Richard Branson Voted Top Entrepreneur In 50 Years

The man behind the VIRGIN brand was chosen top entrepreneur by Britain's most important business leaders.  Branson, with his usual panache, "hammy"  performance and self-deprecating shrug said "I am honoured to be chosen by my peers.  I never set to be a  businessman.  I just wanted to create things that I could be proud of and that made a difference.  But thanks to the wonderful teams of people following their passions and curiosity over the past 50 years, we've created our special brand and group of companies".

Branson started his entrepreneurial drive when he was 16, with a small magazine called Student.  Then he set up a mail-order record business and a chain of record stores called Virgin Records.  From there, he signed rock and roll bands like the Sex Pistols and Culture Club.  Then came his Opus Maximus - Virgin Atlantic.  This fledgling airline took on the big boys - British Airways and American carriers - and won a sizeable share of the Trans-Atlantic market.

Over those 50 years, Branson made himself synonymous with the Virgin Brand.  The Media loved his stunts like skydiving and mountain climbing and they reported every detail of his jetset lifestyle.  Today, the Virgin Brand encompasses mobile phones, gyms, trains and financial services.  And now the peak of his ambition - Virgin Galactic, which promises to take tourists into space.

Of course, like most entrepreneurs, there were failures along the way.  Virgin Brides (wedding dresses), Virgin Vie (cosmetics), Virgin Cola and Virgin Vodka have all vanished into the graveyard of good ideas gone sour.  But today, at age 64, Richard Branson is at the top of his game.  One admirer described Branson this way:  "He invented the concept of using a lifestyle brand (Virgin)  across dozens of sectors and industries.  We want individuals like these, not big company executives who specialize in financial engineering".

Next stop, the moon?  Or maybe someday, even the stars.