A model for one of the billion pounds’ worth of trains on order for the west-coast mainline.
Using Pamela’s curves to help us attack Coca-Cola.
I’ve always loved the cinema.
With Rowan Gormley and the Virgin Direct team, now renamed Virgin Money.
With Chris Evans at the radio station.
Launching Virgin Vie.
Virgin Holiday brochures.
Kate Moss, one of our most wildly successful models.
Virgin Money.
I am lucky to share many of my experiences with my long-suffering parents.
Working lunch.
My long-serving, loyal assistant, Penni.
Bored meeting – Hong Kong 1994.
On top of the world.
With Brad Pitt in South Africa in November 2004 to support Nelson Mandela’s 46664 charity and to visit other organisations focused on HIV and AIDS.
Proud dad – doctor in waiting!
Waiting no more!
New friends of Necker.
Millennium Eve.
A family day out at Buckingham Palace.
Supporting Mayor Giuliani.
Signing Japanese first editions.
On Necker with Rod Stewart and friends.
Campaigning with Mo for peace in Northern Ireland.
Morning after Princess Diana’s death.
Victory over GTECH!
Times Square.
Pendolino, transforming the UK’s West Coast line.
The vision of the future – the Airbus A380 is the world’s largest-ever commercial aircraft.
One of the proudest moments of my life: Steve Fossett achieves another world record in the beautiful Virgin Atlantic Global Flyer. (David Dyson)
SpaceShip One is winner of the X-Prize. Celebrating with, among others, the visionary Paul Allen (left) and genius Burt Rutan (second left).
With Al Gore launching the Virgin earth prize
Launching the first green energy train
Delivering one hundred bikes for Africa with Ewan and Charley
Start this book as a baby - finish the book as a (Masai) elder!
Beautiful Africa
Three men in a balloon. Dad and Sam as ballast!
Oh dear! Sam is getting the bug for adventure
Virgin America here we come …
Taking on the biggest media mogul of them all
Dog tired!
Mum & Dad loving life. Move over Blues Brothers
When you’re smiling - the whole world smiles with you!
Some of the elders including Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel, Mary Robinson, Archbishop Tutu, President Carter and their advisors at our first meeting
Picture Credits
private collection, private collection, Mark Greenberg
private collection
private collection
Peter Pearson Lund, private collection
Rex Features, private collection
private collection, private collection, Rex Features
private collection, Rex Features
private collection
private collection
Roger Dean, private collection
private collection
RSA Photography Ltd, Virgin Retail Press Office
Mark Greenberg, Rex Features/Nishimura, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
private collection
Roger Dean, private collection, Rex Features, Alpha
Rex Features, Evening Standard, Mark Lockwood/Airship and Balloon Company, Rex Features
Michael Bremmon
Ken Ross, Ian Cook, Roberta Booth
private collection, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Anthony Marshall (Daily Telegraph), private collection, Colin Taylor Productions, private collection, OT Williams
OT Williams, private collection, Zooom Photographic
Thierry Boccon-Gibod
private collection
private collection
Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Virgin Atlantic Press Office, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Alan Lewis, HMS Gannet, Royal Navy, Crown Copyright, HMS Gannet, Royal Navy, Crown Copyright
Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Rex Features/Cam II/Virgin, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Richard Branson
Frank Spooner Pictures/Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Virgin Group, private collection, Peter Maddocks
Bethany Eden Jacobson
Alan Davidson, Alan Davidson, Arthur L Field
Alan Davidson
Arthur L Field, Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Mark Greenberg, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Mirror Syndication/Bill Rowntree, Dave Gaskill
Thierry Boccon-Gibod, private collection
Sun, Rex Features/Richard Young, Mel Calman
Rex Features/Today, private collection
Frank Spooner Pictures/Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Virgin Atlantic Press Office, Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Thierry Boccon-Gibod, private collection, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Rex Features, Rex Features/Julian Makey, GEC Alsthom/FIAT Ferroviaria, Rex Features/Richard Young, Virgin Cola
Frank Spooner Pictures/Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Virgin Direct, Rex Features, Virgin Vie, Virgin Atlantic Press Office, private collection, Virgin Direct
Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Thierry Boccon-Gibod, private collection, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Ron Whitfield, private collection, Mark Greenberg
Ron Whitfield, David Dyson, private collection
private collection, Jackie McQuillan, private collection
map produced by Robin Brockway
© Press Association, Thierry Boccon-Gibod
Myung Junj Kim, Nice Matin/Rex Features
David Dyson, Sipa Press/Rex Features
Virgin Group
Duncan Phillips, Virgin Atlantic Press Office
Virgin Atlantic Press Office
Virgin Atlantic Press Office
Virgin Group
Thierry Boccon-Gibod, Virgin Group
Benny Gool/Oryx Media
Benny Gool/Oryx Media
CARTOONS IN TEXT
Jones
Tom Johnston
Dave Gaskill
The publishers have tried to ascertain the copyright owners of all photographs and illustrations reproduced in this volume but in some cases this has proved impossible. Those claiming copyright in any unattributed photograph or illustration should contact Virgin Books Ltd.
This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Version 1.0
Epub ISBN 9781446483343
www.randomhouse.co.uk
Published by Virgin Books 2009
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Copyright © Richard Branson 1998, 2002, 2005, 2007
Richard Branson has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
First published in Great Britain in 1998 by
Virgin Books
Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
Lond
on SW1V 2SA
www.virginbooks.com
www.rbooks.co.uk
Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at: www.randomhouse.co.uk/offices.htm
The Random House Group Limited Reg. No. 954009
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780753519554
Table of Contents
Cover
About the Book
About the Author
Praise
Title Page
Dedication
Prologue
‘Screw it. Let’s do it.’
1 ‘A family that would have killed for each other.’
1950–1963
2 ‘You will either go to prison or become a millionaire.’
1963–1967
3 Virgins at business
1967–1970
4 ‘I am prepared to try anything once.’
1970–1971
5 Learning a lesson
1971
6 ‘Simon made Virgin the hippest place to be.’
1971–1972
7 ‘It’s called Tubular Bells . I’ve never heard anything like it.’
1972–1973
8 ‘To be second choice means nothing.’
1974–1976
9 Never mind the bollocks
1976–1977
10 ‘“I thought I’d move in,” Joan said.’
1976–1978
11 Living on the edge
1978–1980
12 ‘Success can take off without warning.’
1980–1982
13 ‘You go ahead with this over my dead body.’
1983–1984
14 Laker’s children
1984
15 ‘It was like being strapped to the blade of a vast pneumatic drill.’
1984–1986
16 The world’s biggest balloon
1986–1987
17 ‘I was almost certainly going to die.’
1987–1988
18 ‘Everything was up for sale.’
1988–1989
19 Preparing to jump
1989–1990
20 ‘Who the hell does Richard Branson think he is?’
August–October 1990
21 ‘We would have about two seconds to say our last prayers.’
November 1990–January 1991
22 Flying into turbulence
January–February 1991
23 Dirty tricks
February–April 1991
24 The kick boxer in the first room
April–July 1991
25 ‘Sue the bastards.’
September–October 1991
26 Barbarians at the departure gate
October–November 1991
27 ‘They’re calling me a liar.’
November 1991–March 1992
28 Victory
March 1992–January 1993
29 Virgin territory
1993–1998
30 Diversity and adversity
1998–2005
31 Changes
2006
32 Flying High
2007
Index
Picture Section
Picture Credits
Copyright
Losing My Virginity: How I Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way Page 55
