk/article/nfts-announces-sad-passing-former-director-nik-powell (opens in a new window).⁠[3][13]

The B Team: Official link: https://www.bteam.org/ (opens in a new window).⁠[4][14]

Virgin Active: Official link: https://www.virginactive.co.uk/ (opens in a new window).⁠[4][15]

Virgin Atlantic: Official link: https://www.virginatlantic.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[4][16]

Virgin Galactic: Official link: https://www.virgingalactic.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[4][17]

Virgin Group: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[8][3]

Eve Branson: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/eve-branson (opens in a new window).⁠[1][18]

The Elders: Official link: https://theelders.org/ (opens in a new window).⁠[7][7]

Sam Branson: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/sam-branson (opens in a new window).⁠[9][19]

Virgin Records: Official link: https://www.virginrecords.com/ (opens in a new window).⁠[3][20]

Virgin Mobile: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/virgin-companies (opens in a new window).⁠[4][21]

Virgin Unite: Official link: https://www.virgin.com/virgin-unite (opens in a new window).⁠[4][22]

X public account: https://twitter.com/richardbranson (opens in a new window).⁠[9]

LINKEDIN public account: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rbranson (opens in a new window).⁠[9]