View source for Richard Branson

{{Short description|English business magnate (born 1950)}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Richard Bronson]] or [[Richard Brandon]]}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = [[Knight Bachelor|Sir]]
| name               = Richard Branson
| post-nominals      = 
| image              = Richard Branson Addresses the Our Ocean Conference 2015 in Valparaíso (21783214958) (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Branson in 2015
| birth_name         = Richard Charles Nicholas Branson
| birth_date         = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1950|7|18}}
| birth_place        = [[Blackheath, London]], England
| occupation         = {{hlist|Business magnate|Author}}
| known_for          = Founder of the [[Virgin Group]]
| years_active       = 1966–present
| spouse             = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Kristen Tomassi|1972|1979|end=div}}
* {{marriage|Joan Templeman|1989}}
}}
| children           = 3{{efn|One child is deceased.}}
| father             = 
| mother             = [[Eve Branson]]
| relatives          = {{Ubl
| [[G. A. H. Branson]] (grandfather)
| [[Vanessa Branson]] (sister)
| [[Isabella Calthorpe]] (daughter-in-law)
}}
| signature          = Richard Branson signature SVG.svg
}}
'''Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson''' (born 18 July 1950) is an English [[business magnate]] who co-founded the [[Virgin Group]] in 1970, and, as of 2016, controlled five companies.<ref>
*[http://www.flixens.com/director/richard-charles-nicholas-branson List of Companies related to Richard Branson]{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828104000/http://www.flixens.com/director/richard-charles-nicholas-branson |date=28 August 2016 }}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/article-23897620-londons-1000-most-influential-people-2010-tycoons-and-retailers.do |title=London's 1000 most influential people 2010: Tycoons & Retailers |work=[[Evening Standard]] |date=26 November 2010 |access-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303202728/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-home/article-23897620-londons-1000-most-influential-people-2010-tycoons-and-retailers.do |archive-date= 3 March 2011 }}
*{{cite web|date=11 July 2021|title=Richard Branson successfully completes flight to space with Virgin Galactic|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space-trip-virgin-branson-live-b1882125.html|access-date=11 July 2021|website=[[The Independent]]}}
*{{cite web|date=11 July 2021|title=Billionaire Richard Branson reaches space in his own ship|url=https://apnews.com/article/virgin-galactic-launch-richard-branson-37fd721264b1421f8a1223ee5e5626e3|access-date=11 July 2021|website=[[AP News]]}}</ref>

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. His Virgin brand grew rapidly during the 1980s, as he started the [[Virgin Atlantic]] airline and expanded the Virgin Records [[music label]]. In 1997 he founded the [[Virgin Rail Group]] to bid for [[Passenger rail franchising in Great Britain|passenger rail franchises]] during the [[privatisation of British Rail]]. The [[Virgin Trains]] brand operated the [[InterCity West Coast]] franchise from 1997 to 2019, the [[Virgin CrossCountry|InterCity CrossCountry]] franchise from 1997 to 2007 and the [[Virgin Trains East Coast|InterCity East Coast]] franchise from 2015 to 2018. In 2004, he founded the [[space tourism]] company [[Virgin Galactic]], based at [[Mojave Air and Space Port]] in California, United States, noted for the [[SpaceShipTwo]] [[suborbital]] [[spaceplane]].

In March 2000, Branson was [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|knighted]] for "services to entrepreneurship".<ref>{{cite news|title=Virgin tycoon is knighted|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/695511.stm|work=[[BBC News]]|date=3 January 2016|access-date=15 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030109105904/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/695511.stm|archive-date=9 January 2003|url-status=live}}</ref> Due to his work in retail, music and transport, his taste for adventure and for his humanitarian work, he has become a prominent global figure.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Barling|first1=Julian|title=The Sage Handbook of Organizational Behavior: Volume Two: Macro Approaches|publisher=Sage|page=383}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hollingshead |first=Iain |date=13 November 2016 |title=Thirty of the very best of British |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10050832/Thirty-of-the-very-best-of-British.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409095024/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/10050832/Thirty-of-the-very-best-of-British.html |archive-date=9 April 2018 |access-date=4 April 2018 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]}}</ref> In 2007 he was named one of the [[Time 100|100 Most Influential People in the World]] by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine. In June 2023, ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine listed Branson's estimated net worth at US$3&nbsp;billion.<ref name=FSB>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-branson/ |title=Richard Branson|website=[[Forbes]] |access-date=3 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420132945/https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-branson/ |archive-date=20 April 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 July 2021, Branson travelled as a passenger on board [[Virgin Galactic Unity 22]] at the [[Karman line#Edge of space|edge of space]], a suborbital test flight for Virgin Galactic.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|date=11 July 2021|title=Branson Completes Virgin Galactic Flight, Aiming to Open Up Space Tourism|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/11/science/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-space.html|access-date=12 July 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="NBC">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/amazons-jeff-bezos-makes-history-civilian-suborbital-flight-rcna1436|title=Amazon's Jeff Bezos makes history with all-civilian suborbital flight|first=Denise|last=Chow|work=NBC News|date=20 July 2021|access-date=21 July 2021}}</ref> The mission lasted approximately one hour, reaching a peak altitude of {{convert|53.5|mi|km}}. At 70 he became the [[List of spaceflight records#Oldest|third-oldest person]] to fly to space.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kurkowski|first=Seth|date=11 July 2021|title=Live Blog: Virgin Galactic to launch Richard Branson and Unity22 crew to space|url=https://spaceexplored.com/2021/07/11/live-blog-virgin-galactic-to-launch-richard-branson-and-unity22-crew-to-space/|access-date=19 July 2021|website=Space Explored}}</ref>

==Early life==
Richard Charles Nicholas Branson was born on 18 July 1950<ref name="whoswho2">{{Who's Who|title=Branson, Sir Richard (Charles Nicholas)|id=U8562|volume=2014|edition=online [[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=18 July 2019 |title=Famous birthdays for July 18: Vin Diesel, Kristen Bell |work=[[United Press International]] |url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/07/18/Famous-birthdays-for-July-18-Vin-Diesel-Kristen-Bell/8771563155558/ |url-status=live |access-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719181941/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2019/07/18/Famous-birthdays-for-July-18-Vin-Diesel-Kristen-Bell/8771563155558/ |archive-date=19 July 2019 |quote=Businessman Richard Branson in 1950 (age 69)}}</ref> in [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]], London, the son of Edward James Branson (1918–2011), a [[barrister]], and his wife, [[Eve Branson|Evette Huntley Branson]] ({{Née|Flindt}}; 1924–2021), a former ballet dancer and air hostess.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/law-obituaries/8501350/Edward-Branson.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | title=Edward Branson | date=8 May 2011 | access-date=4 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408073321/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/law-obituaries/8501350/Edward-Branson.html | archive-date=8 April 2018 | url-status=live }}<br />– "Births", ''[[The Times]]'', 12 July 1950, p. 1</ref><ref name="fdnr1">[https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/finding-my-roots] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215161224/https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/finding-my-roots|date=15 February 2016}} ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'', 2 February 2016, PBS</ref> He has two younger sisters, Lindy and [[Vanessa Branson|Vanessa]].<ref name=SagaMar13>{{cite news|url=https://www.saga.co.uk/saga-magazine/2013/march/eve-branson.aspx|title=Like mother, like son|first=Nina|last=Myskow|date=13 March 2013|work=Saga magazine|access-date=5 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105104205/https://www.saga.co.uk/saga-magazine/2013/march/eve-branson.aspx|archive-date=5 November 2014}}</ref> His paternal grandfather, [[G. A. H. Branson|Sir George Arthur Harwin Branson]], was a judge of the [[High Court of Justice]] and a [[Privy Councillor]].<ref>"Forthcoming Marriages", ''[[The Times]]'', 22 June 1949, p. 7.</ref>

Branson's great-great-great-grandfather John Edward Branson left England for India in 1793; John Edward's father, Harry Wilkins Branson, later joined his son in [[Madras]]. Starting from 1793, four generations of Branson's family lived in India, mostly at [[Cuddalore]], in modern-day [[Tamil Nadu]]. On the television series ''[[Finding Your Roots]]'' Branson was shown to have 3.9% South Asian (Indian) DNA, likely through intermarriage.<ref name=fdnr1/> He later said that one of his great-great-great-grandmothers was an Indian named Ariya.<ref>{{cite web|title=Billionaire Richard Branson Reveals India Connection In Insta Post|url=https://www.ndtv.com/offbeat/billionaire-richard-branson-reveals-india-connection-in-insta-post-2147792|access-date=24 September 2020|website=NDTV.com|date=12 December 2019 }}</ref>

Branson was educated at [[Scaitcliffe School]], a [[Preparatory school (United Kingdom)|preparatory school]] in [[Surrey]], before briefly attending Cliff View House School in [[Sussex]].<ref name=Timesep98>Richard Branson. "At school I was dyslexic and a dunce.", ''The Times'', London, 11 September 1998, p. 19</ref> He attended [[Stowe School]], a [[Public school (United Kingdom)|public school]] in [[Buckinghamshire]] until the age of sixteen.<ref name=Timesep98/>

Branson has [[dyslexia]], and had poor academic performance; on his last day at school, his headmaster, [[Robert Drayson]], told him he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defeat-dyslexia.com/2015/07/famous-dyslexics-richard-branson-entrepreneur/|title=Famous Dyslexics: Richard Branson (entrepreneur)|date=9 July 2015|website=Defeat Dyslexia |last1=Swinton |first1=Holly }}</ref><ref name=Timesep98/> Branson has also talked openly about having [[ADHD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/8-of-the-worlds-most-successful-people-with-adhd/ |title=Learn About the Stories of 8 of the World's Most Successful People with ADHD |date=22 January 2020 |publisher=University of the People |access-date=16 March 2022}}</ref> Branson's parents were supportive of his endeavours from an early age.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Shavinina|first=Larisa&nbsp;V.|title=Micro-social factors in the development of entrepreneurial giftedness: the case of Richard Branson|journal=High Ability Studies|date=December 2006|volume=17|issue=2|pages=225–235|doi=10.1080/13598130601121482|s2cid=145055396|issn=1359-8139 }}</ref> His mother was an entrepreneur; one of her most successful ventures was building and selling wooden tissue boxes and wastepaper bins.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Virgin Way: Everything I know about leadership|last=Branson|first=Richard|publisher=Portfolio/Penguin|year=2014|location=New York}}</ref> In London, he started off [[squatting]] from 1967 to 1968.<ref>
{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jul/21/3|title=Famous faces who took rent-free route|date=21 July 1999|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=6 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180906161721/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1999/jul/21/3|archive-date=6 September 2018|url-status=live}}
</ref>

Branson is an [[atheist]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://celebanswers.com/what-religion-is-richard-branson/ | title=What Religion is Richard Branson? | date=10 August 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://nairobiwire.com/2016/05/top-10-most-famous-atheists-in-the-world.html | title=Top 10 Most Famous Atheists in the World | date=3 May 2016 }}</ref> He said in an interview in 2011 with [[Piers Morgan]] that he believes in [[evolution]] and the importance of humanitarian efforts, but not in the existence of God: "I would love to believe," he said. "It's very comforting to believe".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/25/living/gallery/atheists/index.html | title=Famous atheists and their beliefs | website=[[CNN]] | date=26 May 2013 }}</ref>

==Early business career==
After failed attempts to grow and sell both [[Christmas tree]]s and [[budgerigar]]s, Branson launched a magazine named ''Student'' in 1966 with [[Nik Powell]]. The first issue of ''Student'' appeared in January 1968, and a year later, Branson's net worth was estimated at £50,000 ({{Inflation|UK|50000|1969|fmt=eq|cursign=£|r=-4}}). The office for the venture was situated in the crypt of St John's Church, off [[Bayswater Road]], in London.<ref>{{cite web|title=How an Anglican Church Bootstrapped Virgin Records|url=https://www.garlandpollard.com/how-the-anglican-church-bootstrapped-virgin-records/|access-date=13 August 2021|website=www.garlandpollard.com |date=28 February 2016 }}</ref> Though not initially as successful as he hoped, the magazine later became a vital component of the mail-order record business Branson started from the same church he used for ''Student''. Branson used the magazine to advertise popular albums, driving his record sales.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-fails-virgin-companies-that-went-bust-2012-4?op=1|title=Richard Branson's Fails: 14 Virgin Companies That Went Bust|first=Mallory|last=Russell|date=21 April 2012|website=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913202138/http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-fails-virgin-companies-that-went-bust-2012-4?op=1|archive-date=13 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He interviewed several prominent personalities of the late 1960s for the magazine including [[Mick Jagger]] and [[R. D. Laing]].<ref name="Branson2011">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NWxnDythozIC|title=Losing My Virginity|first=Richard|last=Branson|year=2011|publisher=Ebury Publishing|isbn=978-1446483343}}</ref> Branson took over full direction of ''Student'' after successfully lying to Powell that the workers at the magazine opposed Powell's plans to turn the magazine into a co-operative.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/2021/01/how-billionaires-see-themselves|title= How Billionaires See Themselves |year=2021|first=Robinson |last=Nathan |publisher= Current Affairs|quote=He had left a draft of a memo, which he was writing to the staff. It was a plan to get rid of me as publisher and editor, to take editorial and financial control of Student, and to turn it into a cooperative. I would become just part of the team, and everyone would share equally in the editorial direction of the magazine. I was shocked. I felt that Nik, my closest friend, was betraying me... I decided to bluff my way through the crisis... [If the staff were] undecided, then I could drive a wedge between Nik and the rest of them and cut Nik out.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Cartwright |first=Garth |date=26 November 2019 |title=Remembering Nik Powell, Virgin Records co-founder and film producer |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/nik-powell-death-businessman-film-producer-virgin-records-richard-branson-a9202766.html |access-date=13 August 2021 |website=The Independent}}</ref>

His business sold records for considerably less than the "[[High Street]]" outlets, especially the chain [[WHSmith]]. Branson once said, "There is no point in starting your own business unless you do it out of a sense of frustration."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-interview-hurricane-irma-failure-mums-2017-11|title=Richard Branson: Your business will fail unless you know your customers and 'experience their pain'|first=Kieron|last=Johnson|website=Business Insider}}</ref> At the time many products were sold under restrictive marketing agreements that limited discounting, despite efforts in the 1950s and 1960s to limit [[retail price maintenance]].<ref group=note>Another example was the [[Net Book Agreement]], which limited the ability of book outlets, including discount book clubs, to offer deep discounts.</ref>

Branson eventually started a record shop in [[Oxford Street]] in London. In 1971 he was questioned in connection with the selling of records declared export stock. The matter was never brought before a court because Branson agreed to repay any unpaid [[purchase tax]] of 33% and a £70,000 fine. His parents re-mortgaged the family home to help to pay the settlement.<ref name="Branson2011" />

==Virgin==
{{Main|Virgin Group|Timeline of Richard Branson's business ventures}}

===1972–1980: Founding of Virgin Records===
[[File:The Manor Studios (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[The Manor Studio]], Richard Branson's recording studio in the [[manor house]] at the village of [[Shipton-on-Cherwell]] in [[Oxfordshire]]]]
In 1972, using money earned from his record store, Branson launched the record label [[Virgin Records]] with Powell. The name "Virgin" was suggested by one of Branson's early employees because they were all new at business.<ref name="ReferenceA">Richard Branson – ''Losing my Virginity''</ref> Branson bought a [[English country house|country estate]] north of [[Oxford]] in which he installed a residential recording studio, [[The Manor Studio]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.biography.com/people/richard-branson-9224520|title=Richard Branson Biography|access-date=16 September 2014|website=The Biography.com website|publisher=[[A&E Television Networks]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902042020/http://www.biography.com/people/richard-branson-9224520|archive-date=2 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He leased studio time to fledgling artists, including the multi-instrumentalist [[Mike Oldfield]], whose debut album, ''[[Tubular Bells]]'' (1973), was the first release for Virgin Records and became a chart-topping best-seller.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03cw8g0|title=Tubular Bells: The Mike Oldfield Story|publisher=BBC|access-date=22 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407044710/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03cw8g0|archive-date=7 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Virgin signed controversial bands such as the [[Sex Pistols]], which other companies were reluctant to sign. Virgin Records would go on to sign other artists including [[the Rolling Stones]], [[Peter Gabriel]], [[XTC]], [[Japan (band)|Japan]], [[UB40]], [[Steve Winwood]] and [[Paula Abdul]], and to become the world's largest independent record label.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197616|title=Richard Branson The P.T. Barnum of British Business|work=Entrepreneur |year=2008|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817003928/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/197616|archive-date=17 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> It also won praise for exposing the public to such lesser known avant-garde music as that of the German bands [[Faust (band)|Faust]] and [[Can (band)|Can]]. Virgin Records also introduced [[Culture Club]] to the music world.

Branson's net worth was estimated at £5&nbsp;million by 1979, and a year later, Virgin Records went international.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

===1981–1987: Package holiday industries, compilation albums, and Virgin Atlantic===
[[File:Virgin Atlantic A340-600 (G-VWEB) arrives London Heathrow 7Jun2015 arp.jpg|thumb|[[Virgin Atlantic]] [[Airbus A340]] approaching [[London Heathrow]] in June 2015]]
Branson's first successful entry into the airline industry was during a trip to [[Puerto Rico]]. His flight was cancelled, so he decided to charter his own plane the rest of the way and offered a ride to the rest of the stranded passengers for a small fee to cover the cost.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-entrepreneur-visionary-2011-5/|title=Richard Branson: How a Cancelled Flight Led to the World's Greatest Travel Empire|last=Zeveloff|first=J.|website=[[Business Insider]] |date=May 2011|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204170124/http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-entrepreneur-visionary-2011-5|archive-date=4 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1982, Virgin purchased the gay bar [[Heaven (nightclub)|Heaven]] in London. In 1991, in a consortium with [[David Frost]], Branson made an unsuccessful bid for three [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] franchises under the [[CPV-TV]] name. The early 1980s also saw his only attempt as a producer—on the novelty record "[[Baa, Baa, Black Sheep]]", by The Singing Sheep in association with Doug McLean and Grace McDonald, on which he was credited as "Jeff Mutton". The track consisted of samples of animal noises recorded at his aunt Claire Hoares' farm in [[Norfolk]], set to a drum-machine-produced track and reached number 42 in the UK charts in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://epnofny.com/epnmag/blog/2012/12/02/entrepreneur-guru-sir-richard-branson/ |title=Entrepreneur Guru Sir Richard Branson |publisher=EPN |date=2 December 2012 |access-date=22 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129024148/http://epnofny.com/epnmag/blog/2012/12/02/entrepreneur-guru-sir-richard-branson/ |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1983, ''[[Now That's What I Call Music!]]'' emerged from Virgin Records offices as a compilation series. Collaborating with [[EMI]], Peter Jamieson orchestrated the partnership on Branson's boat, leading to the concise and influential title "''Now That's What I Call Music!''," inspired by a [[Danish Bacon]] poster<ref>{{cite web |date=27 June 2012 |title=NowMusic – The Home Of Hit Music » About NOW |url=http://www.nowmusic.com/about/ |access-date=18 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627114704/http://www.nowmusic.com/about/ |archive-date=27 June 2012 }}</ref> gifted to Simon Draper. Branson's introduction to the antique shop owned by Joan Templeman,<ref name=":3" /> played a pivotal role in his growing fascination with old signs and advertisements, ultimately shaping the collection.<ref>{{cite web |title=NOW That's What I Call Music! turns 40 {{!}} Virgin |url=https://virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/now-thats-what-i-call-music-turns-40 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201143855/https://www.virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/now-thats-what-i-call-music-turns-40 |archive-date=1 December 2023 |access-date=18 February 2024 |website=Virgin.com }}</ref>

Branson formed [[Virgin Atlantic]] and Virgin Cargo in 1984. He formed [[Virgin Holidays]] in 1985.

===1988–2000: Telecoms ventures, railways, and worldwide impact===
[[File:Lichfield Trent Valley railway station MMB 05 390XXX.jpg|thumb|[[Virgin Trains West Coast]] [[British Rail Class 390|Class 390 ''Pendolino'']] at [[Lichfield Trent Valley railway station|Lichfield]] in August 2011]]
In 1992, to keep his airline company afloat, Branson sold the Virgin label to EMI for £500&nbsp;million.<ref name="bbcprofile">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3693588.stm|title=Profile: Richard Branson|date=27 September 2004|access-date=3 May 2010|work=BBC News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201185905/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3693588.stm|archive-date=1 February 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson said that he wept when the sale was completed because the record business had been the very start of the Virgin empire. He created [[V2 Records]] in 1996 to re-enter the music business, owning 5% himself.<ref name="solarnav">{{cite web|url=http://www.solarnavigator.net/sponsorship/richard_branson.htm|title=Richard Branson and Virgin-Probably Britains best known Entrepreneur|publisher=Solar Navigator.net|access-date=3 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328062442/http://www.solarnavigator.net/sponsorship/richard_branson.htm|archive-date=28 March 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Virgin also acquired the European [[short-haul]] airline Euro Belgian Airlines and renamed it [[Virgin Express]]. In 1997 Branson took what many saw as being one of his riskier business exploits by entering into the railway business during the [[privatisation of British Rail]]. [[Virgin Rail Group]] won the [[Virgin CrossCountry|InterCity CrossCountry]] and [[InterCity West Coast]] franchises, beginning operations in January and March 1997 respectively.<ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-to-run-crosscountry-trains-1352306.html "Virgin to run CrossCountry trains"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055841/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-to-run-crosscountry-trains-1352306.html |date=7 November 2017 }} ''The Independent'' 14 November 1996</ref><ref>[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-pledges-tilt-trains-for-west-coast-1286084.html "Virgin pledges tilt trains for West Coast"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820034655/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/virgin-pledges-tilt-trains-for-west-coast-1286084.html |date=20 August 2017 }} ''The Independent'' 31 January 1997</ref> Both franchises were scheduled to run for 15 years.<ref>Branson's Virgin Group wins CrossCountry Trains for 15 years ''[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]'' issue 294 18 December 1996, p. 6</ref><ref>Virgin to tackle IC West Coast ''[[Rail Business Intelligence|Rail Privatisation News]]'' issue 48, 20 February 1997, p. 1</ref>

A series of disputes in the early 1990s caused tension between Virgin Atlantic and [[British Airways]], which viewed Virgin as an emerging competitor. Virgin subsequently accused British Airways of poaching its passengers, hacking its computers and leaking stories to the press that portrayed Virgin negatively. After the so-called campaign of [[Dirty Tricks (British Airways scandal)|"dirty tricks"]], British Airways settled the case, giving £500,000 to Branson, a further £110,000 to his airline, and had to pay legal fees of up to £3&nbsp;million. Branson distributed his compensation (the so-called "BA bonus") among his staff.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/aug/02/theairlineindustry.britishairways|title=Row over dirty tricks led to decade of hostilities|first=Lee|last=Glendinning|date=2 August 2007|work=The Guardian|access-date=31 August 2011|location=London|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831222332/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/aug/02/theairlineindustry.britishairways|archive-date=31 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

Branson launched [[Virgin Mobile]] in 1999, and airline [[Virgin Australia|Virgin Blue]] in Australia in 2000.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130102000006/http://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/about-us/media/2000/D_019608/ Virgin Blue To Fly The Aussie Skies] Virgin Blue 5 February 2000</ref>

===2001–2007: Entry into space travel and Virgin Media===
[[File:Richard Branson 2001.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Branson in 2001]]
On 25 September 2004 Branson announced the signing of a deal under which a new [[space tourism|space-tourism]] company, [[Virgin Galactic]], will license the technology behind [[SpaceShipOne]]—funded by the [[Microsoft]] co-founder [[Paul Allen]] and designed by the aeronautical engineer [[Burt Rutan]]—to take paying passengers into [[suborbital]] [[outer space]]. Virgin Galactic plans to make flights available to the public with tickets priced at US$200,000 using the [[Scaled Composites White Knight Two]].<ref name=sn20131111>
{{cite news |last=Klotz|first=Irene |title=Profile : Sir Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Galactic |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/features/38109profile-sir-richard-branson-founder-virgin-galactic |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131127123945/http://www.spacenews.com/article/features/38109profile-sir-richard-branson-founder-virgin-galactic |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 November 2013 |access-date=27 November 2013 |newspaper=Space News |date=11 November 2013 }}</ref> The spacecraft, [[SpaceShipTwo]], is manufactured by [[The Spaceship Company]], which was founded by Branson and Rutan and is now solely owned by Virgin Galactic. In 2013, Branson said that he planned to take his two children, 31-year-old Holly and 28-year-old Sam, on a trip to outer space when they ride the SpaceShipTwo rocket plane on its first public flight, then planned for 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Boyle|first=Alan|title=First family of space: Richard Branson and kids will blaze new trail|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/science/first-family-space-richard-branson-kids-will-blaze-new-trail-8C11566225|work=NBC News|date=9 November 2013 |access-date=4 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203203834/http://www.nbcnews.com/science/first-family-space-richard-branson-kids-will-blaze-new-trail-8C11566225|archive-date=3 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of his promotion of the firm, Branson has added a variation of the Virgin Galactic livery to his personal business jet, the [[Dassault Falcon 900EX]] "Galactic Girl" (G-GALX).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://gadling.com/2008/08/04/sir-richard-bransons-private-jet/ |title= Sir Richard Branson's Private Jet |date= 4 August 2008 |first= Grant |last= Martin |publisher= Gadling |access-date= 10 December 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151211093429/http://gadling.com/2008/08/04/sir-richard-bransons-private-jet/ |archive-date= 11 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= Windows Seat |url= http://www.traveldaily.com.au/photos/window-seat-2/194910 |date= 29 January 2011 |work= Window Seat |access-date= 10 December 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151211112204/http://www.traveldaily.com.au/photos/window-seat-2/194910 |archive-date= 11 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He was ninth in [[Sunday Times Rich List|''The Sunday Times'' Rich List 2006]] of the wealthiest people or families in the UK, worth slightly more than £3&nbsp;billion. Branson wrote in his autobiography of the decision to start an airline.

{{blockquote|My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them ... from the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, I felt that I had to attempt it.|sign=|source=}}

In 2006, through a merger with [[SN Brussels Airlines]], Virgin Airlines formed [[Brussels Airlines]], while retaining its separate listing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/virgin-express-creates-brussels-airline-566542.html|title=Virgin Express creates Brussels airline|date=17 March 2004|work=The Independent|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504233912/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/virgin-express-creates-brussels-airline-566542.html|archive-date=4 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> It also started a national airline based in Nigeria, called [[Virgin Nigeria]], which ceased operations in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8089858.stm|title=Virgin to sell Nigerian airline|date=8 June 2009|access-date=4 May 2018}}</ref> Another airline, [[Virgin America]], began flying out of [[San Francisco International Airport]] in August 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Scenes from Virgin America's inaugural flight (Aug. 8, 2007)|url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/flights/2017/08/18/scenes-from-virgin-americas-inaugural-flight-aug-8-2007/104710286/|access-date=22 October 2021|website=www.usatoday.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=9 August 2007|title=Virgin America touches down for service from San Francisco|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/08/09/virgin-america-touches-down-for-service-from-san-francisco/|access-date=22 October 2021|website=East Bay Times}}</ref>

Branson's next venture with the Virgin group was [[Virgin Fuels]], which was set up to respond to [[global warming]] and exploit the recent spike in fuel costs by offering a revolutionary, cheaper fuel for automobiles and, in the near future, aircraft. Branson has stated that he was formerly a [[global warming sceptic]] and was influenced in his decision by a breakfast meeting with [[Al Gore]], a former [[Vice President of the United States|vice president of the United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2477400 |title=Breakfast With Al Gore Persuades Branson to Pledge Billions to Global Warming |work=ABC News |date=22 September 2006 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101021033349/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2477400 |archive-date=21 October 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 September 2006 Branson pledged to invest the profits of Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains in research for environmentally-friendly fuels. The investment is estimated to be worth US$3&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/index.php?menuID=1&subID=770 | title=Come fly with me, come give it away | access-date=23 September 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229152134/http://www.theweek.co.uk/index.php?menuID=1&subID=770 | archive-date=29 February 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=46071
 |title       = Virgin Group to Invest $3&nbsp;Billion in Renewable Energy
 |access-date  = 12 October 2006
|url-status     = usurped
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120203043509/http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/home
 |archive-date = 3 February 2012
}}</ref>

On 4 July 2006 Branson sold his [[Virgin Mobile]] company to the British cable, television, broadband and telephone company NTL:Telewest for £900&nbsp;million. A new company was launched with much fanfare and publicity on 8 February 2007, under the name [[Virgin Media]]. The decision to merge his Virgin Media Company with NTL was made in order to integrate compatible areas of the two businesses. Whilst Branson had owned three-quarters of Virgin Mobile, he would now get paid £8.5&nbsp;million per annum for the use of the Virgin brand name. He does not own any part of Virgin Media.<ref name="Perry">{{cite news| last = Fryer| first = Pat| title = Uma Thurman to promote Virgin Media| publisher = earthtimes.org| date = 23 January 2007| url = http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/23001.html| access-date = 2 February 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071010095924/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/23001.html| archive-date = 10 October 2007| url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, Branson formed [[Virgin Comics]] and Virgin Animation, an entertainment company focused on creating new stories and characters for a global audience. The company was founded with the author [[Deepak Chopra]], the filmmaker [[Shekhar Kapur]] and the entrepreneurs [[Sharad Devarajan]] and [[Gotham Chopra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jan/07/pressandpublishing.virginrichardbranson|title=Branson launches Virgin Comics with India appeal|last=Teather|first=David|date=7 January 2006|website=The Guardian|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505070503/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/jan/07/pressandpublishing.virginrichardbranson|archive-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson also launched the [[Virgin Health Bank]] on 1 February 2007, offering expecting parents the opportunity to store their babies' [[umbilical cord]] blood [[stem cells]] in private and public stem-cell banks.

In June 2006, a tip-off from Virgin Atlantic led both British and American competition authorities to investigate price-fixing attempts between Virgin Atlantic and British Airways. In August 2007 British Airways was fined £271&nbsp;million over the allegations. Virgin Atlantic was given immunity for tipping off the authorities and received no fine—a controversial decision the Office of Fair Trading defended as being in the public interest.<ref>{{cite news |first=Ruth |last=Sunderland |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/airlines/story/0,,2141647,00.html |title=OFT defends 'snitch' policy |date=5 August 2007|access-date=14 September 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Alberto Hazan and Richard Branson 2007.jpg|thumb|right|Branson with Alberto Hazan in June 2007 helping launch [[Virgin Radio Italia]]]]
On 9 February 2007 Branson announced the setting up of a new global science and technology prize—The [[Virgin Earth Challenge]]—in the belief that history has shown that prizes of this nature encourage technological advancements for the good of mankind. The Virgin Earth Challenge was to award US$25&nbsp;million to the individual or group who are able to demonstrate a commercially viable design that will result in the net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric [[greenhouse gas]]es each year for at least ten years without countervailing harmful effects. This removal must have long-term effects and contribute materially to the stability of the Earth's climate. Branson also announced that he would be joined in the adjudication of the prize by a panel of five judges, all world authorities in their respective fields: [[Al Gore]], [[Sir Crispin Tickell]], [[Tim Flannery]], [[James E. Hansen]] and [[James Lovelock]].

In July 2007, Branson purchased his Australian home, [[Makepeace Island]], in [[Noosa]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sir Richard Branson's paradise island|url=http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/richard-bransons-paradise-island-rent-269659|publisher=CNN|date=20 July 2011|access-date=23 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615192531/http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/richard-bransons-paradise-island-rent-269659|archive-date=15 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2007 he announced that he had bought a 20 per cent stake in the Malaysian airline [[AirAsia X]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2813816/Virgin-Group-buys-AirAsia-X-stake.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Virgin Group buys AirAsia X stake | first=Emma | last=Thelwell | date=10 August 2007 | access-date=22 May 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100519152533/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2813816/Virgin-Group-buys-AirAsia-X-stake.html | archive-date=19 May 2010 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 13 October 2007, Branson's Virgin Group sought to add [[Northern Rock]] to its empire after submitting an offer that would result in Branson personally owning 30 per cent of the company and changing its name from Northern Rock to [[Virgin Money (brand)|Virgin Money]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Teather|first1=David|last2=Finch|first2=Julia|last3=Wearden|first3=Graeme|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/oct/13/money.banking|title=Branson dangles offer for Northern Rock|work=The Guardian|date=13 October 2007|access-date=14 September 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119121420/http://money.guardian.co.uk/news_/story/0,,2190411,00.html|archive-date=19 January 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Mail]]'' ran a campaign against his bid; [[Vince Cable]], financial spokesperson for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]], suggested in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] that Branson's criminal conviction for tax evasion might be felt by some as a good enough reason not to trust him with public money.<ref>{{cite news |first=Phillip |last=Inman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/dec/13/northernrock.creditcrunch |title=Northern Rock bidder threatens to pull out unless takeover date set, Business |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=12 December 2007 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220210351/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2007/dec/13/northernrock.creditcrunch |archive-date=20 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2023, Branson declared his decision against injecting additional funds into Virgin Galactic, his space travel company experiencing financial losses. He highlighted that his business empire no longer possesses extensive financial resources, indicating constraints on further investment.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Branson rules out further investment in Virgin Galactic |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9fbf47ef-cc9d-4f20-bbf9-24e2d11d4a83 |access-date=18 December 2023 |website=Financial Times|date=2 December 2023 |last1=Hollinger |first1=Peggy |last2=Georgiadis |first2=Philip }}</ref>

===2008–2019: Hotels, healthcare and charitable influence===
On 9 January 2008, [[Virgin Healthcare]] announced that it would open a chain of health care clinics that would offer conventional medical care alongside homeopathic and complementary therapies, a development that was welcomed by [[Ben Bradshaw]], the health minister.<ref>{{cite web |last1= Barker |first1= Alex |last2= Timmins |first2= Nick |date= 10 January 2008 |title= Branson launches healthcare business |url= https://www.ft.com/content/7f5d8f32-bfa0-11dc-8052-0000779fd2ac |work= [[Financial Times]] |access-date= 7 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120718190945/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7f5d8f32-bfa0-11dc-8052-0000779fd2ac.html |archive-date= 18 July 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Plans where GPs could be paid for referring [[National Health Service]] (NHS) patients to private Virgin services were abandoned in June 2008. The BMA warned the plan would "damage clinical objectivity", there would be a financial incentive for GPs to push patients toward the Virgin services at the centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/829970 |title=Virgin amends its profit plans |publisher=/ Healthcare Republic |date=11 July 2008 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116210526/http://www.healthcarerepublic.com/news/829970 |archive-date=16 November 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Plans to take over an NHS practice in [[Swindon]] were abandoned in late September 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?title=VirgindropsGPpracticeplans&page=article.display&article.id=13581 |title=Virgin drops GP practice plans |publisher=Nursing in Practice |date=22 September 2008 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615035946/http://www.nursinginpractice.com/default.asp?title=VirgindropsGPpracticeplans&page=article.display&article.id=13581 |archive-date=15 June 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:RichardBransonBoardVAOCApr09.jpg|thumb|left|Branson in April 2009 at the launch of Virgin America in [[Orange County, California]]]]
In February 2009, Branson's Virgin organisation was reported as bidding to buy the former [[Honda in Formula One|Honda Formula One]] team. Branson later expressed interest in [[Formula One]], but claimed that, before the Virgin brand became involved with Honda or any other team, Formula One would have to develop a more economically efficient and environmentally responsible image. At the start of the [[2009 Formula One season]] on 28 March, it was announced that Virgin would be sponsoring the new [[Brawn GP]] team,<ref>[http://www.crash.net/f1/News/144459/1/bransons_virgin_group_to_sponsor_brawn_gp.html Branson's Virgin Group to sponsor Brawn GP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130712044915/http://www.crash.net/f1/News/144459/1/bransons_virgin_group_to_sponsor_brawn_gp.html |date=12 July 2013 }}, www.crash.net</ref> with discussions also under way about introducing a less "dirty" fuel in the medium term.<ref>[http://bleacherreport.com/articles/146360-virgin-become-brawn-gps-title-sponsor Virgin Become Brawn Gp's Title Sponsor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120627141900/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/146360-virgin-become-brawn-gps-title-sponsor |date=27 June 2012 }}, Bleacher Report</ref> After the end of the season and the subsequent purchase of Brawn GP by [[Mercedes-Benz]], Branson invested in an 80 per cent buyout of Manor Grand Prix,<ref name="F1News">{{cite web |url=http://formula-1.updatesport.com/news/article/1244801351/formula_one/F1headlines/FIA-release-2010-entry-list/view.html |title=UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > FIA release 2010 entry list |publisher=Formula-1.updatesport.com |date=12 June 2009 |access-date=1 November 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728053711/http://formula-1.updatesport.com/news/article/1244801351/formula_one/F1headlines/FIA-release-2010-entry-list/view.html |archive-date=28 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76653 |title=Virgin set for Manor GP move |work=Autosport |access-date=14 September 2010 |date=3 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513202037/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/76653 |archive-date=13 May 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> with the team being renamed [[Virgin Racing]].

In 2010, [[Virgin Hotels]] was launched under the Virgin Group. In February 2018, Branson announced the first Virgin hotel in the UK would open in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/richard-branson-chooses-edinburgh-for-first-uk-virgin-hotel-1-4679167|title=Richard Branson chooses Edinburgh for first UK Virgin hotel|date=February 2018 |access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101302/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/richard-branson-chooses-edinburgh-for-first-uk-virgin-hotel-1-4679167|archive-date=20 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Branson and [[Tony Fernandes]], owner of [[Air Asia]] and [[Lotus F1 Racing]], had a bet for the [[2010 F1 season]] where the losing team's boss should work on the winner's airline during a charity flight dressed as a stewardess. Fernandes escaped as the bet winner, as Lotus Racing ended tenth in the championship, while Virgin Racing ended twelfth and last. Branson kept his word after losing the bet, as he served his duty as a stewardess on an [[Air Asia]] flight between [[Perth Airport|Perth]] and [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport|Kuala Lumpur]] on 12 May 2013.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-22499827 Virgin's Sir Richard Branson turns stewardess after losing bet] , ''BBC News''</ref>
[[File:5.3.10RichardBransonByDavidShankbone.jpg|thumb|upright|Branson at the [[Time (magazine)|Time 100 Gala]] in May 2010. Known for his informal dress code,<ref>[[Ghil'ad Zuckermann|Zuckermann, Ghil'ad]] (2003), [[Language Contact and Lexical Enrichment in Israeli Hebrew]]. [[Palgrave Macmillan]]. {{ISBN|978-1403917232|978-1403938695}} [http://www.palgrave.com/br/book/9781403917232] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412005718/https://www.palgrave.com/br/book/9781403917232|date=12 April 2019}}: "Richard Branson prefers jumpers to suits". p. 110</ref> this was a rare occasion he didn't wear an open shirt.]]
In 2010, Branson became patron of the UK's [[Gordon Bennett Cup in ballooning|Gordon Bennett]] 2010 gas balloon race, which has 16 hydrogen balloons flying across Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gordonbennett2010.com |title=Welcome!, 54th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett 2010 Official Site |publisher=Gordonbennett2010.com |access-date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002183128/http://www.gordonbennett2010.com |archive-date=2 October 2010}}</ref>

In April 2012, Virgin Care commenced a five-year contract for provision of a range of health services which had previously been under the aegis of NHS Surrey, the local primary care trust.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9176733/NHS-patients-to-be-treated-by-Virgin-Care-in-500m-deal.html|title=NHS patients to be treated by Virgin Care in £500m deal|date=30 March 2012|work=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403025122/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9176733/NHS-patients-to-be-treated-by-Virgin-Care-in-500m-deal.html|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> By March 2015 Virgin Care was in charge of more than 230 services nationwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=89552|title=Overview – Virgin Care Ltd – NHS Choices|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402133545/http://www.nhs.uk/Services/Trusts/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=89552|archive-date=2 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In July 2012, Branson announced plans to build an [[orbital space launch]] [[Air launch to orbit|system]], designated [[LauncherOne]].<ref name=bbc20120711>
{{cite news |last=Amos |first=Jonathan |title=Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic to launch small satellites |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18801180 |access-date=13 July 2012 |work=BBC News|date=11 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713034917/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18801180 |archive-date=13 July 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Four [[private spaceflight|commercial]] customers have already contracted for launches and two companies are developing standardised [[satellite bus]]es optimised to the design of LauncherOne, in expectation of business opportunities created by the new ''smallsat'' launcher.<ref name=nsj20120711>
{{cite news |title=Virgin Galactic relaunches its smallsat launch business |url=http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/07/11/virgin-galactic-relaunches-its-smallsat-launch-business/ |access-date=11 July 2012 |newspaper=NewSpace Journal |date=12 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715235055/http://www.newspacejournal.com/2012/07/11/virgin-galactic-relaunches-its-smallsat-launch-business/ |archive-date=15 July 2012 |url-status=live}}
</ref>

In August 2012, when re-tendered the [[InterCity West Coast]] franchise was awarded to [[FirstGroup]] after a competitive tender process overseen by the [[Department for Transport]]. Branson had expressed his concerns about the tender process and questioned the validity of the business plan submitted by FirstGroup. When Virgin Rail lost the contract, Branson said he was convinced the civil servants had "got their maths wrong". In October, after an investigation into the bidding process, the deal was scrapped. The transport secretary, [[Patrick McLoughlin]], announced there were "significant technical flaws" in the process and mistakes had been made by transport staff. Virgin Rail continued to operate the West Coast line until 7 December 2019, when it was replaced by [[Avanti West Coast]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19809717|title=West Coast Main Line deal scrapped after contract flaws discovered|work=BBC News|date=3 October 2012|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319064711/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19809717|archive-date=19 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2014, Branson announced his investment in the drone company [[3D Robotics]], stating, "It's amazing to see what a little flying object with a [[GoPro]] attached can do. Before they came along the alternative was an expensive helicopter and crew. I'm really excited about the potential 3D Robotics sees in drones. They can do a lot of good in the world, and I hope this affordable technology will give many more people the chance to see our beautiful planet from such a powerful perspective."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-invests-in-3d-robotics-2014-9|title=Richard Branson Explains Why He Just Invested in Drones|access-date=15 September 2014|work=Business Insider|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919012437/http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-invests-in-3d-robotics-2014-9|archive-date=19 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Branson launched the "Foodpreneur" food and drink-focused start-up competition. Winners were provided with mentorship from Branson, legal support and brand counselling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://startups.co.uk/winners-of-richard-bransons-foodpreneur-competition-announced/|title=Winners of Richard Branson's "Foodpreneur" competition announced|date=22 September 2014|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075246/https://startups.co.uk/winners-of-richard-bransons-foodpreneur-competition-announced/|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The 2014 winners included Proper Beans, Killer Tomato, Sweetpea Pantry and Sweet Virtues. In 2015, the competition expanded to the Virgin StartUp's Foodpreneur Festival. The 2015 winners were given the opportunity to pitch [[Target Corporation]] buyers. The 2015 winners included Pip & Nut, Double Dutch Drinks, Harry Bromptons, Cauli Rice and Mallow and Marsh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/richard-branson-announces-2015-foodpreneur-festival-winners|title=Virgin StartUp's Foodpreneur Festival whet the appetite of hundreds of food and drink entrepreneurs across the UK last Friday as the Festival brought them together for a series of insightful workshops and seminars from the industry's best and brightest|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075459/https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/richard-branson-announces-2015-foodpreneur-festival-winners|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2015, [[Virgin Trains East Coast]] commenced operating the InterCity East Coast franchise; the company was a joint venture between Stagecoach (90%) and Virgin Group (10%).<ref>[https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-seats-more-services-and-new-trains-for-east-coast-passengers "More seats, more services and new trains for East Coast passengers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205053949/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-seats-more-services-and-new-trains-for-east-coast-passengers |date=5 December 2014 }} Department for Transport, 27 November 2014.</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/business-30222458 Stagecoach and Virgin win East Coast mainline rail franchise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128143803/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-30222458 |date=28 November 2014 }} ''BBC News'' 27 November 2014</ref> Due to the line performing below VTEC's expectations, it was announced in May 2018 that the contract would be terminated early by the government. VTEC ceased operating on 23 June 2018 and operations passed to a government-owned operator, [[London North Eastern Railway]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44142258?intlink_from_url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/c9edzkwe7xrt/stagecoach&link_location=live-reporting-story|title=East Coast train line to be put into public control|date=12 February 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=16 May 2018|archive-date=14 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114150417/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44142258?intlink_from_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Ftopics%2Fc9edzkwe7xrt%2Fstagecoach&link_location=live-reporting-story|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2015, Branson announced the addition of Moskito Island to the Virgin Limited Edition portfolio. This resort, The Branson Estate on Moskito Island, offers 11 bedrooms for 22 guests.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McLennan|first1=Leah|title=Inside Richard Branson's new $66,000 a night luxury island hideaway|url=http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ideas/best-of-travel/inside-richard-bransons-new-66000-a-night-luxury-island-hideaway/news-story/c2a9a1efd6633c2e63ea221de972e0c4|website=News.com.au|date=16 November 2015|access-date=17 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117213406/http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-ideas/best-of-travel/inside-richard-bransons-new-66000-a-night-luxury-island-hideaway/news-story/c2a9a1efd6633c2e63ea221de972e0c4|archive-date=17 November 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:MMRichardBranson.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Branson and [[Argentina]]'s President [[Mauricio Macri]], 22 January 2016]]
In 2017, Virgin Group invested in [[Hyperloop One]], developing a strategic partnership between the two. Branson joined the board of directors,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://fortune.com/2017/10/12/hyperloop-one-virgin-group-richard-branson/|title=Hyperloop One Is Now 'Virgin Hyperloop One' Thanks to Richard Branson's Investment|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|date=12 October 2017|access-date=31 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013012601/http://fortune.com/2017/10/12/hyperloop-one-virgin-group-richard-branson/|archive-date=13 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and in December 2017 became its chairman.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hyperloop-one.com/blog/new-chairman-new-funding-new-speed-records|title=New Chairman, New Funding, & New Speed Records|website=Hyperloop One|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051021/https://hyperloop-one.com/blog/new-chairman-new-funding-new-speed-records|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The announced winner of the 2017 Virgin StartUp's Foodpreneur prize was [[The Snaffling Pig Co]], which won a six-week rental space at Intu Lakeside, the retail centre with the highest foot traffic in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/virgin-startup-reveals-virgin-foodpreneur-2017-winner|title=Virgin StartUp and Intu have named The Snaffling Pig Co as the winners of Virgin Foodpreneur 2017.|access-date=5 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706075051/https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/virgin-startup-reveals-virgin-foodpreneur-2017-winner|archive-date=6 July 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In October 2017, Branson appeared on the Season 9 Premiere of ''[[Shark Tank]]'' as a guest investor,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/being-shark-day|title=Being a shark on shark day|access-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173829/https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/being-shark-day|archive-date=6 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> where he invested in Locker Board,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://heavy.com/news/2017/10/locker-board-skateboards-shark-tank-products-episodes-new-season-premiere-9/|title=Locker Board on 'Shark Tank': A Look Inside the Skateboard that Fits in a Locker|date=October 2017|access-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173830/https://heavy.com/news/2017/10/locker-board-skateboards-shark-tank-products-episodes-new-season-premiere-9/|archive-date=6 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> a sustainable line of [[skateboard]]s invented by an 11-year-old named Carson Kropfl.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leadem |first1=Rose |url=https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302158|title=How an Actual Elevator Pitch Led This 12-Year-Old Entrepreneur to Appear on Shark Tank and Partner With Richard Branson|work=Entrepreneur |date=4 October 2017 |access-date=6 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173440/https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/302158|archive-date=6 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson told him that he reminded him of himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/portable-skateboard-for-your-locker-on-shark-tank-locker_us_59d4df98e4b08c2a000ddd39|title=Portable Skateboard for Your Locker on Shark Tank – Locker Board|first=Jeremy|last=Alexander|website=[[HuffPost]] |date=4 October 2017|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref> Branson became the wealthiest Shark to have appeared on the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tellmenothing.com/2017/03/27/shark-tank-net-worth-all-sharks/|title=Shark Tank: Net Worth of All Sharks on the Show Till Date|website=Tell Me Nothing|date=27 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812081333/http://tellmenothing.com/2017/03/27/shark-tank-net-worth-all-sharks/|archive-date=12 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2018, Branson announced the acquisition of the [[Las Vegas]]-based [[Hard Rock Cafe|Hard Rock Casino-Hotel]] with plans to re-brand the property under his [[Virgin Hotels]] business.<ref>{{cite news|title=Business Mogul Richard Branson Buys Las Vegas Casino-Hotel|url=https://www.casinoreviews.co.uk/news/casino/business-mogul-richard-branson-buys-las-vegas-casino-hotel.html|website=Online-Casinos.com|first=Scott|last=Lawson|date=12 April 2018|access-date=18 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001220536/https://www.casinoreviews.co.uk/news/casino/business-mogul-richard-branson-buys-las-vegas-casino-hotel.html|archive-date=1 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Virgin Hotels Las Vegas]] opened on 25 March 2021.

In May 2018, it was announced that he would become a partner in a private equity fund that will be co-managed by Metric Capital. The fund will seek out consumer goods firms to invest in.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43989709|title=Richard Branson to launch investment fund|date=3 May 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503224334/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-43989709|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/richard-branson-makes-his-first-move-into-private-equity-1.3482899|title=Richard Branson makes his first move into private equity|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=4 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503173534/https://www.irishtimes.com/business/financial-services/richard-branson-makes-his-first-move-into-private-equity-1.3482899|archive-date=3 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2018, Branson took part in his fourth Virgin Strive Challenge, where he and a core team travelled more than 2,000&nbsp;km from [[Cagliari]] in [[Sardinia]] to the summit of [[Mont Blanc]] entirely under human and sail power. It was a month long, and they hiked, biked and kayaked across Europe and had a near-miss on Mont Blanc when a rockfall rained down on them as they crossed the perilous [[Grand Couloir (Mont Blanc)|Gouter Couloir]]. They raised more than £1 million for Holly and Sam Branson's charity Big Change, which supports young people.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/sir-richard-branson-seconds-from-death-on-charity-mont-blanc-climb-11513576|title=Sir Richard Branson 'seconds from death' on charity Mont Blanc climb|publisher=Sky News|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029152028/https://news.sky.com/story/sir-richard-branson-seconds-from-death-on-charity-mont-blanc-climb-11513576|archive-date=29 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2019, Branson helped to organise an international benefit concert, [[Venezuela Aid Live]], to bring worldwide attention to the [[Crisis in Venezuela|humanitarian crisis]] and raise funds for humanitarian aid. The concert took place on 22 February in [[Cúcuta]], Colombia, on the [[Colombia–Venezuela border|Venezuelan border]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mackintosh |first1=Eliza |title=Richard Branson hopes concert will persuade Venezuelan military to open border |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/22/americas/richard-branson-venezuela-aid-concerts-intl |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=CNN |date=22 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

In October 2019, Branson inaugurated Virgin's new route between [[London Heathrow]] and [[Tel Aviv]] [[Ben Gurion Airport]], calling Israel a land of "great entrepreneurs doing incredible things."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Richard Branson: Israel is a country of great entrepreneurs |url=https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/sir-richard-branson-israel-is-a-country-of-great-entrepreneurs-605584 |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=24 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref> Upon landing in Israel, he was photographed kissing the ground—a gesture traditionally performed by visitors arriving in the [[Holy Land]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Frazer |first1=Jenni |title=After feting Virgin's maiden voyage, Branson to meet with Israel space industry |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/after-feting-virgins-maiden-voyage-branson-to-meet-with-israel-space-industry/ |access-date=19 October 2025 |work=The Times of Israel |date=24 October 2019}}</ref>

===2020–present: COVID-19 difficulties===
In March 2020, during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] which saw a dramatic decline in international air travel of around 60 per cent globally,<ref>{{cite news |last=Harvey |first=Fiona |author-link=Fiona Harvey |date=19 May 2020 |title=Lockdowns trigger dramatic fall in global carbon emissions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/may/19/lockdowns-trigger-dramatic-fall-global-carbon-emissions |access-date=26 May 2020 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Branson and Virgin were criticised for asking staff to take eight weeks' unpaid leave.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dawkins |first1=David |title=Bad Times For Billionaire Branson – Staff At Virgin Atlantic Asked To Take Unpaid Leave As Coronavirus Cripples Air Travel |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddawkins/2020/03/16/bad-times-for-billionaire-bransonstaff-at-virgin-atlantic-asked-to-take-unpaid-leave-as-coronavirus-cripples-air-travel/#4d9f5cea58ef |access-date=21 March 2020 |work=Forbes |date=16 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321065553/https://www.forbes.com/sites/daviddawkins/2020/03/16/bad-times-for-billionaire-bransonstaff-at-virgin-atlantic-asked-to-take-unpaid-leave-as-coronavirus-cripples-air-travel/#4d9f5cea58ef |archive-date=21 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the global pandemic, Branson put his luxury [[Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)|Necker Island]] up as collateral for a commercial loan to save [[Virgin Atlantic]] from going bust.<ref>{{cite news|last=Read|first=Simon|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52354865|title=Branson offers Caribbean island to secure bailout|date=20 April 2020|work=BBC News|access-date=20 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420203612/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52354865|archive-date=20 April 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson said: "Over the five decades I have been in business, this is the most challenging time we have ever faced... From a business perspective, the damage to many is unprecedented and the length of the disruption remains worryingly unknown."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-branson-warns-airlines-will-collapse-without-government-cash-11975836|title=Coronavirus: Sir Richard Branson offers tropical island home to secure Virgin rescue|work=Sky News|last=Sillars|first=James|date=21 April 2020|access-date=9 May 2020}}</ref> On 5 May 2020 it was announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline would lay off 3000 staff, reduce the fleet size to 35 by the summer of 2022, retire the [[Boeing 747-400]]s<ref>{{cite web|title=Virgin Atlantic Leaving Gatwick, Retiring 747s, Laying Off 3,150 Staff
|url=https://onemileatatime.com/virgin-atlantic-future/|first=Ben|last=Schlappig|date=11 August 2021|website=One Mile at a Time|access-date=9 April 2024}}</ref> and would not resume operations from [[Gatwick Airport]] following the pandemic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52542038|title=Virgin Atlantic to cut 3,000 jobs and quit Gatwick|work=BBC News|date=5 May 2020}}</ref>

On 11 July 2021, Branson took a flight with [[Beth Moses]], [[Sirisha Bandla]] and [[Colin Bennett (astronaut)|Colin Bennett]] and reached edge of [[Outer space|space]] (86 kilometres or 53 miles) on a Virgin Galactic spacecraft called [[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']]. This made him the first billionaire founder of a space company to travel to the edge of space.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jackie|last=Wattles|title=Everything you need to know about Richard Branson going to space|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/09/tech/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-space-flight-walkup-scn/index.html|access-date=11 July 2021|website=CNN|date=9 July 2021 }}</ref>

In October 2024, [[Virgin Money UK]] was sold to the [[Nationwide Building Society]]. Branson made £724 million from the deal, £414 million from his 14.5 per cent shareholding and £310 million for Nationwide's use of the Virgin Money brand for up to six years.<ref name=guardian-20241127>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/27/nationwide-gain-virgin-money-takeover |title=Nationwide's £2.3bn takeover gain prompts criticism of Virgin Money bosses |last=Makortoff |first=Kalyeena |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2024 |access-date=28 November 2024}}</ref>

In 2025, it announced plans to compete with [[Eurostar]] on the rail lines connecting London to Paris and Brussels by 2029.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2023 |title=Le milliardaire Richard Branson veut investir dans le transport ferroviaire transmanche |url=https://www.franceinfo.fr/replay-radio/le-brief-eco/le-milliardaire-richard-branson-veut-investir-dans-le-transport-ferroviaire-transmanche_7092417.html |access-date=October 24, 2025 |website=France Info |language=fr}}</ref>

==Failed business ventures==
Branson has been involved in a number of failed business ventures, such as [[Virgin Cola]], [[Virgin Cars]], Virgin Publishing, Virgin Clothing and <!-- A retailer selling bridal wear. -->Virgin Brides.<ref name="Bower2017">{{cite news|last=Bower|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Bower|url=https://www.thetimes.com/edition/news-review/virgins-robinson-crusoe-is-desperate-to-be-adored-g3bg6qcr3|title=Virgin's Robinson Crusoe is desperate to be adored|work=The Sunday Times|date=12 February 2017|access-date=12 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212014630/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news-review/virgins-robinson-crusoe-is-desperate-to-be-adored-g3bg6qcr3|archive-date=12 February 2017|url-status=live}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/six-memorable-virgin-fails|title=Six memorable Virgin fails|first=Jack|last=Preston|date=18 January 2016|publisher=virgin.com|access-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130133738/https://www.virgin.com/entrepreneur/six-memorable-virgin-fails|archive-date=30 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Branson holds an optimistic view of failure. He has written: "I suppose the secret to bouncing back is not only to be unafraid of failures but to use them as motivational and learning tools... There's nothing wrong with making mistakes as long as you don't make the same ones over and over again."<ref>{{cite book|title=Like a Virgin|last=Branson|first=Richard|publisher=Virgin Books|year=2013|isbn=978-0753519929|location=Great Britain|pages=62}}</ref>

==World record attempts==
[[File:Virgin Atlantic Flyer.jpg|thumb|The capsule from the Virgin Atlantic Flyer balloon on display at the [[Imperial War Museum]], [[Duxford]], England]]
[[File:Balloon crash Hawaii.jpg|thumb|A 1998 attempt at an around-the-world balloon flight by Branson, [[Steve Fossett]], and [[Per Lindstrand]] ends in the Pacific Ocean on 25 December 1998.]]
Branson made several world record-breaking attempts after 1985, when in the spirit of the [[Blue Riband]] he attempted the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing by ship. His first attempt in the Virgin Atlantic Challenger led to the boat capsizing in British waters and a rescue by [[Royal Navy]] helicopter, which received wide media coverage. Some newspapers called for Branson to reimburse the government for the rescue cost. In 1986, in his Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, he beat the record by two hours with a sailing expert named Daniel McCarthy.<ref name=":0">McKenzie, Sheena (25 April 2013) "[https://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/25/business/richard-branson-virgin-atlantic-challenger-ii/ Back to the future for Richard Branson's retro 80s speedboat] ". CNN. Retrieved 30 April 2014.</ref> A year later his [[hot air balloon]] Virgin Atlantic Flyer crossed the Atlantic.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-07-03-mn-1079-story.html |title=Hot-Air Balloonists Crossing Atlantic Break Record |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=3 July 1987 |access-date=10 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140910195843/http://articles.latimes.com/1987-07-03/news/mn-1079_1_hot-air-balloon |archive-date=10 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 1991, Branson crossed the Pacific from Japan to [[Arctic Canada]], {{convert|6700|mi|km}}, in a balloon of {{convert|2600000|cuft|m3}}. This broke the record, with a speed of {{convert|145|mph|km/h}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-23-sp-638-story.html |last=Roberts |first=Rich |date=23 January 1991 |title=Floating into a Nightmare : Two Barely Survive 6,700-Mile Flight Across Pacific in 220-Foot Balloon |work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191007121239/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-01-23-sp-638-story.html |archive-date=7 October 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Between 1995 and 1998, Branson, [[Per Lindstrand]], [[Vladimir Dzhanibekov]], [[Larry Newman (aviator)|Larry Newman]] and [[Steve Fossett]] made attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon. In late 1998 they made a record-breaking flight from Morocco to [[Hawaii]], but were unable to complete a global flight before [[Bertrand Piccard]] and [[Brian Jones (aeronaut)|Brian Jones]] in ''[[Breitling Orbiter 3]]'' in March 1999.

In March 2004, Branson set a record by travelling from [[Dover]] to [[Calais]] in a [[Gibbs Aquada]] in 1 hour, 40 minutes and 6 seconds, the fastest crossing of the [[English Channel]] in an [[amphibious vehicle]]. The previous record of six hours was set by two Frenchmen.<ref name="Rick">{{cite news| title = Branson sets cross-Channel record|work=BBC News| date = 14 June 2004| url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/3805275.stm| access-date = 13 June 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070831132114/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/coventry_warwickshire/3805275.stm| archive-date = 31 August 2007| url-status=live }}</ref> The hosts of the motoring television programme ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'', [[Jeremy Clarkson]], [[James May]] and [[Richard Hammond]], attempted to break this record in 2007 with an amphibious vehicle which they had constructed and, while successfully crossing the channel, did not break Branson's record. After being intercepted by the Coast Guard and asked what their intentions were, Clarkson remarked "...our intentions are to go across the Channel faster than 'Beardy' Branson!". The Coast Guard wished them 'Good luck and Bon Voyage'.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVjo6YOT3Zg | title=Crossing the Channel in Car Boats! (HQ) – Top Gear – Series 10 – BBC | website=[[YouTube]] | date=17 July 2014 | access-date=17 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723170802/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVjo6YOT3Zg | archive-date=23 July 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref>

In September 2008, Branson and his children made an unsuccessful attempt at an eastbound record crossing of the Atlantic Ocean under sail in the {{convert|99|ft|m|adj=on}} [[sloop]] ''Virgin Money''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.meeja.com.au/index.php?display_article_id=158 |title=Richard Branson sets out to crack transatlantic sail record|first=Michelle|last=Nichols |publisher=meeja.com.au |date=3 September 2008 |access-date=3 September 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216184602/http://www.meeja.com.au/index.php?display_article_id=158 |archive-date=16 February 2012 }}</ref> The boat, also known as ''Speedboat'', is owned by a [[New York Yacht Club]] member named Alex Jackson, who was a co-skipper on this passage, with Branson and Mike Sanderson. After two days, four hours, winds of [[Beaufort scale|force]] 7 to 9 (strong gale), and seas of {{convert|40|ft|m}}, a 'monster wave' destroyed the [[spinnaker]], washed a ten-man life raft overboard and severely ripped the mainsail. The sloop eventually continued to [[St. George's, Bermuda]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyyc.org/archives_public/|title=Virgin Money Is Attempting to Break Transatlantic Passage Record|publisher=nyyc.org|date=23 October 2008|access-date=23 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081223022340/http://nyyc.org/archives_public/|archive-date=23 December 2008}}</ref>

==Television, film and print==
[[File:ETalk2008-Sir Richard Branson.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Branson at the [[2008 Toronto International Film Festival]]]]
Branson has guest starred, usually playing himself, on several television shows, including ''[[Friends]]'', ''[[Baywatch]]'', ''[[Birds of a Feather (TV series)|Birds of a Feather]]'', ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]'', ''[[The Day Today]]'', a special episode of the comedy ''[[Goodness Gracious Me (BBC)|Goodness Gracious Me]]'' and ''[[Tripping Over]]''. Branson made several appearances during the 1990s on the [[BBC]] Saturday morning programme ''[[Live & Kicking]]'', where he was referred to as 'the pickle man' by the comedy act [[Trev and Simon]] (in reference to [[Branston Pickle]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saturdaymornings.co.uk/bbccatalogueprog.shtml?show=livekicking&number=LCKW533F |title=on |publisher=Saturdaymornings.co.uk |access-date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716104401/http://www.saturdaymornings.co.uk/bbccatalogueprog.shtml?show=livekicking&number=LCKW533F |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}</ref>

Branson also appears in a cameo early in [[XTC]]'s "Generals and Majors" video. He was also the star of a reality television show on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] called ''[[The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best]]'' (2004), in which sixteen contestants were tested for their entrepreneurship and sense of adventure and only lasted one season.<ref name="Bower2017"/>

His high public profile often leaves him open as a figure of satire—the [[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]] series ''[[Zenith (comic)|Zenith]]'' features a parody of Branson as a [[supervillain]], as the comic's publisher and favoured distributor and the Virgin group were in competition at the time. He is also caricatured in ''[[The Simpsons]]'' episode "[[Monty Can't Buy Me Love]]" as the tycoon Arthur Fortune, as the ballooning [[Narcissism|megalomaniac]] Richard Chutney (a pun on Branson, as in [[Branston Pickle]]) in ''[[Believe Nothing]]'', and voiced himself in "[[The Princess Guide (The Simpsons)|The Princess Guide]]". The character Grandson Richard 39 in [[Terry Pratchett]]'s Wings is modelled on Branson.

He has a [[cameo appearance]] in several films: ''[[Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film)|Around the World in 80 Days]]'' (2004), where he played a hot-air balloon operator, and ''[[Superman Returns]]'' (2006), where he was credited as a 'Shuttle Engineer' and appeared alongside his son, Sam, with a [[Virgin Galactic]]-style commercial suborbital shuttle at the centre of his storyline. He also has a cameo in the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Casino Royale (2006 film)|Casino Royale]]'' (2006). Here, he is seen as a passenger going through [[Miami Airport]] security check-in and being frisked – several Virgin Atlantic planes appear soon after. British Airways edited out Branson's cameo in their in-flight screening of the movie.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6579839.stm |title=BA cuts Branson from Bond movie |work=BBC News|date=21 April 2007 |access-date=14 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110142152/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6579839.stm |archive-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> He makes a number of brief and disjointed appearances in the documentary ''[[Derek and Clive Get the Horn]]'' (1979), which follows the exploits of [[Peter Cook]] and [[Dudley Moore]] recording their final comedy album. Branson and his mother were also featured in the documentary film ''Lemonade Stories''. On the television series ''[[Rove Live]]'' in early 2006, [[Rove McManus]] and Branson pushed each other into a swimming pool fully clothed live on television during a "Live at your house" episode.

Branson is a ''[[Star Trek]]'' fan and named the spaceplane [[VSS Enterprise|VSS ''Enterprise'']] in honour of the ''Star Trek'' spaceships, and in 2006 reportedly offered the actor [[William Shatner]] a ride on the inaugural space launch of Virgin Galactic. In an interview in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, published on 10 August 2009, Shatner claimed Branson approached him asking how much he would pay for a journey on the spaceplane. In response, Shatner asked "how much would you pay ''me'' to do it?"

In August 2007, Branson announced on ''[[The Colbert Report]]'' that he had named a new aircraft Air Colbert. He later doused the host, [[Stephen Colbert]], with water from his mug. Branson subsequently took a retaliatory splash from Colbert. The interview quickly ended, with both laughing<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=91955
 |title=Colbert Report – Richard Branson
 |publisher=Comedy Central
 |date=26 May 2011
|access-date=11 June 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226002957/http://www.comedycentral.com/motherload/index.jhtml?ml_video=91955
 |archive-date=26 December 2007
|url-status=live
}}
</ref> as shown on the episode aired on [[Comedy Central]] on 22 August 2007. The interview was promoted on ''The Report'' as the ''Colbert-Branson Interview Trainwreck''. Branson then made a cameo appearance in ''[[The Soup]]'', playing an intern working under [[Joel McHale]] who had been warned against getting into water fights with Colbert, and being subsequently fired.

In March 2008, he launched [[Virgin Mobile]] in India; during that period, he made a cameo appearance in the [[Bollywood]] film ''[[London Dreams]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20080304-2.html |title=Neha Dhupia swept off her feet by Richard Branson : Bollywood News |publisher=ApunKaChoice.Com |date=4 March 2008 |access-date=14 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513211035/http://www.apunkachoice.com/scoop/bollywood/20080304-2.html |archive-date=13 May 2011 }}</ref> In July 2010, Branson narrated the Australian sailor [[Jessica Watson]]'s documentary about her solo sailing trip around the world.

In April 2011, Branson appeared on [[CNN]]'s Mainsail with [[Kate Winslet]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://edition.cnn.com/sport | title=Show Pages – MainSail | date=31 May 2011 | access-date=25 April 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427092633/http://edition.cnn.com/CNNI/Programs/main.sail/ | archive-date=27 April 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> Together they re-enacted a famous scene from the 1997 film ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' for the cameras.<ref>{{cite web |author=TheHyperbot1 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf9W7w_9T1U |title=Branson, Winslet – Titanic Scene |via=YouTube |date=22 April 2011 |access-date=11 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130710001712/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zf9W7w_9T1U |archive-date=10 July 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=YouTube is not an ideal source.|date=November 2018}} On 17 August 2011 he was featured in the premiere episode of [[Hulu]]'s first long-form original production, ''[[A Day in the Life (2011 TV series)|A Day in the Life]]''.<ref name=MSADITL>{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/17/morgan-spurlock-a-day-in-the-life_n_929008.html|title=Morgan Spurlock 'A Day in the Life': Original Series Premieres on Hulu |format=video|access-date=8 September 2011|date=17 August 2011|work=[[HuffPost]]|first=Gazelle|last=Emami|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007194238/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/17/morgan-spurlock-a-day-in-the-life_n_929008.html|archive-date=7 October 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

At the 2012 [[Pride of Britain Awards]] on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] on 30 October, Branson, along with [[Michael Caine]], [[Elton John]], [[Simon Cowell]] and [[Stephen Fry]], recited [[Rudyard Kipling]]'s poem "[[If—]]" in tribute to the 2012 British [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics|Olympic]] and [[Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|Paralympics]] athletes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Britain's biggest stars record iconic poem 'If' as tribute to Olympic heroes|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/britains-biggest-stars-record-iconic-poem-tribute-olympic-111750818.html|publisher=Yahoo!|date=10 November 2014|access-date=22 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161123055658/https://www.yahoo.com/news/britains-biggest-stars-record-iconic-poem-tribute-olympic-111750818.html|archive-date=23 November 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1998, Branson released his autobiography, titled ''[[Losing My Virginity]]'', an international best-seller.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bestsellersreviews.com/losing-my-virginity-how-ive-survived-had-fun-and-made-a-fortune-doing-business-my-way-richard-branson-1999|title=Losing My Virginity – How I've Survived, Had Fun, And Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way, Richard Branson, 1999|date=3 July 2010|publisher=Bestsellersreviews.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707230308/http://www.bestsellersreviews.com/losing-my-virginity-how-ive-survived-had-fun-and-made-a-fortune-doing-business-my-way-richard-branson-1999|archive-date=7 July 2011|access-date=11 June 2011}}
</ref> Branson was deeply saddened by the disappearance of his fellow-adventurer [[Steve Fossett]] in September 2007; the following month he wrote an article for [[Time (magazine)|''Time'' magazine]], titled "My Friend, Steve Fossett".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1670216,00.html|title=My Friend, Steve Fossett|last=Branson|first=Richard|date=10 October 2007|magazine=Time|access-date=14 September 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213205333/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1670216,00.html|archive-date=13 December 2007}}</ref>

==Humanitarian initiatives==

In the late 1990s, Branson and the musician [[Peter Gabriel]] discussed with [[Nelson Mandela]] their idea of a small group of leaders working to solve difficult global conflicts.<ref name="prelders">[http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6353-help-free-the-children-with-richard-branson Help Free The Children With Richard Branson] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831220741/http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6353-help-free-the-children-with-richard-branson |date=31 August 2011 }}, www.looktothestars.org</ref> On 18 July 2007 in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa, Mandela announced the formation of a new group, [[The Elders (organization)|The Elders]]. [[Kofi Annan]] served as Chair of The Elders and [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]] as deputy chair. The Elders is funded by a group of donors, including Branson and Gabriel.

[[File:ICMEC Board.jpg|thumb|300px|Richard Branson with his mother Eve, and the board of directors of the [[International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children]], April 2014]]
In 1999, Branson became a founding sponsor of the [[International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children]] ("ICMEC"), the goal of which is to help find missing children, and to stop the exploitation of children, as his mother Eve became a founding member of ICMEC's board of directors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icmec.org/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_X1&PageId=4888 |title=International Children's Organization Expands Global Reach With Four New Board Members |access-date=2 June 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029054446/http://www.icmec.org/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_X1&PageId=4888 |archive-date=29 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=Eve|last=Branson|title=Mum's the Word: The High-Flying Adventures of Eve Branson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZdBNBdYKNC4C&pg=PA207|year=2013|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=978-1477245811|page=207}}</ref>

Through the Carbon War Room, founded in 2009, Branson sought solutions for global warming and the energy crisis. "We all have a part to play, but I believe entrepreneurs will have a really significant role to play in bringing investment and commercial skills to help develop the new technologies needed to grow a post-carbon economy", he said in his interview with ''[[Vision (magazine)|Vision]]''. Through the Carbon War Room he has focused efforts on finding sustainable alternatives for three industry sectors: shipping, energy efficiency and aviation and renewable jet fuels.<ref name="vision.ae">{{cite web|url=http://vision.ae/focus/exclusive_interview_sir_richard_branson|title=Sir Richard Branson interview – Vision Magazine|first=Rebecca|last=Burn-Callander|date=January 2014|access-date=2 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527110825/http://vision.ae/focus/exclusive_interview_sir_richard_branson|archive-date=27 May 2015}}</ref>

He also launched Virgin Startup, an official delivery partner for the UK's Start Up Loans programme. Through this new organisation, he provided loans to entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 30 UK-wide. A pilot of the scheme, which ran over 11 months, injected £600,000 into 100 businesses.<ref name="vision.ae"/>

Branson's other work in South Africa includes the [[Branson School of Entrepreneurship]], set up in 2005 as a partnership between [[Virgin Unite]], the non-profit foundation of Virgin, and entrepreneur [[Taddy Blecher]], the founder of [[CIDA City Campus]], a university in [[Johannesburg]]. The school aims to improve economic growth in South Africa by supporting start-ups and micro-enterprises with skills, mentors, services, networks and finance arrangements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virginunite.com/Templates/News.aspx?nid=96e9b78a-cc3b-4c6e-b4e4-bc0ba18184c1&cid=f010e54f-209d-4736-8586-0a24ae2f35b2&id=85b159fd-d3cd-482f-b2a4-fd47945eb87a/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205141252/http://www.virginunite.com/Templates/News.aspx?nid=96e9b78a-cc3b-4c6e-b4e4-bc0ba18184c1&cid=f010e54f-209d-4736-8586-0a24ae2f35b2&id=85b159fd-d3cd-482f-b2a4-fd47945eb87a/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 February 2013 |title=Virgin Unite |publisher=Virgin Unite |access-date=14 September 2010 }}</ref><ref name="Telegraph 2009">{{cite news|last1=Ruddick|first1=Graham|title=Sir Richard Branson teaches African entrepreneurs Dragons' Den-style|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/supportservices/5906838/Sir-Richard-Branson-teaches-African-entrepreneurs-Dragons-Den-style.html|access-date=3 July 2014|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=25 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228012455/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/supportservices/5906838/Sir-Richard-Branson-teaches-African-entrepreneurs-Dragons-Den-style.html|archive-date=28 February 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Fundraising activity to support the school is achieved by [[Sunday Times Fast Track 100|''The Sunday Times'' Fast Track 100]], sponsored by [[Virgin Group]], at its yearly event, where places to join Branson on trips to South Africa to provide coaching and mentoring to students are auctioned to attendees. In 2009 Jason Luckhurst and Boyd Kershaw of Practicus, Martin Ainscough of the Ainscough Group and [[Matthew Riley]] of Daisy Communications helped to raise £150,000 through the auction.<ref>[http://www.athletepromotions.com/celebrity/Richard-Branson-appearance-booking-agent.php Richard Branson appearances booking agent] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124073633/http://www.athletepromotions.com/celebrity/Richard-Branson-appearance-booking-agent.php |date=24 November 2011 }}, www.athletepromotions.com</ref>

In March 2008, Branson hosted an environmental gathering at his private island, [[Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)|Necker Island]], in the Caribbean with several entrepreneurs, celebrities, and world leaders. They discussed global warming-related problems, hoping that the meeting would be a precursor to future discussions regarding similar problems. The former British prime minister [[Tony Blair]], the Wikipedia co-founder [[Jimmy Wales]] and the [[Google]] co-founder [[Larry Page]] were in attendance.<ref>Sorkin, Andrew Ross (22 March 2008), [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/business/worldbusiness/22deal.html "Thinking Green While Sifting Through the Sand"],  ''The New York Times''. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327012423/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/business/worldbusiness/22deal.html |date=27 March 2017 }}.</ref>

On 8 May 2009, Branson took over [[Mia Farrow]]'s [[hunger strike]] for three days in protest of the Sudanese government expulsion of aid groups from the [[Darfur]] region.<ref>{{cite press release| title= Farrow ends Darfur protest fast| url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8041777.stm| publisher= BBC| date= 9 May 2009| access-date= 4 January 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090516061007/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8041777.stm| archive-date= 16 May 2009| url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, he and the Nduna Foundation (founded by [[Amy Robbins (philanthropist)|Amy Robbins]]), and Humanity United (an organization backed by Pam Omidyar, the wife of the [[eBay]] founder [[Pierre Omidyar]]) founded Enterprise Zimbabwe.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/business/global/21branson.html New York Times: "Branson Charity Focuses Aid Effort on Zimbabwe" By Stephanie Strom] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909010314/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/business/global/21branson.html|date=9 September 2017 }} 20 September 2010</ref>

[[File:Richard Branson UN Conference on Sustainable Development 2012.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Branson at the [[United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development]] in 2012]]
Branson is a signatory of [[Global Zero (campaign)|Global Zero]] campaign, a non-profit international initiative for the elimination of all nuclear weapons worldwide.<ref>{{cite news|title=Group Offers Plan to Eliminate Nukes by 2030 |url=http://www.globalzero.org/files/pdf/NYT_Jun29_09_AP_Syndicated.pdf |work=The New York Times |date=29 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513205939/http://www.globalzero.org/files/pdf/NYT_Jun29_09_AP_Syndicated.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2011 }}</ref> Since its launch in Paris in December 2008,<ref>{{cite news|last=Corera|first=Gordon|title=Group seeks nuclear weapons ban|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7774584.stm|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2008|access-date=30 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728005425/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7774584.stm|archive-date=28 July 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Global Zero has grown to 300 leaders, including current and former heads of state, national security officials and military commanders, and 400,000 citizens worldwide; developed a practical step-by-step plan to eliminate nuclear weapons; launched an international student campaign with 75 campus chapters in eight countries; and produced a documentary film, ''[[Countdown to Zero]]'', in partnership with [[Lawrence Bender]] and [[Participant Media]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Clift|first=Eleanor|title=A Good Start: 'Global Zero' reminds us that eradicating nuclear weapons should still be our ultimate goal|url=http://www.newsweek.com/id/236133|newspaper=Newsweek|access-date=30 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413113211/http://www.newsweek.com/id/236133|archive-date=13 April 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2010, Branson has served as a Commissioner on the [[Broadband Commission for Digital Development]], a [[United Nations]] initiative which promotes universal access to broadband services.<ref>{{cite web
 |url=http://www.broadbandcommission.org/commissioners.html
 |title=Commissioners
 |publisher=Broadbandcommission.org
 |access-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100514094219/http://www.broadbandcommission.org/commissioners.html
 |archive-date=14 May 2010 }}</ref> In 2011 Branson served on the [[Global Commission on Drug Policy]] with former political and cultural leaders of Latin America and elsewhere, "in a bid to boost the effort to achieve more humane and rational drug laws."<ref>
{{cite web
 |url=http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2011/jan/26/exworld_leaders_form_global_drug
 |title=Ex-World Leaders Form Global Drug Policy Commission
 |last=Smith
 |first=Phillip
 |publisher=stopthedrugwar.org
 |date=27 January 2011
|access-date=12 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629173534/http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/2011/jan/26/exworld_leaders_form_global_drug
 |archive-date=29 June 2011
|url-status=live
}}
</ref>

In December 2013, Branson urged companies to boycott Uganda because of its "anti-homosexuality bill". Branson stated that it would be "against my conscience to support this country...governments must realize that people should be able to love whoever they want."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/131226/richard-branson-condemns-uganda-over-anti-gay-bill |title=Richard Branson condemns Uganda over anti-gay bill |work=Global Post |date=26 December 2013 |access-date=4 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105012712/http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/africa/131226/richard-branson-condemns-uganda-over-anti-gay-bill |archive-date=5 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Branson joined forces with [[African Wildlife Foundation]] and partner WildAid for the "Say No" Campaign, an initiative to bring public awareness to the issues of wildlife poaching and trafficking.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.awf.org/projects/say-no-campaign | title=Say No Campaign | publisher=African Wildlife Foundation | access-date=8 October 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141005202253/http://www.awf.org/projects/say-no-campaign | archive-date=5 October 2014 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Branson is an opponent of the death penalty, stating: "the death penalty is always cruel, barbaric and inhumane. It has no place in the world."<ref>{{cite news|title=The death penalty has no place in the world|url=http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/the-death-penalty-has-no-place-in-the-world-0|publisher=Virgin.com|date=30 September 2015|access-date=30 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001044657/http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/the-death-penalty-has-no-place-in-the-world-0|archive-date=1 October 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015 Branson released a letter in support of the American prisoner [[Richard Glossip]] on the day he was due to be executed,<ref name="death penalty">{{cite news|title=Pope Francis and Sir Richard Branson appeal for Oklahoma inmate's life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/30/richard-glossip-oklahoma-execution|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=30 September 2015|access-date=13 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215100348/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/sep/30/richard-glossip-oklahoma-execution|archive-date=15 February 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2021 was among the public figures who called on Singapore to halt the execution of [[Nagaenthran K. Dharmalingam]], a Malaysian drug trafficker who was convicted and sentenced to Singapore's [[death row]] for heroin trafficking.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59206825|website=BBC News|title=Nagaenthran Dharmalingam: Singapore halts execution of man with low IQ|date=8 November 2021|access-date=9 November 2021}}</ref> After Nagaenthran was executed by hanging at Changi Prison, Branson expressed disappointment in Singapore for its "relentless machinery of death" since it left "no room for decency, dignity, compassion, or mercy".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2022/04/28/tycoon-branson-raps-singapores-relentless-machinery-of-death-after-nagaenthrans-execution/|title=Tycoon Branson raps 'Singapore's relentless machinery of death' after Nagaenthran's execution|website=Malaysia Now|date=28 April 2022|access-date=28 April 2022|url-status=live |archive-date=28 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428010742/https://www.malaysianow.com/news/2022/04/28/tycoon-branson-raps-singapores-relentless-machinery-of-death-after-nagaenthrans-execution/ }}</ref> In October 2022 the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs invited Branson to Singapore for a live televised debate on Singapore's approach towards drugs and the death penalty with [[K. Shanmugam]], Singapore's Minister for Home Affairs and Law.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.mha.gov.sg/mediaroom/press-releases/ministry-of-home-affairs-response-to-sir-richard-branson-blog-post-on-10-october-2022|website=Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore|title=Ministry of Home Affairs' Response to Sir Richard Branson's Blog Post on 10 October 2022
|date=22 October 2022|access-date=22 October 2022}}</ref> Branson rejected the offer.<ref>{{cite web |title=My response to Singapore's Home Affairs Minister on the death penalty {{!}} Virgin |url=https://virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/my-response-to-singapores-home-affairs-minister-on-the-death-penalty |access-date=31 October 2022 |website=Virgin.com }}</ref> In 2023, Branson once again spoke up against Singapore's stance of capital punishment when he protested against the upcoming execution of [[Tangaraju Suppiah]], a 46-year-old Singaporean who was found guilty of trafficking 1&nbsp;kg of cannabis and scheduled to hang on 26 April 2023, and Branson claimed that Tangaraju was "innocent" of the crime of which he was convicted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://coconuts.co/singapore/news/in-the-coming-days-singapore-may-kill-an-innocent-man-richard-branson-on-tangaraju-suppiahs-upcoming-execution/ |title='In the coming days, Singapore may kill an innocent man': Richard Branson on Tangaraju Suppiah's upcoming execution|website=Coconuts |date=24 April 2023}}</ref> Before the [[execution of Saridewi Djamani]] on 28 July 2023, Branson also appealed for mercy on Saridewi's behalf; Saridewi was the first female offender to be executed in Singapore, 19 years after the hanging of [[Yen May Woen]] in 2004.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66309347  |title=Singapore to execute woman on drugs charge for the first time in 20 years |website=BBC News|date=27 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/asia/singapore-female-prisoner-execution-saridewi-djamani-intl-hnk/index.html | title=Singapore executes first woman in nearly two decades for drug trafficking|date=28 July 2023|work=CNN }}</ref>

Branson has spoken out in support of a new trial for the American death row prisoner [[Toforest Johnson]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hrynkiw |first=Ivana |date=3 March 2025 |title=Alabama Death Row inmate Toforest Johnson's lawyers push for new trial after Steve Marshall's 'alarming' actions |url=https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2025/03/alabama-death-row-inmate-toforest-johnsons-lawyers-push-for-new-trial-after-steve-marshalls-alarming-actions.html |access-date=6 March 2025 |website=AL.com |language=en}}</ref> In February 2025 Branson used his social media accounts to draw attention to Johnson's case. Branson wrote on [[Instagram]] that "[a]n innocent man has been on [[Alabama]]'s death row for over 26 years, but there is still time to fix this tragic mistake." Branson's post encouraged his followers to listen to the podcast ''[https://lavaforgood.com/earwitness/ Earwitness]'', which tells Johnson's story.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 February 2025 |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3OTIxODEwNDA5MDQwMTY1?story_media_id=3560012703253183742&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== |access-date=3 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Darrington |first=Patrick |date=2 October 2023 |title="Earwitness" podcast digs into the bewildering case of Toforest Johnson |url=https://www.alreporter.com/2023/10/02/earwitness-podcast-digs-into-the-bewildering-case-of-toforest-johnson/ |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Alabama Political Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

In October 2018, Branson spoke out for [[Jamal Khashoggi]], a Saudi journalist who was killed by Saudi authorities in the Saudi consulate in [[Istanbul]], Turkey by suspending his advisory role from [[Saudi Arabia]]'s biggest Red Sea tourism project. He issued a statement saying, "The disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, if proved true, would clearly change the ability of any of us in the [[Western world|West]] to do business with the [[Saudi Government]]."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/11/business/branson-saudi-khashoggi/index.html|title=Richard Branson temporarily suspends ties with Saudi government|date=11 October 2018 |publisher=CNN|access-date=12 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012010643/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/11/business/branson-saudi-khashoggi/index.html|archive-date=12 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2021/02/26/the-cia-blames-mbs-for-the-murder-of-jamal-khashoggi|title=The CIA blames MBS for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

On 10 April 2023, Branson became an ambassador for the [[United24]] fundraising platform.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Branson becomes an Ambassador for the UNITED24 fundraising platform |url=https://u24.gov.ua/news/richard_branson_ambassador |access-date=11 April 2023 |website=u24.gov.ua}}</ref> Іn connection with these events Virgin Unite announced program of evacuations of children with cancer to the world's leading clinics, in cooperation with the Ukrainian [[Tabletochki Charity Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Helping children with cancer in Ukraine {{!}} Virgin |url=https://virgin.com/branson-family/holly-branson-blog/helping-children-with-cancer-in-ukraine |access-date=12 December 2023 |website=Virgin.com }}</ref>

===Climate change pledge===
[[File:Secretary Kerry Sits With Sir Richard Branson for a Discussion on Climate Change in Davos (24413230022).jpg|thumb|right|Branson discusses climate change with the [[United States Secretary of State]] [[John Kerry]] in 2016.]]
In 2006 Branson made a high-profile pledge to invest US$3&nbsp;billion towards addressing [[global warming]] over the course of the following decade.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5368194.stm |title=Branson makes $3bn climate pledge |date=21 September 2006 |work=BBC News |access-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306215648/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5368194.stm |archive-date=6 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/science/22warmcnd.html |title=Branson Pledges Billions to Fight Global Warming |website=The New York Times |date=21 September 2006 |access-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702141403/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/science/22warmcnd.html |archive-date=2 July 2015 |url-status=live  |last1=Revkin |first1=Andrew&nbsp;C. }}</ref> However, the author and activist [[Naomi Klein]] has criticised Branson for contributing "well under $300&nbsp;million" as of 2014, far below the originally stated goal.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/13/richard-branson-failed-climate-change-pledge |title=Richard Branson failed to deliver on $3bn climate change pledge |website=The Guardian |date=13 September 2014 |access-date=29 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305074122/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/sep/13/richard-branson-failed-climate-change-pledge |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, Klein says Virgin airlines' [[greenhouse gas emissions]] increased considerably in the years following his pledge.<ref>{{cite book |last=Klein |first=Naomi |author-link=Naomi Klein |date=2014 |title=This Changes Everything}}{{ISBN?}}{{Page needed|date=July 2021}}</ref>

===B Team===
Branson is the co-founder of the [[The B Team|B Team]], a global nonprofit organization that was founded in 2013 by a group of business leaders who are committed to using their influence to drive positive change and promote sustainable business practice. The B Team has several focus areas, including climate action, human rights and responsible tax practices. The organisation also advocates for gender equality and diversity and inclusion in the workplace, recognising that these issues are critical to achieving sustainable business practices.<ref>{{cite web |last=Josephson |first=Kimberlee |date=20 August 2022 |title=How Richard Branson's Space Flights Reveal the Inherent Problem With 'Business Impact Initiatives' {{!}} Kimberlee Josephson |url=https://fee.org/articles/how-richard-branson-s-space-flights-reveal-the-inherent-problem-with-business-impact-initiatives/ |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=fee.org }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Gilchrist |first=Karen |title=Richard Branson says individuals, governments should cap their energy use to help end the war in Ukraine |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/20/richard-branson-people-should-cut-energy-use-to-stop-ukraine-war.html |access-date=3 March 2023 |website=CNBC |date=20 April 2022 }}</ref>

==Politics==
In the 1980s, Branson was briefly given the post of "litter Tsar" by [[Margaret Thatcher]]—charged with "keeping Britain tidy".<ref>{{cite news |first=David |title=Britsaver – an accident waiting to happen. |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article745236.ece |access-date=27 August 2007 |work=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=3 December 2005 |last=Byers |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612162246/http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/columnists/article745236.ece |archive-date=12 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Heintke |first=Martina |title=Sir Richard Branson |url=http://www.pointmade.co.uk/news_letters_6.htm |access-date=27 August 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070817055553/http://www.pointmade.co.uk/news_letters_6.htm |archive-date = 17 August 2007}}</ref> During the BBC coverage of the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]], Branson was interviewed at the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] celebrations at the [[Royal Festival Hall]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/XoL_tT046tI Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191212061437/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoL_tT046tI Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoL_tT046tI|title=BBC 1997 General Election – Part One|date=20 September 2017 |via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In 2005 he declared that there were only negligible differences between the two main parties on economic matters.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4450641.stm | title=Labour and Tories same – Branson | access-date=23 September 2006 |work=BBC News| date=15 April 2005 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051121181918/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/vote_2005/frontpage/4450641.stm | archive-date=21 November 2005 | url-status=live }}</ref> He was suggested as a candidate for [[Mayor of London]] before the [[2000 London mayoral election|first 2000 mayoral election]], with polls indicating he would be a viable candidate, but he did not express interest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Do Blacks Need a New London Mayor? |url=http://www.thechronicle.demon.co.uk/archive/londmayo.htm |access-date=27 August 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061003034349/http://www.thechronicle.demon.co.uk/archive/londmayo.htm |archive-date = 3 October 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Londoners snub politicians for mayor |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/london_referendum/84708.stm |access-date=27 August 2007 |work=BBC News|date=28 April 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040720003108/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/london_referendum/84708.stm |archive-date=20 July 2004 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Who's in the running for mayor? |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/london_referendum/73363.stm |access-date=27 August 2007 |work=BBC News|date=10 April 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912175200/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1998/london_referendum/73363.stm |archive-date=12 September 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2015, Branson said that almost all drug use should be decriminalised in the UK, following [[Drug policy of Portugal|the example of Portugal]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/03/uk-should-begin-decriminalising-drugs-richard-branson-nick-clegg|title=UK should begin decriminalising drugs, say Richard Branson and Nick Clegg|first=Patrick|last=Wintour|work=The Guardian|access-date=2 June 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603010831/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/mar/03/uk-should-begin-decriminalising-drugs-richard-branson-nick-clegg|archive-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>

Branson supported continuing British membership of the [[European Union]] and was opposed to the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum]].<ref>Stadlen, Matthew. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/10406991/An-EU-vote-ridiculous.html "An EU vote? ridiculous"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154401/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/10406991/An-EU-vote-ridiculous.html |date=23 November 2018 }}. ''The Telegraph''. 26 October 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.</ref> On 28 June 2016, interviewed for ITV's ''[[Good Morning Britain (2014 TV programme)|Good Morning Britain]]'', he said his company had lost a third of its value as a result of the referendum result and that a planned venture, employing more than 3,000 people, which he had announced before the referendum, had been shelved. He gave his backing for a [[Proposed referendum on the Brexit withdrawal agreement|second referendum]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/video/2016/jun/28/richard-branson-virgin-group-lost-a-third-of-value-since-brexit-vote-video|title=Richard Branson: Virgin Group lost a third of value since Brexit vote |format= video|newspaper=The Guardian|date=28 June 2016|access-date=28 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160628161703/https://www.theguardian.com/business/video/2016/jun/28/richard-branson-virgin-group-lost-a-third-of-value-since-brexit-vote-video|archive-date=28 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election]].<ref>Branson, R. [https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/i-want-entrepreneur-become-president-one-day-just-not-donald-trump Virgin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190417180445/https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/i-want-entrepreneur-become-president-one-day-just-not-donald-trump |date=17 April 2019 }} 14 October 2016.</ref>

Branson openly criticised the [[Philippine drug war]] marred by allegations of [[extrajudicial killings]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Duterte's war on drugs is not the answer by Richard Branson |url=https://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/dutertes-war-on-drugs-is-not-the-answer-by-richard-branson |publisher=Global Commission on Drug Policy |access-date=14 November 2022 |date=4 August 2016}}</ref> In September 2016, he, along with the former [[United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights]] [[Louise Arbour]] and the former Brazilian president [[Fernando Henrique Cardoso]], wrote a letter to the then Philippine president, [[Rodrigo Duterte]], calling on his government to halt the killings and develop [[evidence-based policies]] to address the Philippines' drug situation.<ref>{{cite web |title=To the President of the Philippines |url=https://idpc.net/es/news/2016/09/to-the-president-of-the-philippines |publisher=International Drug Policy Consortium |access-date=14 November 2022 |language=Spanish |date=12 September 2016}}</ref>

After expressing his opposition to the [[death penalty]] for crimes such as drug trafficking, in October 2022 Branson was invited by Singapore's government to participate in a live television debate regarding this country's approach to drugs and the death penalty. However, Branson declined this invitation, stating that such debates often focus on the personalities rather than the issue itself.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-63451982 | title=Sir Richard Branson declines Singapore death penalty TV debate invitation | date=31 October 2022 | work =BBC News |access-date=31 October 2022}}</ref>

==Honours and awards==
[[File:Madame Tussaud - London (2326697247).jpg|thumb|upright|Waxwork of Branson at [[Madame Tussauds]], London]]
* In 1992, Branson received the Golden Plate Award of the [[American Academy of Achievement]].<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#business}}</ref>
* In 1993, Branson was awarded an honorary degree of [[Doctor of Technology]] from [[Loughborough University]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.keynotes.org/speaker/RichardBranson| title=Keynote Speaker Videos on Trend Hunter| access-date=17 December 2015| publisher=keynotes.org| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222164253/http://www.keynotes.org/speaker/RichardBranson| archive-date=22 December 2015| url-status=live }}</ref>
* In the [[2000 New Year Honours|New Years Honours list]] dated 30 December 1999, [[Queen Elizabeth II]] signified her intention to confer the honour of [[Knight Bachelor]] on him for his "services to entrepreneurship".<ref>[http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/55710/supplements/1 Official announcement knighthood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522155019/http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/55710/supplements/1 |date=22 May 2013 }}. ''[[The London Gazette]]''. 30 December 1999.</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584131.stm | title=New Years Honours | access-date=23 September 2006 |work=BBC News| date=31 December 1999 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113021546/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/12/99/new_years_honours/584131.stm | archive-date=13 January 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref> He was knighted by [[Charles, Prince of Wales]], on 30 March 2000 at an investiture in [[Buckingham Palace]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/695511.stm | title=Virgin tycoon is knighted | access-date=15 January 2011 |work=BBC News| date=30 March 2000 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030109105904/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/695511.stm | archive-date=9 January 2003 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* Also in 2000, Branson received the [[Tony Jannus Award]] for his accomplishments in commercial air transportation.
* In 2000, Branson was inducted into the [[International Air & Space Hall of Fame]] at the [[San Diego Air & Space Museum]].<ref>Sprekelmeyer, Linda, editor. ''These We Honor: The International Aerospace Hall of Fame''. Donning Co. Publishers, 2006. {{ISBN|978-1578643974}}.{{page needed|date=July 2021}}</ref>
* Branson appears at No. 85 on the 2002 list of [[100 Greatest Britons]] on the [[BBC]] and voted for by the public. Branson was also ranked in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine{{'s}} 2007 list of the [[Time 100|100 Most Influential People in The World]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0,29569,1595326,00.html|title=The 2007 Time 100|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211031402/http://content.time.com/time/specials/2007/completelist/0%2C29569%2C1595326%2C00.html|archive-date=11 December 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On 7 December 2007 United Nations Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] presented Branson with the [[United Nations Correspondents Association]] Citizen of the World Award for his support for environmental and humanitarian causes.<ref>{{cite news|title= United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Awards Citizen of the World to Richard Branson and Honours Other Leading Journalists|url= http://www.maximsnews.com/107mnundecember06unitednationscorrespondentsassociationdinner.htm|publisher= MaximsNews Network|date= 7 December 2007|access-date= 12 December 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071209181834/http://www.maximsnews.com/107mnundecember06unitednationscorrespondentsassociationdinner.htm|archive-date= 9 December 2007|url-status=live }}</ref>
* On 24 January 2011, Branson was awarded the German Media Prize (organised by "[[Media Control Charts]]"), previously handed to the former US president [[Bill Clinton]] and the [[Dalai Lama]].
* On 14 November 2011, Branson was awarded the ISTA Prize by the International Space Transport Association in The Hague for his pioneering achievements in the development of suborbital transport systems with "Virgin Galactic".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/voyages/la-premiere-assurance-pour-les-voyageurs-de-l-espace-voit-le-jour-14-11-2011-1721019.php|title=La première assurance pour les voyageurs de l'espace voit le jour|date=14 November 2011|work=[[Le Parisien]]|language=fr|access-date=1 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619045653/http://www.leparisien.fr/voyages/la-premiere-assurance-pour-les-voyageurs-de-l-espace-voit-le-jour-14-11-2011-1721019.php|archive-date=19 June 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 11 February 2012, Branson was honoured with the [[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]' President's Merit Award for his contributions to the music industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/news/the-recording-academy-clive-davis-partner-for-pre-grammy-gala|title=The Recording Academy, Clive Davis Partner For Pre-GrammyGala|work=The Grammys |access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403134918/http://www.grammy.com/news/the-recording-academy-clive-davis-partner-for-pre-grammy-gala|archive-date=3 April 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 2 June 2013, Branson received an honorary degree of [[Doctor Honoris Causa]] from [[Kaunas Technology University]] in [[Kaunas]], Lithuania.<ref>[http://en.ktu.lt/content/news/sir-richard-branson-will-be-awarded-title-honorary-doctor-ktu Sir Richard Branson Awarded the Title of Honorary Doctor of KTU | Kaunas University of Technology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102040409/http://en.ktu.lt/content/news/sir-richard-branson-will-be-awarded-title-honorary-doctor-ktu |date=2 November 2014 }}. En.ktu.lt. Retrieved 18 July 2013.</ref>
* On 15 May 2014, Branson received the 2014 Business for Peace Award, awarded annually by [[the Business for Peace Foundation]] in Oslo, Norway.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://businessforpeace.no/announcing-the-2014-business-for-peace-honourees/ |title=Meet the 2014 Honourees &#124; Business for Peace Foundation |work=Business for Peace |publisher=Businessforpeace.no |date=11 April 2014 |access-date=26 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214410/http://businessforpeace.no/announcing-the-2014-business-for-peace-honourees/ |archive-date=27 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 21 September 2014, Branson was recognised by ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' as the most admired businessperson over the last five decades.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/story/1339457/richard-branson-tops-most-admired-boss-poll|title=Richard Branson Tops 'Most Admired' Boss Poll|work=Sky News |access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150603090715/http://news.sky.com/story/1339457/richard-branson-tops-most-admired-boss-poll|archive-date=3 June 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 9 October 2014, Branson was named as the No. 1 LGBT ally by the OUTstanding organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3528e7e2-495d-11e4-9d7e-00144feab7de|title=LGBT ally Branson leads OUTstanding Allies rankings|work=Financial Times|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924152902/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/3528e7e2-495d-11e4-9d7e-00144feab7de.html#axzz3KbI4TbwZ|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* On 29 October 2015, Branson was listed by the UK-based company Richtopia at number 1 in the list of 100 Most Influential British Entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://richtopia.com/inspirational-people/100-influential-british-entrepreneurs|title=British Entrepreneurs Top 100: From Lord Sugar to Victoria Beckham, These Are the Most Influential Entrepreneurs in the UK|work=Richtopia|access-date=15 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609191820/http://richtopia.com/inspirational-people/100-influential-british-entrepreneurs|archive-date=9 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* In October 2015, Branson received the International Crisis Group Chairman's Award at the United Nations Development Programme's in Pursuit of Peace Awards Dinner.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/speeches/2015/10/26/helen-clark-speech-presenting-sir-richard-branson-with-the-international-crisis-group-chairman-s-award-in-pursuit-of-peace-awards-dinner.html|title=Helen Clark: Speech presenting Sir Richard Branson with the International Crisis Group Chairman's Award "In Pursuit of Peace" Awards Dinner|work=UNDP|access-date=21 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222145607/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/speeches/2015/10/26/helen-clark-speech-presenting-sir-richard-branson-with-the-international-crisis-group-chairman-s-award-in-pursuit-of-peace-awards-dinner.html|archive-date=22 December 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>
* On 16 October 2018, Branson received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]] under the category of recording for co-founding [[Virgin Records]]. The [[Hollywood Chamber of Commerce]] placed his star at 6764 [[Hollywood Boulevard]] in [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Southern |first1=Keiran |title=Sir Richard Branson honoured with Hollywood Walk of Fame star |url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/music/sir-richard-branson-honoured-with-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-37428271.html |access-date=15 November 2022 |work=Irish Independent |date=16 October 2018}}</ref>

==Tax evasion==
In 1971, Branson was convicted for tax evasion and was briefly jailed, for one night, having fraudulently obtained export documents for records to be sold on the domestic market to avoid paying [[Purchase Tax]].<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/how_failure_breeds_success/2014/05/richard_branson_tax_fraud_how_a_youthful_indiscretion_helped_create_a_billionaire.html|title=A Portrait of the Billionaire as a Young Tax Cheat|first=Jordan|last=Weissmann|date=27 May 2014|access-date=5 May 2018|work=Slate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602080756/http://www.slate.com/articles/business/how_failure_breeds_success/2014/05/richard_branson_tax_fraud_how_a_youthful_indiscretion_helped_create_a_billionaire.html|archive-date=2 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="guardianlv.com">{{cite web|url=http://guardianlv.com/2014/05/richard-branson-from-tax-fraud-to-billionaire/|title=Richard Branson : From Tax Fraud to Billionaire · Guardian Liberty Voice|date=29 May 2014|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072332/http://guardianlv.com/2014/05/richard-branson-from-tax-fraud-to-billionaire/|archive-date=5 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Customs officials caught onto the scheme and executed a [[sting operation]], marking records bought for the international market with [[invisible ink]] and subsequently buying them on the domestic market. Branson was advised of the sting by an anonymous tip-off and attempted to dispose of the evidence, but this was unsuccessful.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="guardianlv.com"/>

Branson's business empire is owned by a complicated series of [[offshore trust]]s and companies. ''[[The Sunday Times]]'' stated that his wealth is calculated at £3&nbsp;billion; if he were to retire to his Caribbean island and liquidate all of this, he would pay relatively little in tax.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-rich-list/profile/article/sir-richard-branson-net-worth-sunday-times-rich-list-x6gt2pgt5|title=The Sunday Times Rich List 2019: Sir Richard Branson net worth|newspaper=[[The Sunday Times]]|date=12 May 2019|access-date=5 September 2019|issn=0140-0460|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730211811/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sunday-times-rich-list-sir-richard-branson-net-worth-bnfsdrlkx|archive-date=30 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson has been criticised for his business strategy, and has been accused of being a [[carpetbagger#United Kingdom|carpetbagger]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Chakrabortty |first=Aditya |date=21 November 2011 |title=Is Richard Branson all he's cracked up to be? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/nov/21/richard-branson-northern-rock |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002172732/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/nov/21/richard-branson-northern-rock |archive-date=2 October 2013 |access-date=7 April 2013 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}} Branson's reply is here [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/nov/23/nonsense-virgin-success-dependent-on-state] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213002248/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/nov/23/nonsense-virgin-success-dependent-on-state|date=13 February 2017}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Chakrabortty |first=Aditya |date=24 June 2013 |title=Don't be fooled by Richard Branson's defence of Virgin trains |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/24/richard-branson-defence-virgin-trains |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001061234/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/24/richard-branson-defence-virgin-trains |archive-date=1 October 2013 |access-date=27 June 2013 |work=[[The Guardian]]}} Branson's response is here [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/20/virgin-trains-handouts-track] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170213002543/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/20/virgin-trains-handouts-track|date=13 February 2017}}.</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Aditya|last=Chakrabortty|date=10 June 2013|title=The truth about Richard Branson's Virgin Rail profits|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/10/truth-richard-branson-virgin-rail-profits|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823214900/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/jun/10/truth-richard-branson-virgin-rail-profits|archive-date=23 August 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Branson responded that he is living on Necker for health rather than tax reasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/13/richard-branson-tax-exile-virgin |title=Richard Branson denies being a tax exile |last1=Garside |first1=Juliette |date=13 October 2013 |work=The Guardian |access-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014024733/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/oct/13/richard-branson-tax-exile-virgin |archive-date=14 October 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2013, Branson described himself as a "tax exile", having saved millions in tax by ending his mainland British residency and living in the [[British Virgin Islands]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/10376341/Ive-been-a-tax-exile-for-seven-years-says-Branson.html|title=I've been a tax exile for seven years, says Branson|first=Roland|last=Gribben|date=13 October 2013|access-date=5 May 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507073052/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/businessclub/10376341/Ive-been-a-tax-exile-for-seven-years-says-Branson.html|archive-date=7 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> This was echoed by the then [[Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer]], [[John McDonnell]], in 2016, amid calls for his knighthood to be revoked.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/704616/sir-richard-branson-jeremy-corbyn-virgin-knighthood-tax-exile-john-mcdonnell|title='Tax exile' Richard Branson facing calls for his knighthood to be scrapped|first=Jack|last=Fenwick|date=28 August 2016|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072151/https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/704616/sir-richard-branson-jeremy-corbyn-virgin-knighthood-tax-exile-john-mcdonnell|archive-date=5 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Branson married Kristen Tomassi in 1972 and divorced her in 1979. They had no children together. In 1976, Branson met Joan Templeman and later began a relationship with her. Three children were born during the course of the relationship: a daughter, Clare Sarah (b. 1979), who lived for four days; another daughter, Holly (b. 1981), and a son, Sam (b. 1985).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.babychums.com/2009/02/richard-bransons-baby-death-talks-to-piers-morgan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012210520/http://www.babychums.com/2009/02/richard-bransons-baby-death-talks-to-piers-morgan/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2009 |title=Piers Morgan interviews Richard Branson, Richard talks about death of baby |publisher=Baby Chums |date=22 February 2009 |access-date=14 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/news/65-things-youve-always-wanted-to-know-about-richard-branson|title=65 things you've always wanted to know about Richard Branson|website=Virgin|date=17 July 2015|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316151957/https://www.virgin.com/news/65-things-youve-always-wanted-to-know-about-richard-branson|archive-date=16 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989 Branson and Templeman married on [[Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)|Necker Island]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Richard Branson Has Been Married for 30 Years – These Are His Secrets to a Lasting Romance|first=Stacey |last=Leasca|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/richard-branson-shares-romance-tips|date=7 August 2019|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Travel + Leisure}}</ref>

In 2017, Branson's Necker Island home was left uninhabitable after [[Hurricane Irma]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Irma wrecks Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island home|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41224243|url-status=live|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222133708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41224243|archive-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> It was the second time it had been severely damaged, after the building caught fire when it was struck by lightning caused by [[Hurricane Irene]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 2011|title=Twenty people escape fire at Branson's holiday home|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14616123|url-status=live|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130015540/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14616123|archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> Branson's mother, Eve, died of [[COVID-19]] complications in January 2021 at the age of 96. Branson posted an online celebration of her life.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrating my mum, Eve Branson {{!}} Virgin|url=https://virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/celebrating-my-mum-eve-branson|first=Richard|last=Branson|date=11 January 2021|access-date=11 January 2021|website=Virgin.com}}</ref>

In 2007, Branson was ordained as a minister by the [[Universal Life Church Monastery]] to conduct an on-flight wedding as part of a marketing effort for domestic flights in the US on [[Virgin America]] airline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0dfe492e-8f7f-4226-baaf-6543f54570fb|title=If This Were Anyone Else, It Would All Be Very Strange|website=aero-news.net|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518073436/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0dfe492e-8f7f-4226-baaf-6543f54570fb|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2013 to 2017, he served as President of the Old Stoic Society of [[Stowe School]].<ref>{{cite news|date=15 October 2013|title=Old Stoics have birthday Teese|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/old-stoics-have-birthday-teese-8881545.html|url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023205705/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/old-stoics-have-birthday-teese-8881545.html|archive-date=23 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=https://www.stowe.co.uk/school/old-stoics/about|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904161228/https://www.stowe.co.uk/school/old-stoics/about|archive-date=4 September 2019|access-date=21 November 2019|website=Stowe School – Old Stoics}}</ref>

In November 2017, Antonia Jenae, a backing singer for [[Joss Stone]], claimed Branson sexually assaulted her at Necker Island by "putting his head between her cleavage and making boat engine noises", a practice that, when performed consensually, is known as [[motorboating (sexual act)|motorboating]].<ref name=":2" /> A spokesperson for Branson confirmed to ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' that members of the band had been invited for a party on the island in 2010, but that he and friends and family in attendance had "no recollection" of the events and that "there would never have been any intention to offend or make anyone feel uncomfortable. Richard apologises if anyone felt that way."<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/25/sir-richard-branson-has-no-recollection-alleged-incident-necker/|title=Sir Richard Branson has 'no recollection' of alleged incident at Necker Island|first=Patrick |last=Sawer| newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 November 2017|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092402/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/25/sir-richard-branson-has-no-recollection-alleged-incident-necker/|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a843901/sir-richard-branson-joss-stone-antonia-jenae-alleges-assault/|title=Richard Branson apologises after singer alleges assault|date=25 November 2017|work=Digital Spy|access-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210139/http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a843901/sir-richard-branson-joss-stone-antonia-jenae-alleges-assault/|archive-date=3 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Branson is an experienced [[kitesurf]]er, and set two world records in the sport. The first was as the oldest person to kitesurf across the [[English Channel]].<ref>{{cite news|date=1 July 2012|title=Branson sets kitesurfing record|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-18664278|url-status=live|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517072247/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-18664278|archive-date=17 May 2018}}</ref> Then in 2014 he broke the [[Guinness World Record]] for most people riding a [[surfboard]] by kiting with three women attached to him, including the professional kiteboarder Susi Mai and the entrepreneur Alison Di Spaltro.<ref>{{cite web|title=Branson: How 3 Bikini-Clad Women Helped Me Set Another Guinness World Record|website=[[Business Insider]] |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-kite-surf-world-record-2014-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173537/http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-kite-surf-world-record-2014-10|archive-date=6 May 2018|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Branson goes kiteboarding with girls on his back|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/kiteboarding/richard-branson-goes-kiteboarding-with-girls-on-his-back|date=26 March 2014|access-date=11 January 2022|website=Surfertoday}}</ref> Also an avid cyclist, in August 2016 he was injured while riding his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands, resulting in torn ligaments and a [[Zygomatic bone|cracked cheek]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37198354|title=Sir Richard Branson 'thought he would die in bike crash|work=BBC News|date=26 August 2016|access-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826161629/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37198354|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Influences==
Branson has stated in a number of interviews that he has been much influenced by non-fiction books. He most commonly mentions [[Nelson Mandela]]'s autobiography, ''[[Long Walk to Freedom]]'', explaining that Mandela was "one of the most inspiring men I have ever met and had the honour to call my friend." Owing to his interest in humanitarian and ecological issues, Branson also lists [[Al Gore]]'s best-selling book, ''[[An Inconvenient Truth (book)|An Inconvenient Truth]]'', and ''[[The Revenge of Gaia]]'' by [[James Lovelock]] among his favourites. According to Branson's book, ''Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life'', he is also a fan of [[Jung Chang]]'s ''[[Wild Swans]]'' and [[Antony Beevor]]'s ''[[Stalingrad (Beevor book)|Stalingrad]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Richard Branson's reading influences |url=http://www.infloox.com/person?id=7bb9503d |publisher=Infloox.com |access-date=26 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905035652/http://www.infloox.com/person?id=7bb9503d |archive-date=5 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Branson |first=Richard |year=2011 |orig-year=2006 |title=Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z8klTYCfVzEC&pg=PA105 |location=New York |publisher=Random House |page=105 |isbn=978-0753547458 |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> In fiction Branson has long admired [[Peter Pan (character)|Peter Pan]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Branson |first=Richard |date=12 November 2012 |title=Richard Branson on How to Use Age to Your Advantage |url=http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224902 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201015724/http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/224902 |archive-date=1 December 2012 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Entrepreneur (magazine)|Entrepreneur]] |access-date=30 May 2017}}</ref> and in 2006 he founded [[Liquid Comics|Virgin Comics LLC]], stating that Virgin Comics will give "a whole generation of young, creative thinkers a voice".<ref>{{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Chris |date=5 January 2006 |title=Branson Taking a Passage to India |url=https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/branson-taking-a-passage-to-india-1117935558/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=30 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170805102631/http://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/branson-taking-a-passage-to-india-1117935558/ |archive-date=5 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newsarama.com/virgincomics/virgincomics.htm |title=Branson Enters Comics with Virgin Comics, Virgin Animation |access-date=7 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060111162748/http://www.newsarama.com/virgincomics/virgincomics.htm |work=[[Newsarama]] |archive-date=11 January 2006 }}</ref>

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
  | date = 9 March 2010
| publisher = National Geographic Books
  | isbn =  978-0-7535-1955-4
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Screw It, Let's Do It
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=moYGODR04iIC
  | year = 2006
  | publisher = Virgin Books
  | isbn = 978-0-7535-1149-7
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Let's Not Screw It, Let's Just Do it: New Lessons for the Future
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=c09k-5Tu6loC
  | year = 2007
  | publisher = Random House Australia
  | isbn = 978-1-7416-6688-5
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Business Stripped Bare
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WkVy6_BIhNwC
  | year = 2008
  | publisher = Virgin Books
  | isbn = 978-0-7535-1503-7
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Arctic Diary: Surviving on Thin Ice
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hB_6MgAACAAJ
  | year = 2008
  | publisher = Virgin Books
  | isbn = 978-0-7535-1536-5
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting into Space
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=E15L9Wnxxg4C
  | year = 2010
  | publisher = Virgin Books
  | isbn = 978-1-905264-91-9
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Globalisation Laid Bare: Lessons in International Business
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=HO3iQwAACAAJ
  | year = 2010
  | publisher = Gibson Square Books
  | isbn = 978-1-90614-272-8
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Screw Business as Usual
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8xFbl2Y9Ha0C
  | year = 2011
  | publisher = Portfolio/Penguin
  | isbn = 978-1-59184-434-1
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Like a Virgin: Secrets They Won't Teach You at Business School
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=bc15LsEzPbMC
  | year = 2013
  | publisher = Virgin Books
  | isbn =  978-0-75351-992-9
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = The Virgin Way: How to Listen, Learn, Laugh and Lead
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Jkp1AgAAQBAJ
  | year = 2014
  | publisher = Virgin Books
  | isbn = 978-1-90526-490-2
}}
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Finding My Virginity
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4TcnDwAAQBAJ
  | year = 2017
  | publisher = Ebury Publishing
  | isbn = 978-0-75355-108-0
}}
** Also published as: ''The Virgin Way: If It's Not Fun, It's Not Worth Doing''<ref>{{cite book|title=The Virgin Way: If It's Not Fun, It's Not Worth Doing|date=20 October 2015|publisher=Portfolio|isbn=978-1591847984}}</ref> and ''The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership''<ref>{{cite book|title=The Virgin Way: Everything I Know About Leadership|date=9 September 2014|publisher=Portfolio|isbn=978-1591847373}}</ref>

==Audiobook==
* {{cite book
  | last =  | first =
  | title = Losing and Finding My Virginity: The Full Story
  | date = 4 April 2024
| publisher = Virgin Digital
  | isbn =  978-0-7535-6110-2
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
* [https://bailproject.org/team/richard-branson/ Sir Richard Branson] at [[The Bail Project]]
* [https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/richard-branson-moskito-island Branson's 2nd island] in [[Architectural Digest]]
* {{Twitter}}
* [http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson Branson's blog] on virgin.com
* {{TED speaker}}
* [https://www.forbes.com/profile/richard-branson/ Branson's ''Forbes'' Profile]
* [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mdsv Branson] interview on [[BBC Radio 4]]'s ''[[Desert Island Discs]]'', 1990

{{Virgin Group}}
{{Virgin Galactic}}
{{The Spaceship Company}}
{{United24}}
{{The Elders}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Branson, Richard}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century English businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century English criminals]]
[[Category:20th-century English male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century English non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:20th-century squatters]]
[[Category:21st-century English philanthropists]]
[[Category:21st-century English businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century English male writers]]
[[Category:Britannia Trophy winners]]
[[Category:British businesspeople in aerospace]]
[[Category:British music industry executives]]
[[Category:British people of Anglo-Indian descent]]
[[Category:British technology company founders]]
[[Category:Businesspeople awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in aviation]]
[[Category:English atheists]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English aviators]]
[[Category:English balloonists]]
[[Category:English billionaires]]
[[Category:English chief executives]]
[[Category:English company founders]]
[[Category:English investors]]
[[Category:English male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:English people with disabilities]]
[[Category:Formula E team owners]]
[[Category:Formula One team owners]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Scaitcliffe School]]
[[Category:People educated at Stowe School]]
[[Category:People from Blackheath, London]]
[[Category:People in the space industry]]
[[Category:People who have flown in suborbital spaceflight]]
[[Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]]
[[Category:People with dyslexia]]
[[Category:Philanthropists from London]]
[[Category:Rugby league chairmen and investors]]
[[Category:Segrave Trophy recipients]]
[[Category:Space advocates]]
[[Category:Virgin Group people]]
[[Category:Writers from the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]
[[Category:Writers from the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:The Elders (organization)]]