SIR RICHARD BRANSONThe father of Virgin...

PERSONAL LIFE

Was born on 18th July 1950 in London Parents Edward James Branson and Eve

Branson Branson had dyslexia, a poor academic

performance as a student, but discovered his ability to gel up with others

Branson had poor academic records, contrasted with excellent performance in sports

In 1998 Branson released his autobiography entitled ‘Losing my virginity’ an international best seller

BUSINESS VENTURES •F

ormed Virgin Atlantic airways

1984

•Entered into Railway business and won the Virgin trains

1992

•Acquired European short-haul airline Euro Belgian airline and renamed it Virgin Express

1996

•Launched Virgin Mobile

1999

•Launched Virgin blue in Australia

2000

•Was 9t

h

in Sunday times rich list

•Formed Virgin comics and virgin animation

2006

•Virgin America airlines

•Launched the Virgin health bank

2007

•Virgin Health bank announced it would open healthcare clinics

2008

WORLD RECORD ATTEMPTS •Crossed

the Pacific from Japan to Arctic Canada, 6,700 miles (10,800 km), in a hot air balloon. This broke therecord, with a speed of 245 miles per hour (394 km/h).

1998

•A 1998 attempt at an around-the-world balloon flight by Branson, Fossett, and Lindstrand ends in the Pacific Ocean on 25 December 1998.

•Flight from Morocco to Hawaii

1998

•Travelled from Dover to Calais in a Gibbs Aquada, in 1 hour, 40 minutes and 6 seconds, the fastest crossing of the EnglishChannel in an amphibious vehicle.

2004

HONOURS

•Was knighted for his ‘services to entrepreneurship

1999

•received theTony Jannus Award for his accomplishments in commercial air transportation.

2000

•Appears at No. 85 on the 2002 list of "100 Greatest Britons´.

2002

•Ranked in 2007'sTime Magazine "Top 100 Most Influential People in the World".

•Was presented with the United Nations Correspondents Association Citizen of the World Award for his support for environmental and humanitarian causes

2007