Richard Branson Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Books, Children

Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson, widely known as Richard Branson, is an English business magnate, investor, author, and space tourist.

He co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970 and has grown into a global conglomerate with over 400 companies.

Branson’s entrepreneurial journey began at 16 with the launch of Student magazine. In 1970, he started a mail-order record business and later opened Virgin Records stores in 1972.

Throughout the 1980s, the Virgin brand expanded with Virgin Atlantic Airlines and Virgin Records.

He later established Virgin Rail Group in 1997 and Virgin Galactic in 2004, aiming to pioneer commercial space travel.

Knighted in 2000 for his contributions to entrepreneurship, Branson was also recognized by Time magazine in 2007 as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.

Profile

• Full Name: Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson
• Stage Name: Richard Branson
• Born: July 18 1950
• Age: 74 years old
• Birthplace: Blackheath, London, England, United Kingdom
• Nationality: British
• Occupation: English business magnate, investor, author, and space tourist
• Height: Unknown
• Parent: Edward James “Ted” Branson and Eve Branson (née Flindt),
• Siblings: Lindy Branson and Vanessa Branson
• Spouse: Joan Templeman (m. 1989), Kristen Tomassi (m. 1972–1979)
• Children: Holly Branson, Sam Branson, Clare Sarah Branson
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $2 billion and $3 billion

Early Life And Education

Richard Charles Nicholas Branson was born on July 18, 1950, in Blackheath, London, England. He is the son of Edward James “Ted” Branson, a barrister, and Eve Branson (née Flindt), a ballet dancer and former air hostess.

He has two younger sisters, Lindy and Vanessa. Branson received his early education at Scaitcliffe School, a preparatory school in Surrey, before briefly attending Cliff View House School in Sussex.

He later attended Stowe School, a private institution in Buckinghamshire, but left at sixteen to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. Branson is of British descent but also has some South Asian (Indian) ancestry. He is identified as an atheist.

Career

Richard Branson co-founded the Virgin Group in 1970, growing it into a multinational conglomerate with hundreds of companies across various industries. His entrepreneurial journey began at 16 when he launched Student magazine.

In 1970, he started a mail-order record business, which led to the opening of Virgin Records stores in 1972. Virgin Records became the world’s largest independent record label, signing artists such as Mike Oldfield, the Sex Pistols, Culture Club, the Rolling Stones, and Genesis.

The Virgin brand expanded significantly in the 1980s, with Branson launching Virgin Atlantic Airlines in 1984. He established the Voyager Group travel company in 1980 and a series of Virgin Megastores. However, financial struggles led to the sale of Virgin Records to Thorn EMI for $1 billion in 1992.

Despite this setback, Branson continued to expand, founding Virgin Radio in 1993 and launching Virgin Trains in 1996. That same year, he started a second record company, V2, signing artists such as Powderfinger and Tom Jones.

Branson’s contributions to entrepreneurship earned him a knighthood at Buckingham Palace in March 2000. Time magazine later recognized him in 2007 as one of the world’s 100 most influential people. In 2004, he founded Virgin Galactic, a spaceflight corporation based in California.

On July 11, 2021, he travelled to the edge of space aboard Virgin Galactic Unity 22, marking a milestone for commercial space tourism. Today, the Virgin Group operates in 35 countries and spans industries such as telecommunications, transportation, hospitality, and space travel.

Branson has also made numerous television appearances, often playing himself in shows like Friends, Baywatch, and Only Fools and Horses. His ventures continue to shape industries globally, reinforcing his legacy as one of the world’s most innovative entrepreneurs.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @richardbranson
• Facebook handle: Richard Branson
• Twitter handle: @richardbranson

Personal Life

Richard Branson has been married twice. His first marriage was to Kristen Tomassi in 1972, but they divorced in 1979 without having children. In 1976, he met Joan Templeman at his Virgin Records studio, where she worked in an antique shop. Branson was immediately drawn to her down-to-earth nature, and they began a relationship.

Branson and Templeman married in 1989 on Necker Island, his private Caribbean retreat. They have two children: Holly, born in 1981, and Sam, born in 1985.

They also had a daughter, Clare Sarah, born in 1979, who tragically passed away four days after birth. As of July 2023, Branson and Templeman have been together for 48 years, maintaining a strong and enduring partnership.

Net Worth

Richard Branson’s net worth is between $2 billion and $3 billion. His wealth stems from his diverse business ventures through the Virgin Group, including music, airlines, and space travel.

Over the decades, Branson has built a global empire, continuously expanding into new industries while maintaining his reputation as an innovative entrepreneur.