The first successful Richard Branson business venture was a small youth-culture magazine, simply titled Student Magazine, in which he sold advertising space as his first revenue stream.
Richard Branson, one of the world’s most admired entrepreneurs and self-made billionaires, will celebrate his 66th birthday on 18 July.
Branson has had a fascinating professional life since he left school at 16 to begin his own company. While he is now worth $5 billion US dollars, the first successful Richard Branson business venture was a small youth-culture magazine, simply titled Student Magazine, in which he sold advertising space as his first revenue stream.
Like many people first starting out running their own business, things did not always go his way. His first two entrepreneurial attempts prior to Student Magazine failed. These early attempts were a Christmas tree growing venture and a venture raising budgie birds.
Once his business career took off with the success of Virgin Records, he flourished in the late 60s and early 70s, and he had a period of extensive expansion during the 80s.
However, Branson had his setbacks, most notably in the early 90s with the loss of Virgin Records. As a business owner, this did not deter him. Rather than giving up he came back stronger a few years later with the launch of a second record company and further company expansions, right up to present day where he is seen as a great business innovator.
Our infographic illustrates the incredible career of this pioneering entrepreneur.
Drew Burstein, Frame Your TV
