Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, born on July 18, 1950, is an English business magnate and adventurer known for founding the Virgin Group in 1970. The Virgin Group has expanded into various sectors, including travel, telecommunications, health, banking, and music. Branson started his entrepreneurial journey at 16 with a magazine called Student. He later founded Virgin Records, which became the world's largest independent record label. Branson's adventurous spirit has led him to set records in powerboat racing and hot-air ballooning, including the first hot-air balloon crossings of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Branson continues to be involved in Virgin Group and related ventures. In late 2025, Virgin was cleared to launch a rival international train service through the Channel Tunnel, with ambitions to connect London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam by 2030. Also in 2025, Branson was planning to co-pilot Space Perspective's first commercial crewed flight in a hydrogen-powered balloon out of the stratosphere. Branson released his first complete audiobook, Losing and Finding My Virginity, in 2024. He is also actively involved with Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, and supports various philanthropic causes.