In , Branson further unnerved financial pundits when he invested his own private interests into a series of rail lines including British Rail. As with many Branson business endeavors, the investments were in conflict with every traditional business tactic and mainstream corporate practice, yet Branson ably accomplished his ends.
Branson's unique business style prompted David Sheff to comment in Forbes that Branson is, "One of the world's most fertile businessmen [with] highly unorthodox methods. In , and less than 30 years after the original conception of the Branson Virgin businesses, Branson boasted over Virgin Megastores worldwide and a soft drink business-Virgin Cola-in direct competition with Coca-Cola. All told, Branson employed 24, employees in companies, with revenues totaling an estimated five billion dollars each year from the entire Virgin Group-including the music stores and airline.
Branson is as well known for his death-defying "near-miss" accidents as for his business acumen. In , he made his "virgin" parachute jump just weeks before embarking on a trans-Atlantic balloon voyage with co-pilot Per Lindstrand in the largest balloon ever made-replete with eight burners and twelve miles of fabric.
In preparation for the balloon flight, Branson took a skydiving lesson and nearly killed himself when he inadvertently unhooked his own parachute.
A courageous jump instructor rescued Branson in mid-air. Shortly afterward, Branson made the balloon trip from Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine, across the Atlantic to Ireland for the first trans-Atlantic crossing in a balloon. Branson attempted a landing upon arrival in Ireland, but encountered severe problems with the wind and narrowly escaped a harrowing death in the icy Atlantic Ocean.
In , Branson became the first person to cross the Pacific Ocean in a balloon. He traveled nearly 7, miles between Japan and Canada, and clocked speeds as high as miles per hour. The trip was fraught with tense moments, including the loss of two fuel tanks. The loss of balloon altitude control caused the crew to reach treacherous altitudes, well over 40, feet. Pilot and co-pilot later missed their landing goal by 2, miles.
In January , Branson made one of his first attempts to successfully circumnavigate the earth in a hot-air balloon. By December , he was on his fourth attempt. Along with Lindstrand and Steve Fossett, Branson set out to be the first in history to accomplish the feat. Fossett and Branson-one-time adversaries in the race to circumnavigate-left Marrakech, crossed through Asia Minor and Asia and into the Pacific before a hurricane downed the crew off the coast of Hawaii.
For these and other exploits, Branson was cited by Business Week, as a new breed of "daredevil" CEO that needs to be curtailed by boards of directors in the interests of shareholders, in order to forestall pending doom that often accompanies such antics.
Branson certainly fit the bill; he is an avid skier and speedboat racer, in addition to his skydiving and ballooning exploits. In , Branson purchased an island in the Caribbean. The land parcel, called Necker, consists of 74 acres. His guests include many of the most prominent personalities in the world: the late Diana, Princess of Wales, director Steven Spielberg, actor Mel Gibson, and movie and television maven Oprah Winfrey. A media phenomenon, Branson remains unaffected and dresses casually, in comfortable clothes.
He was married to Kristen Tomassi in ; they divorced in In , Branson wed Joan Templeman of Glasgow-He arrived at the wedding ceremony hanging from a helicopter. The couple has two children, Holly and Sam. Branson published his autobiography, Losing My Virginity, in Load more. Who's Who. Richard Branson. Richard Branson is founder of the Virgin Group, one of the world's most recognisable brands.
Holly Branson. Holly is also a co-founder of Big Change, chair of Virgin Unite, a first-time author and mother of three…. Sam Branson. Sam is Richard and Joan Branson's son, founder of Sundog Pictures, co-founder of Big Change, a passionate philanthropist and father of two.
His passion for adventure and the environment has seen him take on many challenges Their marriage lasted for 6 years. He met his second wife Joan Templeman in the year and they were married in the year They have three children — Two daughters and one son. They are still together. She died in the year when she was just four days old. She is a doctor but has quit her profession to work with her father. He is a film maker, actor and former model.
He got married to Isabella Calthorpe in the year A self-made billionaire, Branson is an inspiration for many young businessmen. Categorized as.
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