Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson (born 18 July 1950)[2] is a British billionaire, entrepreneur, and business magnate.[3][4][5] In the 1970s he founded the Virgin Group, which today controls more than 400 companies in various fields.[6] Branson expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age. His first business venture, at the age of 16, was a magazine called Student. In 1970, he set up a mail-order record business. He opened a chain of record stores, Virgin Records—later known as Virgin Megastores—in 1972. Branson's Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s, as he started Virgin Atlantic airline and expanded the Virgin Records music label. In 1997, Branson founded the Virgin Rail Group to bid for passenger rail franchises during the privatisation of British Rail. The Virgin Trains brand operated the InterCity West Coast franchise from 1997 to 2019, the InterCity CrossCountry franchise from 1997 to 2007, and the InterCity East Coast franchise from 2015 to 2018. In 2004, he founded spaceflight corporation Virgin Galactic, based at Mojave Air and Space Port in California, noted for the SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane designed for space tourism. In March 2000, Branson was knighted at Buckingham Palace for "services to entrepreneurship".[7] For his work in retail, music and transport (with interests in land, air, sea and space travel), his taste for adventure and for his humanitarian work, he has become a prominent global figure.[8][9] In 2007, he was placed in the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World list. In July 2021, Forbes listed Branson's estimated net worth at US$5.7 billion.[10] On 11 July 2021, Branson travelled as a passenger onboard Virgin Galactic Unity 22 at the edge of space, a suborbital test flight for his spaceflight company Virgin Galactic.[11][12] The mission lasted approximately one hour, reaching a peak altitude of 53.5 miles (86.1 km). At 70, Branson became the third oldest person to fly to space.[13]Read less
Born: July 18, 1950, Blackheath, United Kingdom
Recent news about Richard Branson often revolves around Virgin Galactic's space tourism ventures. Check reputable news sources for the latest updates, such as the BBC, The Guardian, and Reuters.
Richard Branson remains actively involved in various Virgin Group ventures. Virgin Galactic continues to be a prominent focus, with ongoing developments in commercial space travel. He also dedicates time to philanthropic efforts through Virgin Unite, addressing global issues such as climate change and social justice.
Specific recent activity often includes promoting sustainable initiatives, advocating for responsible business practices, and sharing updates on his personal blog.
Richard Branson is a renowned entrepreneur and business magnate, founder of the Virgin Group, which encompasses over 400 companies. He is known for his adventurous spirit, disruptive business strategies, and commitment to social causes. He has authored several books, including "Losing My Virginity" and "Finding My Virginity".
His business ventures have spanned various industries, from music and airlines to telecommunications and space travel. Branson is also a prominent advocate for environmental conservation and sustainable development. He actively promotes initiatives through organizations like Virgin Unite and The B Team.
For more comprehensive and up-to-date information, visit the official Virgin website.
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