Sir Richard Branson, born in 1950 in Surrey, England, embodies entrepreneurial spirit like few others. Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age and struggling academically, he dropped out of school at 16 to launch Student, a youth culture magazine. From these modest beginnings, he would go on to found the Virgin Group, a global empire spanning sectors from music to aviation, health, and even space travel.
A teenage dropout who redefined success
Branson’s first major success came with Virgin Records, which he launched in 1973. The label, which famously signed artists like Mike Oldfield, the Sex Pistols, and the Rolling Stones, quickly became one of the world’s most influential independent record companies. In 1992, Branson sold Virgin Records for £1 billion to save another of his ventures, Virgin Atlantic, a move that, despite its financial necessity, left him “running down Ladbroke Grove crying,” he later admitted.
Building empires, breaking barriers
His approach to business has always been marked by audacity and innovation. A firm believer in challenging the status quo, Branson once said: “Screw it, let’s do it,” a mantra that captures his willingness to take risks and disrupt industries. Over the decades, he expanded Virgin into sectors as diverse as telecommunications (Virgin Mobile), rail travel (Virgin Trains), banking (Virgin Money), and health (Virgin Care).
Yet Branson’s ambitions extended beyond Earth. In 2004, he founded Virgin Galactic, aiming to make space tourism a reality. In 2021, he achieved his dream, becoming Astronaut 001 aboard Unity 22. Reflecting on the experience, he said, “When you’re rocketed into such a profound, tremendous, and celestial moment, everything else is stripped back to its simplest form: wow.”
Resilience has been a defining trait throughout his career. While some ventures, such as Virgin Cola and Virgin Brides, failed, Branson treated setbacks as lessons rather than defeats. His philosophy embraces experimentation and resilience, a mindset he continues to advocate. Recently, he highlighted on LinkedIn the importance of embracing change in an AI-driven world, encouraging entrepreneurs to “upskill, experiment, and keep the human in the loop.”
Beyond business, Branson has championed numerous philanthropic causes. In 2004, he founded Virgin Unite, a non-profit arm of the Virgin Group dedicated to social and environmental issues. He’s also played a role in initiatives like The Elders, an independent group of global leaders working for peace and human rights, and supported ocean conservation through Ocean Unite.
A self-described “tie-loathing adventurer, philanthropist, and troublemaker,” Branson lives on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands with his wife Joan. He’s the proud “grand-dude” to five grandchildren, cherishing family life as much as his business pursuits. Today, at 74, Richard Branson continues to prove that passion, resilience, and imagination know no age limits. Whether ziplining over Niagara Falls to promote Virgin Atlantic’s return to Canada or championing dyslexic thinking through initiatives like DyslexicU, his energy shows no signs of fading.
Fail fast, dream bigger: The Branson Way
Branson’s passion for adventure has also defined his public image. Over the years, he has pursued daring feats such as crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a powerboat and co-piloting hot-air balloons across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In 2021, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by reaching space aboard Virgin Galactic’s Unity 22, marking a milestone for commercial space travel. These ventures highlight not only his love for pushing boundaries but also his willingness to embrace risk, a quality he sees as essential to innovation.
Throughout his career, Branson has spoken openly about failure as a necessary part of success. Whether facing setbacks with ventures like Virgin Cola or experiencing near-disasters during his adventurous pursuits, he has always emphasised resilience. In his own words: “Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” It is this mindset that has allowed him to constantly reinvent himself and continue inspiring entrepreneurs around the world.
More than just a celebrated entrepreneur, Branson stands as a symbol of how business can be a genuine force for good. His legacy inspires generations of entrepreneurs to dream big, embrace risk, and build ventures that truly make a difference in the world.
Crédits: Drew Angerer / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP
