Entrepreneurs
Richard Branson Net Worth
What is Richard Branson’s net worth?
Net Worth: | $4 Billion |
---|---|
Age: | 74 |
Born: | July 18, 1950 |
Gender: | Male |
Height: | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) |
Country of Origin: | United Kingdom |
Source of Wealth: | Founder of Virgin |
Last Updated: | Oct 8, 2024 |
Introduction
Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated at $4 Billion.
Richard Branson is an English business magnate and founder of the Virgin Group, which now controls over 400 companies.
Branson started with a simple record store and built Virgin into an absolute powerhouse, turning him into one of the richest men in Britain, and one of the richest people in the world.
Richard Branson – Key Facts
- Branson created his first business venture – “The Student” magazine, in 1966.
- Alongside his magazine, he founded mail-order record company.
- Branson launched his first big company – Virgin Records, in 1970.
- Virgin Group was founded in 1970.
- In 1992 Branson sold his record company to EMI.
- In 1999 half of Virgin Atlantic was sold to Singapore Airlines for $960 million.
- Virgin Galactic was launched in 2004.
- Virgin Media was bought by Liberty Group in 2013.
- Richard Branson is one of the wealthiest men in the UK.
Early Life
Branson was born on the 18th of July, 1950, in Blackheath, London, England. He had two younger sisters. His mother, Eve Branson, was a ballet dancer and later an air hostess; his father, Edward James Branson, was a barrister.
He attended Scaitcliffe School, a prep school in Surrey, and Cliff View House School in Sussex. Until the age of 16, he was a student at Stowe School, an independent school in Buckinghamshire.
Richard Branson struggled to focus and do well as a student due to dyslexia, so he made the decision at the age of 16 to drop out to pursue his interest in entrepreneurship – with the full support of his parents, who always believed in the ambition of their son.
Career
In 1966, Richard Branson decided to drop out of school to start “The Student” magazine. The magazine became very popular, and Branson even interviewed several celebrities for it.
At the same time, he founded a small mail-order record business. He started advertising popular records within the magazine and quickly found his niche. His magazine was driving up sales of the records he offered at low prices, which made both of these ventures a success.
That was when he started trading under the name Virgin, and the magazine was the first form of advertisement for Virgin.
The first record store Branson opened was in Oxford, London, and shortly after the success of the record store, came the Virgin Record Label. This was a huge step for the young entrepreneur.
Branson bought a country estate, where he built his recording studio, The Manor Studio. He started to lease it to musicians, including one of his earliest acts, Mike Oldfield, whose first album Tubular Bells (1973), was the first big Virgin Records success.
Branson was never afraid to make more daring choices when it came to the artist he was signing, and that is how Sex Pistols began recording under his label. Some of the most interesting and successful artists that have been a part of the Virgin label were The Rolling Stones, Steve Winwood, Culture Club, XTC, and Peter Gabriel.
But Branon’s label was more than just a place for highly acclaimed, popular artists. Virgin Records was praised for giving a spotlight to more avant-garde musicians, such as Faust and Can.
All of this meant that in 1979, Branson’s net worth was estimated at £5 million. Only a year after that, Virgin Records went international, becoming one of the most influential record labels in the world.
After the success of Virgin Records, Branson began expanding into different industries. His most notable and successful endeavor was Virgin Atlantic Airways, founded in 1984.
A year later, Branson founded Virgin Holidays. In 1992, due to the financial problems of his airlines, he sold his record label to EMI for £500 million, which was a significant personal loss for him.
In 1996 he founded V2 Records with the aim of conquering the music world once again. Around the same time, Virgin Group acquired European airline Euro Belgian Airlines, renaming it Virgin Express.
In 1997 Branson entered the railway business, starting Virgin Trains. Virgin Rail Group operated the InterCity CrossCountry and InterCity West Coast franchises for the next 15 years.
2004 was another impactful year for Branson’s career. That year Branson announced the deal that would allow his new space tourism company, Virgin Galactic, to use the technology behind SpaceShipOne to conduct tourist suborbital outer space flights. The plans are for the tickets to cost US$ 200,000.
Virgin Fuels is another company created under the Virgin Group, whose mission is to explore alternative fuels.
Branson’s Virgin Healthcare branch announced in 2008 the plans to open a chain of healthcare clinics that would offer a combination of conventional and unconventional medical services.
Two years earlier, in 2006, Virgin Group sold Virgin Mobile to NTL: Telewest for £900 million. The new company exists under the name Virgin Media.
In 2006, Richard Branson, alongside author Deepak Chopra, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, and entrepreneurs Sharad Devarajan and Gotham Chopra, founded Virgin Comics and Virgin Animation.
On 9 February 2007, Branson announced the creation of The Virgin Earth Challenge, a technology prize for those who would design a solution to eliminating greenhouse gases from the Earth’s atmosphere.
Over the years, the Virgin brand has been growing and expanding to new ventures, including Virgin airlines such as Virgin America Airline and Virgin Australia Airlines, as well as Virgin Voyages, British bank Virgin Money, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Racing, Virgin Casino, and Virgin Unite.
The most successful and recognizable Virgin enterprises are the airline Virgin Atlantic, Virgin America, and companies – Virgin Galactic and Virgin Mobile.
For all of his contributions to the business world, Branson was knighted. Since 2000 it has been perfectly acceptable to address him as Sir Richard Branson.
As of 2024, Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated at $4 Billion.
Personal Life
Branson’s first marriage was to Kristen Tomassi in 1972. The relationship did not last, and in 1979 the couple got divorced. He met his second wife, Joan Templeman, in 1976 and married her in 1989 on Necker Island.
Richard Branson has two children – daughter Holly that was born in 1981, and son Sam, born in 1985.
Apart from his many business ventures, he’s known for his achievements in the world of sports. Richard Branson is an experienced kitesurfer with world records in this sport. With Per Lindstrand, he was also one of the first men to cross the Pacific as well as the Atlantic in a hot air balloon.
How Does Richard Branson Spend His Money?
Apart from his business empire, most of Branson’s investments and expenses revolve around real estate. A few of his most significant assets are private islands – Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, Makepeace Island, Great Britain Island, and Moskito Island.
Branson purchased Necker Island in 1979 for only $270,000, even though the island was estimated to be worth around $7.5 million. He did that to create a retreat for himself and the artists from his label. He was lucky, as the previous owner needed fast cash and agreed to a much lower price than what the island was really worth.
Branson built his Necker Island home there – a luxurious villa for 28 guests. It is estimated that the property is worth around $200+ million today. Branson’s Necker Island home has an interesting history as well, being damaged by two tropical hurricanes – Hurricane Irene in 2011 and Hurricane Irma in 2017.
When Branson is not using his villa, he rents it for $65,000 per day.
Other real estates owned by the entrepreneur are The Lodge in Verbier in the Swiss Alps, as well as an estate in Mallorca, Spain, which he plans to turn into the best eco-resort in Europe.
Career Highlights
Here are some of the best highlights of Richard Branson’s career:
- Dropped out of school to found ‘Student’ magazine (1966)
- Founded Virgin (1970)
- Virgin record label created (1973)
- Virgin Books (1979)
- Virgin Games (1983)
- Virgin Atlantic Airways (1984)
- Virgin Mobile (1999)
- Knighted by Prince Charles of Wales (1999)
Richard Branson – Net Worth Over the Years
1979 – £5 million
2014 – $4.6 billion
2016 – $4.9 billion
2018 – $5 billion
2020 – $3.4 billion
2022 – $4.7 billion
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Richard Branson worth?
Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated to be $4 Billion.
How old is Richard Branson?
Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950, and is currently 74 years old.
How tall is Richard Branson?
Richard Branson’s height is 1.79 m, which is equal to 5 ft 10 in.
Summary
Richard Branson is one of the richest men in Britain and has built the Virgin empire from the ground up.
As of 2024, Richard Branson’s net worth is roughly $4 Billion.
What do you think about Richard Branson’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
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Entrepreneurs
Carlos Ghosn Net Worth
What is Carlos Ghosn’s net worth?
Net Worth: | $120 Million |
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Age: | 70 |
Born: | March 9, 1954 |
Gender: | Male |
Height: | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
Country of Origin: | Brazil |
Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
Last Updated: | Oct 8, 2024 |
Introduction
Carlos Ghosn is a Brazilian-born French businessman with an estimated net worth of $120 Million.
Ghosn is best known for being the CEO of Michelin North America, Renault, AvtoVAZ, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors.
Early Life
Carlos Ghosn was born on the 9th of March, 1954, in Porto Velho, Brazil.
He did his secondary studies in Beirut, Lebanon, at Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour.
Ghosn graduated from École Polytechnique in engineering in 1978 and his postgraduate studies from the École des Mines de Paris.
Career
After graduating from the École des Mines de Paris in 1978, Carlos Ghosn worked for Michelin for 18 years. At first, he trained and worked at several plants throughout France and Germany before becoming a manager in Le Puy-en-Velay, France.
In 1984, Ghosn became the head of research and development and, a year later, was named the COO of the company’s operations in South America.
Ghosen moved to Rio de Janeiro, where the business had become unprofitable due to the hyperinflation in Brazil. Tasked with turning things around, Ghosen rose to the challenge with success and was named the president and COO of Michelin North America in 1989.
Rising Through The Ranks
In 1990, Carlos Ghosn became the CEO of Michelin North America and oversaw the company’s restructuring after purchasing Uniroyal Goodrich Tyre Company.
Six years later, Ghosn was elected Vice President of research, purchasing, development, and manufacturing at Renault, a French auto manufacturer. Under his guidance, Renault became exceptionally profitable, which led to Renault and Nissan forming the Renault-Nissan Alliance in 1999.
While maintaining his previous roles, Ghosn became Nissan’s COO and was named its president in 2000 and CEO in 2001.
Ghosn was able to turn Nissan’s sinking profits around with his “Nissan Revival Plan,” which reduced the company’s debt by 50% by 2002. To do this, he cut 14% of jobs, shut down five Japanese plants, and auctioned off assets, including the company’s aerospace division.
In 2005, he became Renault’s president and chief executive, making him the first person to run two Fortune 500 companies simultaneously.
While not as wealthy as the richest people in America, Ghosn’s business strategies for success were undeniable, even if some people disagreed with his methods.
Ghosn’s Recent Business Deals
Carlos Ghosn became the chairman of GM in 2005, following a merger between the company and Renault and Nissan. Ford offered to allow Ghosn to lead the company the following year, but he refused, stating he’d have to be made both CEO and chairman.
In 2007, Ghosn pushed Renault-Nissan into the electric car market, which helped make it the world leader in electric vehicles by 2017.
Soon after, he was named the deputy chairman of the Russian auto manufacturer AvtoVAZ and, in 2013, became the company’s chairman.
After a long tenure, Ghosn stepped down as CEO of Nissan in 2017 while remaining chairman and was succeeded by Saikawa Hiroto.
However, the year before, Ghosn had become chairman of Mitsubishi Motors following Nissan’s acquisition of a 34% stake in the company.
At Mitsubishi, Ghosn’s goal was to rehab the automaker, though he was removed from his post in 2018 after his arrest over false accounting allegations. After that, Ghosn’s affairs began to fall apart, and by the end of 2019, he was still imprisoned.
In late 2019, he was able to post bail and quickly left Japan for Lebanon, where he continues his legal battles today.
Carlos Ghosn Net Worth
In 2024, Carlos Ghosn’s net worth is estimated to be $120 Million.
Highlights
Here are some of the best highlights of Carlos Ghosn’s career:
- Ghosn is the chairman/CEO of Renault, AvtoVAZ, Nissan, and Mitsubishi Motors
- He was ranked as one of the 50 most famous men in global business and politics (2003)
Summary
Carlos Ghosn is a French-Lebanese-Brazilian businessman known as the “Le cost killer” and “Mr. Fix It”.
Thanks to his turnaround success at Nissan, Carlos gained celebrity status in the business world and was ranked as one of the 50 most famous men in global business and politics in 2003.
What do you think about Carlos Ghosn’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
Entrepreneurs
Rich Barton Net Worth
What is Rich Barton’s net worth?
Net Worth: | $2.1 Billion |
---|---|
Age: | 57 |
Born: | June 2, 1967 |
Gender: | Male |
Height: | Unknown |
Country of Origin: | United States of America |
Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
Last Updated: | Oct 8, 2024 |
Introduction
Rich Barton is an American entrepreneur and CEO of Zillow Group with an estimated net worth of $2.1 Billion.
Barton has founded multiple companies, including online travel company Zillow, job search engine Glassdoor, and photography site Trover.
Barton was a venture partner at Benchmark and is on the board of directors for Netflix, Avvo, Nextdoor, and Artsy.
Early Life
Richard Barton was born on the 2nd of June, 1967, and raised in New Canaan, Connecticut.
Barton is the son of a teacher and mechanical engineer.
Barton graduated from Standford University in 1989. He then started working for Alliance Consulting Group and Microsoft in 1991. His forefathers, John Barton and his son Horace, were inducted into the 1999 South Dakota Tennis Hall of Fame.
Career
After graduating from Stanford University with an engineering degree, Rich Barton started working for the Alliance Consulting Group in 1989.
In 1991, he left and began working for Microsoft as a project manager for the operating system MS-DOS 5.0. While working for Microsoft, Barton founded the travel site Expedia in 1994 as the company was planning to build a travel guide on CD-ROM. However, Barton pitched the idea of an online service to Bill Gates, who permitted him to pursue the project.
In 1996, Expedia made its debut on the internet, and Rich was the CEO of the site’s IPO until 2003, when it was purchased for $3.6 billion.
Making Billions
After selling Expedia’s IP, Rich Barton took a year-long break from business to relax in Italy and enjoy his success. However, he didn’t rest for too long and made a comeback in 2004 to begin setting his next business plan in motion.
Now in Seattle, Barton began working on the site Zillow, which he believed could transform the real estate industry.
In December 2004, Zillow was incorporated in Washington and officially launched in February 2006.
The site included a home valuation tool, sales history, and value appreciation information upon launch. The site crashed on the morning of its launch because the servers weren’t strong enough to handle the immense traffic.
By 2008, Zillow had grown exponentially and, in 2010, had become incredibly profitable for the first time since its launch.
In 2012, Barton purchased Rentjuice and Hotpads, followed by Street Easy in 2013 and Trulia in 2015.
All of this helped make Rich Barton one of the richest people in America, and his net worth continues to increase.
Maintaining Zillow
Although Rich Barton stepped down as CEO in 2010, he returned in 2019, replacing Spencer Rascoff. A year prior, the site began buying and selling through the new Zillow Offers, which partnered with local real estate agents. Upon returning to the CEO position, Barton began expanding Zillow Offers into new markets across the United States.
However, when the pandemic struck in 2020, Zillow saw its stock hit a four-year low, forcing them to cut expenses to stay profitable.
By July 2020, Zillow became one of the first companies to permanently allow employees to work from home. This allowed them to hire an additional 1,500 employees with the plan to expand their workforce by 40% by the end of 2021.
Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out, and Barton announced in November 2021 that Zillow was shutting down its home-buying business and laying off 25% of employees.
That said, this didn’t stop the Zillow Group from acquiring other businesses throughout the 2020s to expand their reach. These companies include ShowingTime, Follow Up Boss, and VRX Media, all of which have benefited Zillow. At the same time, Forbes named Barton a billionaire in 2020 after his earnings from Zillow continued to grow.
Now one of the richest people in the world, Rich Barton has undoubtedly lived up to his first name, earning billions through his business.
Rich Barton Net Worth
In 2024, Rich Barton’s net worth is estimated to be $2.1 Billion.
How Does Rich Barton Spend His Money?
Rich Barton spends his money on real estate.
Rich Barton’s Home and Other Spendings
Barton owns a home in Seattle, Wahington. Barton Has A $700 million stake in Zillow and plans to turn it into a home-flipping machine.
Highlights
Here are some of the best highlights of Rich Barton’s career:
- Chief executive officer of Zillow Group
- One of the top 10 innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review (2003)
- Presidential Ambassadors for Continental Entrepreneurship (2012)
Summary
Rich Barton is an American entrepreneur and businessman best known for being the Zillow Group CEO.
He is also the founder of Expedia and Glassdoor. Barton was born in Connecticut and graduated from Standford University. He has also founded the online travel photography-sharing site Trover.
He was a venture partner at Benchmark and served on the boards of directors for Netflix and Artsy. In 2012, he was named one of Barack Obama‘s Presidential Ambassadors for Continental Entrepreneurship.
What do you think about Rich Barton’s net worth? Leave a comment below.
Entrepreneurs
Russell Simmons Net Worth
What is Russell Simmons’ net worth?
Net Worth: | $340 Million |
---|---|
Age: | 67 |
Born: | October 4, 1957 |
Gender: | Male |
Height: | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) |
Country of Origin: | United States of America |
Source of Wealth: | Entrepreneur |
Last Updated: | Oct 8, 2024 |
Russell Simmons is an American record producer and entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of $340 Million.
Simmons is the co-founder of the record label Def Jam and has been among the top 25 most influential people in the industry over the past 25 years, playing a pivotal role in bringing hip-hop music to the forefront.
Early Life
Russell Simmons was born in Queens, New York, on October 4, 1957.
He is the son of Daniel Simmons Sr. and Evelyn Simmons. His father was a public school administrator, and his mother worked as a park administrator. Simmons attended the City College of New York for some time, after which he dropped out and went on to promote local musicians.
Career
During college, Simmons met industry mentor Robert Ford Jr., and a few years later, he co-founded Def Jam Recordings with Rick Rubin. In 1985, he co-produced and appeared alongside Daryl McDaniels in the film “Krush Groove” and launched the Def Comedy Jam television program.
From Rap To Riches
The Def Comedy Jam program featured notable figures such as Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Martin Lawrence, who were prominent comedians then. At the same time, Russell’s services to the music industry and hip-hop culture were honored at the 2004 VH1 Hip Hop Honors. A few years later, he produced hit films “The Nutty Professor” featuring Eddie Murphy and “How to Be a Player.”
In 2003, Russell established RushCard, a prepaid debit card provider, and launched Phat Fashions LLC, featuring Phat Farm and Baby Phat labels. The apparel line has a traditional appearance and feel thanks to the influence of designers like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Not long after establishing the business, he sold Phat Farm and Baby Phat to Kellwood Company in 2004 for $140 million.
That same year, he formed the Russell Simmons Music Group as a joint venture with Universal Music’s Island Def Jam Music Group.
Simmons’ Vegan Advocacy
Additionally, he co-founded the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation and received an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from Claremont Lincoln University in 2014. He also coordinated the anti-Rockefeller Drug Law demonstrations promoting more equitable drug laws and was designated as the UN Slavery Memorial’s Goodwill Ambassador.
Russell is a huge PETA supporter and won the PETA Humanitarian Award in 2001 and the Person of the Year Award. The group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) fights against animal abuse in entertainment and industry, advances vegetarianism, and defends animal rights. Many celebrities, such as Pamela Anderson, Ellen DeGeneres, and Woody Harrelson, are just a few of the figures supporting PETA.
His involvement with the NGO has influenced him to live a healthier lifestyle. He has become vegan himself and promotes the routine.
Signing Lil Skies And Jack Harlow
Simmons, a vegan since 1999, supports the David Lynch Foundation, which encourages activism, mindfulness, and vegetarianism; he also practices Jivamukti Yoga and Transcendental Meditation. He supports the Somaly Mam Foundation, which combats human trafficking and sexual slavery and endorses the second Muslim Jewish Conference promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation.
In 2012, Simmons’ book “Super Rich: A Guide to Having It All” took home the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction.
To top it all off, Richtopia listed him as one of the 200 most influential social entrepreneurs and philanthropists worldwide in 2017.
Russell released the “Masterminds of Hip Hop” NFT collection alongside Snoop Dogg and Ice-T and became a senior advisor for the vegan brand Everything Legendary.
Recently, Russell has been more involved in Def Jam Records, signing up-and-coming artists such as Lil Skies, Jack Harlow, and Dreezy.
Estimated Net Worth
Highlights
Here are some of the best highlights of Russell Simmons’ career:
- Co-founded Def Jam (1983)
- Krush Groove (Movie, 1985)
- Launched Clothing Line (1992)
- Sold Phat Farm (2004)
Summary
Russell Simmons was one of the first producers in the industry to co-found one of the most significant record labels ‘Def Jam’. Simmons has collaborated with some of the best artists, such as Jay Z and LL Cool J.
What do you think about Russell Simmons’ net worth? Leave a comment below.
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