Richard Branson
- Net worth $2 billion
- Birthday July 18, 1950
- Status Married
- Country England
- Ethnicity English
- Source(-s) of wealth Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist
How much is Richard Branson Worth? Richard Branson Net Worth in 2026
Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion as of October 2026. Richard Branson is the British entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group. In 2025 he announced plans to compete with Eurostar on London to Paris and Brussels routes by 2029.
| Net worth | $2.8 billion (estimate, October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Estimated annual income | Mainly from Virgin Group business interests, equity stakes and investments |
| Born | July 18, 1950, Blackheath, London, England (age 76) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Founding the Virgin Group, including Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic |
How much is Richard Branson worth in 2026?
Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion. His fortune comes from equity in Virgin businesses and proceeds from sales of others, including Virgin Records, Virgin Mobile and, in 2024, Virgin Money UK. The value of his holdings moves with the companies and markets involved, so estimates vary. This is an estimate, not a reported bank balance.
Richard Branson in 2026: what they’ve been up to
- 2025: Announced plans for a Virgin high-speed train service to rival Eurostar on London to Paris and Brussels routes by 2029.
- 2024: Virgin Money UK was sold to Nationwide Building Society.
- 2023: Said he would not invest further funds in Virgin Galactic.
- 2021: Flew to the edge of space on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity.
How Richard Branson makes money
- Virgin Group: stakes in travel, leisure and hospitality businesses such as Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Hotels.
- Business sales: the music label (1992), Virgin Mobile (2006) and Virgin Money UK (2024).
- Investments: minority holdings in startups and listed companies.
- Brand licensing: the Virgin name across industries.
Career timeline
- 1966: Launched Student magazine (first issue in 1968).
- 1970: Started a mail-order record business.
- 1972: Launched Virgin Records.
- 1973: Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield became its first release.
- 1984: Started Virgin Atlantic.
- 1992: Sold the Virgin music label to EMI.
- 1997: Founded Virgin Rail Group.
- 1999: Launched Virgin Mobile.
- 2000: Launched Virgin Blue and was knighted.
- 2004: Founded Virgin Galactic.
- 2006: Merged Virgin Express with SN Brussels Airlines to create Brussels Airlines.
- 2010: Launched Virgin Hotels.
- 2021: Spaceflight on VSS Unity.
- 2024: Sold Virgin Money UK to Nationwide.
Early life and background
Richard Branson was born in London, the eldest of three children of Eve Branson, a former ballet dancer and air hostess, and Edward James Branson, a barrister. He attended Scaitcliffe School and Cliff View House School before Stowe School, which he left at 16. Dyslexia made school hard, but his parents backed him from an early age. He started the magazine Student and soon moved into records, trading under the name Virgin, a name suggested by an employee because they were new to business.
Watch on Alux
Watch: 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Richard Branson
Richard Branson net worth FAQ
What is Richard Branson’s net worth?
Richard Branson’s net worth is estimated at $2.8 billion as of October 2026. Estimates vary, so treat the figure as approximate.
How does Richard Branson make money?
His fortune comes from equity in Virgin businesses and proceeds from sales of others, including Virgin Records, Virgin Mobile and, in 2024, Virgin Money UK.
How old is Richard Branson?
Richard Branson was born on July 18, 1950 and is 76 years old as of October 2026.
Where is Richard Branson from?
He was born in London, England, and is British.
What is Richard Branson doing now?
In 2025 he announced plans to compete with Eurostar on London to Paris and Brussels routes by 2029.
How is Richard Branson’s net worth estimated?
The figure is an estimate based on public reporting about earnings, deals and business valuations. It is not an audited number and can change as new information appears.
Related profiles
- Mark Cuban net worth
- Michael Dell net worth
- Larry Ellison net worth
- Elon Musk net worth
- Jeff Bezos net worth
How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: October 2026.