Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson, (born July 18, 1950) is a famed British entrepreneur, is best known for his widely successful Virgin brand, a banner that encompasses a variety of business organizations. Current ventures include the Virgin Atlantic airline (a major competitor to British Airways in prestige), Virgin Trains, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Cola, Virgin Energy, the chain of Virgin Megastores retail shops, and Virgin financial services. A previous part of the empire was the now disappeared Virgin Cinemas chain, sold to UGC Cinemas, and Branson's only real media venture, Virgin Radio, now a part of the Scottish Radio Group.
Branson first achieved notoriety with Virgin Records, a record label that started out with multi-instrumentalist Mike Oldfield and introduced bands like the Sex Pistols and Culture Club to the world music scene. Branson was knighted by the Queen for his business prowess and exuberance for the spirit of the United Kingdom. Known for his wacky exploits used to promote his businesses, Branson is keen on playful antagonisms, exemplified by his "Mine is bigger than yours" decals on the new Airbus A340-600 jets used by his airline. He has also made several unsuccessful attempts to fly in a hot air balloon around the world.
In October 2003, Branson annouced he would be teaming up with balloonist Steve Fossett to attempt to break the record for non-stop flying around the world. A new plane, the Global Flyer will be built specially for the attempt.
Branson has guest starred, playing himself, on several television shows, including Friends, Baywatch and Only Fools and Horses.
Branson appears in the 2002 List of "100 Greatest Britons" (sponsored by the BBC and voted for by the public), alongside others ranging from Winston Churchill and Isaac Newton to David Beckham and Aleister Crowley.
Referenced By
100 Great Britons | 100 Greatest Britons | 100 Worst Britons | 100 Worst Britons (Channel 4 poll) | 18 July | 18th July | 1973 in music | 1984 in aviation | Aerospatiale-BAC Concorde | April 2003 | Aviator | Businessmen | Caroline Records | Clive Anderson | Concorde | Deya, Majorca | Die Another Day | Dyslectic | Dyslexia | Dyslexic | Emmaus | Emmaüs | Famous English people | Freddie Laker | James Bond/Die Another Day | July 18 | July 18th | Late Late Show | List of English people | List of business people | List of corporate leaders | List of famous English people | List of guest stars on Friends | List of people by name: BR | Lysdexia | Mike Oldfield | Sr. Freddie Laker | Sunday Times Rich List 2003 (1-500) | The Late Late Show | Tim Jackson | Tubular Bells II | Virgin Blue | Virgin Group | Virgin Megastore | Virgin Publishing | Virgin Trains | Virgin company
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