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Richard Branson profile: The billionaire entrepreneur behind the Virgin Group empire | Richard Branson profile: The billionaire entrepreneur behind the Virgin Group empire |
(4 months later) | |
As the man who built his empire up from a modest mail-order record service, Sir Richard Branson is not known for walking away from challenging situations. | As the man who built his empire up from a modest mail-order record service, Sir Richard Branson is not known for walking away from challenging situations. |
The 64-year-old billionaire entrepreneur struggled with dyslexia as a child and eventually left school at 16 to launch a magazine for young people. | The 64-year-old billionaire entrepreneur struggled with dyslexia as a child and eventually left school at 16 to launch a magazine for young people. |
His multinational corporate empire started in a London commune as a business selling records through mail order in the early 1970s before exploding into a behemoth that has included a record label, airlines, finance, a mobile phone network and train franchise. | His multinational corporate empire started in a London commune as a business selling records through mail order in the early 1970s before exploding into a behemoth that has included a record label, airlines, finance, a mobile phone network and train franchise. |
In 1972, Sir Richard founded the Virgin Records music label and went onto sign stars such as Genesis, the Sex Pistols and The Rolling Stones. In 2013, he credited the £500 million pound sale of Virgin records for him being able to “build spaceships today”. | In 1972, Sir Richard founded the Virgin Records music label and went onto sign stars such as Genesis, the Sex Pistols and The Rolling Stones. In 2013, he credited the £500 million pound sale of Virgin records for him being able to “build spaceships today”. |
Sir Richard's Virgin Group now holds over 200 companies across 30 countries. | Sir Richard's Virgin Group now holds over 200 companies across 30 countries. |
The 64-year-old has repeatedly said: “My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.” | The 64-year-old has repeatedly said: “My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.” |
In August 1985 he and his crew had to be rescued when their transatlantic yacht the Virgin Atlantic Challenger capsized. | In August 1985 he and his crew had to be rescued when their transatlantic yacht the Virgin Atlantic Challenger capsized. |
In 1987, his hot air balloon Virgin Atlantic Flyer crossed the Atlantic, setting the record as the first balloon to do so. | In 1987, his hot air balloon Virgin Atlantic Flyer crossed the Atlantic, setting the record as the first balloon to do so. |
In January 1991, he was in the first balloon to cross the Pacific from Japan to Arctic Canada in a journey that amounted to 6,700 miles. | In January 1991, he was in the first balloon to cross the Pacific from Japan to Arctic Canada in a journey that amounted to 6,700 miles. |
And from 1995 to 1998, Sir Richard, Per Lindstrand and Steve Fossett made several attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon. | And from 1995 to 1998, Sir Richard, Per Lindstrand and Steve Fossett made several attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon. |
Against this backdrop his vow to continue with the development of his Virgin Galactic, despite the fatal crash in the Mojave Desert, should not come as a surprise. | Against this backdrop his vow to continue with the development of his Virgin Galactic, despite the fatal crash in the Mojave Desert, should not come as a surprise. |
Speculation is mounting that the SpaceShipTwo crash, which killed one pilot and injured another, will lead to a “a major delay” to his attempt to take tourists into space. | Speculation is mounting that the SpaceShipTwo crash, which killed one pilot and injured another, will lead to a “a major delay” to his attempt to take tourists into space. |
But Sir Richard has vowed to persevere in his mission to lead commercial flights into space, saying “space is hard – but worth it”. | But Sir Richard has vowed to persevere in his mission to lead commercial flights into space, saying “space is hard – but worth it”. |
Additional reporting by PA |
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