This is a list of Richard Branson's business ventures from the 1960s to today.
1960s 1966 – After failed attempts to grow and sell both Christmas trees and budgerigars, Branson launches his first successful business, a magazine named Student, the first issue of which appearing in January 1968. Branson's net worth was estimated at £50,000 by 1969.
1970s 1970 – Start selling records by mail-order 1971 – Opens his first record shop on Oxford Street 1972 – Opens a Virgin Recording Studio 1973 – Launches Virgin Records record label 1979 – Buys the gay nightclub Heaven, located under Charing Cross railway station. It was sold in 2003 to a private buyer. Branson's net worth was estimated at £5 million by 1979.
1980s 1980 – Virgin Records goes international 1981 – Virgin buys the Kensington Roof Gardens. Kensington Roof Gardens were renamed to just The Roof Gardens. Virgin ceased its operation of The Roof Gardens in 2018.Kensington Roof Gardens to close after more than 35 years The Guardian 3 January 2018 1983 – Virgin Vision, later to become Virgin Communications, is formed to distribute films and videos in the television and broadcasting sector. 1983 – Virgin Games was launched. The company was renamed Virgin Mastertronic, then renamed Virgin Games (again) and then renamed Virgin Interactive Entertainment (also known as Virgin Interactive) and finally renamed Avalon Interactive before going out of business in 2005. A close affiliate and successor of Spanish origin, Virgin Play, was formed in 2002 from the former Virgin Interactive's Spanish division and kept operating until it folded in 2009. 1984 – Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Cargo are launched. 1984 – Virgin Vision (launched the previous year) launches "Music Box", a 24-hour satellite music station. 1985 – Virgin Group now includes record labels, retail outlets, exported music publishing, broadcasting, satellite television, and film and video distribution. 1985 – Branson starts Virgin Holidays 1987 – Branson takes Virgin Records to the United States 1987 – The Virgin Group, along with Granada, Anglia and Pearson, founds British Satellite Broadcasting and receives a UK licence to broadcast five new TV channels by satellite in the UK. 1987 – Virgin sets up 525, a post production facility in Los Angeles, to work on high-end commercials and pop videos. 1987 – Virgin sets up "Music Box" as an independent producer of music programmes. 1987 – Virgin buys a 45% stake in Mastertronic Group. Later Virgin Mastertronic becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Group, creating, marketing and distributing computer games software and Sega consoles in several European countries. 1987 – Virgin buys Rushes Postproduction in London. 1987 – Virgin launches Virgin Airship & Balloon Company. 1987 – Richard Branson launches Mates condoms in the UK to promote condoms to young adults 1988 – Virgin re-opens the recently acquired and re-modelled Olympic Studios in Barnes, London. 1988 – Virgin launches Virgin Classics, another Virgin international record label specializing in high-quality classical music. 1988 – Virgin sells some of its smaller UK retail stores and puts more money into Virgin Megastores, opening new stores both in the UK and abroad. 1988 – Virgin sets up Virgin Broadcasting. 1988 – Virgin sells its shareholding in British Satellite Broadcasting.
1990s 1990 – Virgin arrives in Japan 1991 – Virgin Publishing (Virgin Books) is formed 1992 – Virgin Records is sold to Thorn EMI 1993 - Virgin Vision is bought by PolyGram for $5.6 million. 1993 – Virgin Radio hits the airwaves with Virgin 1215AM 1994 – Launch of Virgin Vodka and Virgin Cola. Virgin Vodka failed to gain traction and Virgin Cola ended production in 2014. 1995 – Discretely invests in AirTicketsDirect 1995 – Virgin Direct Personal Financial Services opens for business 1995 – Virgin Express: a European low cost airline is launched in Brussels after the purchase and rebranding of EBA Express. In 2005 Virgin Express merges with Sn Brussels Airlines to form Brussels Airlines. Lufthansa fully acquired Brussels Airlines in 2017. 1996 – V2 Music is created 1996 – Virgin.Net launches 1996 – Virgin Brides launched. Last Virgin Brides store closed in 2007. 1996 – Virgin Group becomes majority shareholders in London Broncos rugby league team. Virgin withdrew from the London Broncos in 2001–2002. 1997 – Virgin CrossCountry and Virgin Trains West Coast commence operationsBranson's Virgin Group wins CrossCountry Trains for 15 years Rail issue 294 18 December 1996 page 6Virgin to tackle IC West Coast Rail Privatisation News issue 48 20 February 1997 page 1 1997 – Majority shareholding in Virgin Radio is sold to Chris Evans 1997 – Virgin Cosmetics launches. The company (officially The Virgin Cosmetics Company) changed its name into Virgin Vie At Home and then Vie at Home (after being bought out from Virgin Group). Vie at Home entered liquidation in 2011. 1998 – Virgin Clothing was launched. All activities ended by 2005. 1998 – 49% stake in Virgin Rail Group sold to Stagecoach GroupStagecoach to Acquire 49% Stake in Virgin Rail Today's Railways UK issue 32 August 1998 page 8 1999 – Virgin Mobile launches Virgin's first telecoms venture 1999 – Virgin Active launches in South Africa, UK and Italy 1999 – Majority shareholding in London Broncos is sold to David HughesHughes snaps up Broncos Evening Standard 17 September 2001 1999 – 49% shareholding in Virgin Atlantic sold to Singapore AirlinesBranson sells 49% of Virgin Atlantic BBC News 20 December 1999
2000s 2000 – Virgin launches Australian airline Virgin Blue (now called Virgin Australia)Virgin Blue To Fly The Aussie Skies Virgin Blue 5 February 2000 2000 – Virgin sells Rushes Postproduction to Ascent Media – then Liberty Livewire 2000 – Virgin launches Virgin Energy. Virgin Energy became part of EDF Energy in 2002. 2000 – Virgin launches Virgin Cars. Virgin Cars and its subsidiary Virgin Bikes stopped doing business in 2005. 2002 - Virgin Interactive Espania SA splits from Virgin Interactive and re-brands as Virgin Play. Virgin Play was liquidated in September 2009. 2004 – Virgin launches Virgin Galactic 2005 – Virgin Express merges with Sn Brussels Airlines to form Brussels Airlines. Virgin retained minority share. Lufthansa purchased 45% of Brussels Airlines in 2009, and acquired the remainder in January 2017. 2005 – Virgin Active UK acquires Holmes Place 2006 – Virgin announces Virgin Fuel, a new company to produce a clean fuel in the future 2006 – Virgin Active Spain is Launched 2007 – Virgin Active Portugal is Launched 2007 – Virgin launches Virgin Health Bank 2007 – Virgin launches Virgin Media 2007 – Virgin launches Virgin America 2007 – Virgin buys 20% stakes in AirAsia X 2007 – Sells Virgin Megastore in the UK and Ireland to ZavviBranson sells Virgin music stores BBC News 17 September 2007 2007 – Virgin Media Television Launches Virgin 1 2007 – Closes Virgin Digital in the UK (Virgin now sells music downloads through Virgin Media's website) 2007 – Virgin Fuel US$400 million in Virgin Atlantic jet flight on biofuels and in renewable energy. 2007 – Virgin Money becomes preferred bidder for acquisition of Northern Rock (and is eventually successful). 2007 – Virgin Radio Italia launches in Italy in joint venture with Finelco. 2007 – Virgin CrossCountry ceases after franchise lost to Arriva CrossCountryShock as Virgin loses Cross Country to Arriva The Railway Magazine issue 1277 September 2007 page 11 2008 – Virgin Australia Airlines offers competitive prices between Australia and Los Angeles. Known as V Australia due to naming rights. 2008 – Virgin launches Virgin Healthcare 2009 – Virgin launches Virgin Money Giving
2010s 2010 – Virgin launched Virgin Racing, a Formula One team previously known as Manor Grand Prix (established by Manor Motorsport). Virgin Racing competed in 2010 season and was renamed Marussia Virgin Racing (after partnership with Marussia Motors) for 2011 season. After 2011 season, Virgin Racing became Marussia F1 Team and competed for seasons 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2015 the team changed name into Manor Marussia F1 Team for 2015 season. Then in 2016 season the team was known as Manor Racing. The team then went bankrupt and was dissolved and did not race in the 2017 season. 2010 – Virgin launches Virgin Gaming, a service for people of all skill levels to play competitively on popular video games. 2010 – Virgin launches Virgin Produced, a film and television development, packaging and production company based in Los Angeles, California. 2010 – Virgin launches Project, a digital magazine created exclusively for Apple Inc's iPad. 2010 – Virgin Money buys Church House Trust 2012 – Virgin Money buys Northern Rock 2012 – Virgin Galactic announces the development of orbital space launch system LauncherOne. 2013 – Virgin Racing Formula E team is launched. First season of competition was 2014 season. 2013 – Virgin Media sold to Liberty Global 2014 – Virgin participates in Formula E for the 2014 season 2015 – Virgin Trains East Coast commences operating the InterCity East Coast franchise, Virgin Group hold a 10% shareholdingStagecoach/Virgin bid wins East Coast franchise The Railway Magazine issue 1366 January 2015 page 6 2016 – Virgin launches Virgin Voyages; Virgin Radio Jakarta launches in May 2016, replacing Ninety Niners FM. The station was owned by MPG Media 2017 – Virgin launches Virgin Orbit, a spin-off from Virgin Galactic. Virgin Orbit goes bankrupt in 2023. 2017 – Virgin invested in Hyperloop One; Branson joined its board of directors, and in December 2017 became its chairman. 2018 – Virgin invests in Brightline trains in Florida, USA. The system is briefly named Virgin Trains USA. 2018 – Virgin Trains East Coast ceases tradingGovernment terminates Virgin Trains East Coast franchise Railway Gazette International 17 May 2018 2019 – Virgin purchases Flybe through the consortium Connect Airways, Flybe is subsequently renamed Virgin Connect. 2019 – Virgin Trains West Coast ceases after InterCity West Coast franchise lost to Avanti West CoastFirstGroup replaces Virgin to run West Coast route BBC News 14 August 2019
2020s 2024 – Hyperloop One, formerly Virgin Hyperloop, is dissolved and sells its assets.Hyperloop One Closes
References
External links Virgin Corporate Website virginbrand.com Unofficial blog of the Virgin Group International Rescue Corps Gonzo Way of Branding Fast Company magazine article on Sir Richard Branson Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) International Ballooning Commission (CIA) notable flights Svenska Ballongfederationen, Pacific ocean flights Profile on BBC News dated September 27, 2004 Mates History "Richard Branson launched Mates condoms in the UK in 1987 to promote condoms to young adults" Video Interview on CBC News: The Hour dated November 21, 2005 AskMen.com feature on Richard Branson – includes pics, pictures, biography, video, related news, vital stats, and commentary.