Biography - Information Richard Bransonis a flamboyant British entrepreneur with a seemingly insatiable appetite for starting new businesses. His internationally recognized brand "Virgin"is splashed across everything from credit cards, to airlines and music "megastores". Branson is continuously seeking new business opportunities and loves a good challenge, especially when he enters a market that is dominated by a few major players. Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950. His entrepreneurial ways began early when he was publishing a student magazine at just 16 years. Branson did not go on to graduate school but in 1970 the now famous Virgin brand had its beginnings in the form of a discount records mail order venture that he and his friend Nik Powell worked on. Virgin Records Soon after opening a record store on Oxford Street, London, Branson began a recording label in 1972, Virgin Records. This was to be the first major success for the British entrepreneur as he started the label with a hit record. The instrumental artist Mike Oldfield's "Tubular Bells"released in 1973 was a cash cow for Branson's Virgin Records and it stayed in the UK music charts for 247 weeks. The record label went on to sign top music artists like "Genesis", "The Sex Pistols", "The Rolling Stones"and "Simple Minds". The Virgin Records Group was sold in 1992 to THORN EMI for $1 billion USD. Richard Branson obviously wasn't finished with the music recording business as he went on to start V2 Records in 1996. The V2 Music brand has a stable of artists that include "Stereophonics", "Powder Finger", "Mercury Rev"and "Tom Jones". The Virgin Brand Richard Branson has created one of the most recognizable brands in the world. In Britain where he focuses much of his attention, Branson has managed to "Virginize"a very wide range of products and services. The variety of businesses he controls is as vast as the geographical coverage the brand has, with business located throughout The United Kingdom, the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Asian, Europe and South Africa. Some of the businesses Branson has collected include: y Virgin Atlantic- An international airline flying to many major destinations. y Virgin Megastores- Music Super-markets located in major locations in the UK, USA and Australia. y Virgin Books- Publisher and distributor of books. y Virgin Credit Card- Branson's attempt to provide credit card at a reasonable price. y Virgin Holidays- Book a holiday and fly Virgin Atlantic? y Virgin Trains- Virgin making trains sexy in the United Kingdom. y V2 Music- Largest UK based independent recording label. y Virgin Active- Chain of fitness clubs throughout the United Kingdom. y Virgin Galactic- Branson's planned affordable flight to space venture. y Ulusaba- Luxury game reserve located in South Africa. y Necker Island- Branson's own private island located in the British Virgin Islands. There are plenty more businesses that wear the Virgin name throughout the world and there will probably be more to come as Branson is always looking for an interesting business to start. On the Virgin.com website there is even a section to submit your new and exciting business venture that Branson may consider pursuing. Richard Branson Adventures Branson is passionate about life and living every minute to its fullest. Since 1985 he has been getting his adrenaline rushes through world record breaking attempts by boat and hot air balloon. Several distance and speed records have been attempted and achieved, but his attempt to be the first person to circumnavigate the world in a hot air balloon was never achieved. Branson makes each record attempt a media event with his Virgin logo prominently displayed during every launch, which has been an excellent source of free advertising and brand placement for the Virgin Group. "Sometimes I do wake up in the mornings and feel like I've just had the most incredible dream. I've just dreamt my life."Richard Branson Branson was awarded a Knighthood in 1999 and became Sir Richard Branson for his contribution to entrepreneurship. Branson is married with two children and currently lives in London. Virgin Atlantic's 747 Biofuel Flight- Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic airline flew a Boeing 747 jumbo jet in February 08 using a percentage of biofuels. This Richard Branson biographymay not be reproduced online. Copyright © Woopidoo.com Richard Branson Quotes Ridiculous yachts and private planes and big limousines won¶t make people enjoy life more, and it sends out terrible messages to the people who work for them. It would be so much better if that money was spent in Africa ± and it¶s about getting a balance. Richard Branson- Life- Philanthropy- Money A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts. Richard Branson- Business I never get the accountants in before I start up a business. It's done on gut feeling, especially if I can see that they are taking the mickey out of the consumer. Richard Branson- Accounting- Customers- Business ::: more Richard Branson quotes Related Business Leader Resources at Woopidoo.com Business Articles: Ambition- Marketing- Goal Setting- Motivation- Personal Finance- Get Rich- Success Articles Business Leaders: Donald Trump Bio- Rupert Murdoch Bio- Jack Welch Bio- Bill Gates Bio- Steve Ballmer- Steve Jobs Biography Business Quotes: Achievement- Attitude- Branding- Companies- Encouragement- Entrepreneurs- Fun- Goals- Life- Management- Motivational- Passions- Philanthropy- Products- Rich- Success- Winning Quotes ::: Business Success Home>Business Leaders>Richard Branson>Richard Branson Island>Richard Branson Quotes>Richard Branson Biography Biography Born in 1950, Richard Branson grew up in a traditional family and received his education at Stowe School, where he established a national magazine entitled Student at the age of sixteen. He started a Student Advisory Centre at 17, aiming to help young people. At twenty years old, he founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer and a short while later, he opened a record shop in Oxford Street, London. In 1972, a recording studio was built in Oxfordshire where the first Virgin artist, Mike Oldfield, recorded "Tubular Bells", later released in 1973. The first album of Virgin Records went on to sell more than five million copies. At the age of 27, Richard signed The Sex Pistols to the Virgin Records label after the group was turned down by every label in Great Britain. Over the years, he signed many superstar names including Steve Winwood, Paula Abdul, Belinda Carlisle, Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, The Human League, Bryan Ferry, Culture Club, Janet Jackson, and The Rolling Stones. As is evident, Branson managed to turn the Virgin Music Group into a giant success. In 1992, the Virgin Music Group -- record labels, music publishing and recording studios -- was sold to Thorn EMI in a $1 billion US deal. The interests of Virgin Group have since expanded into international "Megastore" music retailing, books and software publishing, film and video editing facilities, and clubs and hotels throughout 100 companies in 15 countries. Virgin Atlantic Airways, started in 1984, is now the second largest British long haul international airline and operates a fleet of Boeing 747 aircrafts to New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Orlando, Boston, San Francisco, Washington, Dallas, and Tokyo. The airline was founded on the concept of offering competitive and high quality first class and economy services. The airline holds many major airline awards and recently earned "Airline of the Year Award" for the third consecutive year. In 1993, the combined sales of Virgin Group Companies exceeded $1 billion US. In addition to his own business activities, Branson is a trustee of several charities, including The Healthcare Foundation, a leading healthcare charity responsible for the launch of a health education campaign named Parents Against Tobacco, aiming to limit tobacco advertisements and sponsorships in sports. Since 1985, Richard has actively engaged in his vocations and been involved in a number of record-breaking land and air speed and distance attempts. In 1986, his boat, "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II," rekindled the spirit of the Blue Riband by crossing the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest recorded time ever. One year later, the hot air balloon called the "Virgin Atlantic Flyer" was the first hot air balloon ever to cross the Atlantic Ocean, and was the largest ever flown at 2.3 million cubic feet capacity, reaching speeds in excess of 130 mph. In 1991, Branson crossed the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Arctic Canada, the furthest distance of 6,700 miles, again breaking all existing records with speeds of up to 245 mph in a balloon measuring 2.6 million cubic feet. Richard is currently in the midst of preparations to attempt a world-record setting, round-the- world hot air balloon crossing. The trip was scheduled to commence from Marrakesh North Africa early in 1997. Richard lives in London and Oxfordshire and is married with two children. Richard Branson's Charity Work, Events and Causes Charity biography Branson has pledged to commit $3 billion, all profits from his travel firms over the next ten years, to the reduction of global warming. He has previously donated to educational charities in Africa. Branson started his first charity, ³Student Valley Centre´, when he was only 17. Richard is Patron of the International Rescue Corps. In 2007, Branson formed The Elders ± a small, dedicated group of leaders, working objectively and without any vested personal interest to solve difficult global conflicts ± with Peter Gabriel, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, Kofi Annan, and Jimmy Carter. In March 2008, he hosted an environmental gathering with Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales, and Larry Page of Google at his private island in the Caribbean to discuss global warming-related problems facing the world.