NAME: Richard Branson
BORN: 18/07/1950
BIRTH PLACE: Surrey, England

Richard Branson is the son of a Lawyer and an airline stewardess. He was educated at the exclusive Stowe School but did not excel, possibly due to his nearsightedness and dyslexia. In his teens he developed a national magazine, Student at the Age of Sixteen. At seventeen he began a student advisory service.

After leaving school, Branson entered the music industry. Considering that he could sell records cheaper than the exisitng average, he started a mail-order catalogue with friends. It was a success, and they opened a record discount shop. They named the business Virgin, because it was their first venture.

Virgin records was formed in 1972. The first recording studio was built in Oxfordshire, England. Mike Oldfield recorded the very first album, and it sold over five million copies. The business was sold to Thorn EMI in 1992.

Virgin Airlines is one of Richard Branson's main companies. Formed in 1984, it is part owned by Singapore Airlines, and it is the second largest British long haul international airline, and has won many awards.

In 1997, Branson took over some of Britain’s aging railway network, under the title Virgin Rail. Despite the introduction of new trains, the network is still dogged by delays and service interruptions. More recently Branson has founded a mobile phone network, an internet company, and a Cola, unsurprisingly titled Virgin Cola.

Branson is also well known for his personal adventures. In 1987 Branson crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the "Virgin Atlantic Flyer", which was the first and largest hot air balloon to cross the ocean. Branson now plans to circle the world in his hot air balloon, and has made several unsuccessful attempts.

Richard Branson received a knighthood in 1999, he is married to Joan and has two children, Holly and Sam.

(Source: http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/Photo source: nrk.no)