Q&A: Richard Branson on Richard Branson

Q: What's the first thing you think of when you wake up?

A: Like most people, I think about the time!

Q: Which single word gets you out of bed in the morning?

A: "No," in my wife's Glaswegian accent.

Q: What do you have for breakfast?

A: I have a fruit salad and muesli. When I spoil myself I have kippers.

Q: Marmite! Love it or hate it?

A: I love Marmite! I recommend it as a drink made with hot water.

Q: Favorite television program?

A: I love anything to do with nature, things like "Planet Earth."

Q: Which is your favorite band?

A: It has to be the Sex Pistols. They made a big difference for Virgin.

Q: Which was the first record you bought?

A: Vey embarrassingly, I think it was Cliff Richard's "Summer Holiday."

Q: Appetizer or dessert?

A: It's not very healthy, but I'd have to go for dessert.

Q: Best meal ever?

A: I love a Greek restaurant called Halepi in Notting Hill Gate. Great atmosphere.

Q: Best country you have visited?

A: Australia. Love the people - a wonderful, vibrant country.

Q: Favorite country?

A: Great Britain. It's been kind to me over the years. I've got lots and lots of friends here.

Q: Any place left that you'd like to visit?

A: South America. Brazil and Argentina sound wonderful.

Q: Three most adventurous things you have done so far?

A: Boating, ballooning and kite surfing. Space adventures to come!

Q: If you could meet a legend dead or alive, who would it be?

A: Sir Francis Drake. I'd love to have been an explorer of that caliber.

Q: Who is your mentor?

A: My parents. They've been a tremendously positive influence.

Q: What is the greatest piece of wisdom you've ever heard?

A: To look for the best in people.

Q: What have you studied?

A: Most of my learning has been since I left school. It's been an education of life. I love to read a lot. I've been involved in many different things, so have learnt a lot that way.

Q: The last book you read?

A: "The War of the World." You can see the misery that wars have bestowed. We all have to do as much as we can to make sure they are a thing of the past.

Q: Favorite song?

A: "My Way." Another connection there.

Q: Has anyone ever mistaken you for somebody else?

A: Quite often. Once, a little girl came up to me and said, "You look just like that Richard Branson bloke." And I nodded and said thank you. She then said, "You should go sign up for one of those look-alike agencies. You might not make as much money as him, but you would make a fortune!"

Q: If you were given $60 to start a business, how would you do it?

A: If I was still well known, I'd sign the dollars and sell each of them for $20. I would then sign the $20 and sell them for $40, etc.

Q: Is there anything you'd like to change about yourself?

A: It'd have to be my age. To go backwards instead of forwards.

Q: What do you love and hate?

A: I love the closeness of our family. And I hate not being able to spend every day with them.

Q: What makes you cry?

A: I cry at happy and sad things. My children always bring a box of Kleenex to the cinema!

Q: What makes you laugh?

A: I'm lucky. I laugh all the time. I love life, I love people, love a good joke.

Q: What's contributed most to your success?

A: All the people at Virgin have made it what it is today.

Q: The key to success in three words please?

A: People. People. People.

Q: Who is your best mate?

A: I have two special friends, both named Andy. We've had a lot of laughs over the years.

Q: If you had 60 minutes left, how would you spend it?

A: With my family.

Q: Anything you wanted to do by 60?

A: I'd like some grandchildren, as would my wife. Fingers crossed!

Q: Anything you still need?

A: The answer to that has to be no.

Q: What motivates you to carry on?

A: I love learning. I love people. I love making a difference. I don't think I'll stop until I drop.

Q: What drives you crazy?

A: Negativity. People who look for the worst in people. People always gossiping about other people.

Q: Are you stressed?

A: No. I try hard to overcome challenges and if I fail, I pick myself up quickly.

Q: What keeps you awake at night?

A: Very little keeps me awake at night.

Q: What is your biggest fear?

A: Like a lot of people, I fear illness in our family or with friends.

Q: Why are you always smiling?

A: I have got a lot to smile about!

Q: Are you ticklish?

A: I'm the most ticklish person I know.

Q: What brings you happiness?

A: Achieving things that one can be proud of. And good feedback from people as a result.

Q: Is there anything you'd change about yourself?

A: It'd have to be my age. To go backwards instead of forwards.

Q: Which one of the seven dwarves would you be?

A: I think it would have to be Happy!

Q: If you had to be an animal, what would it be and why?

A: It'd be a tiger. Sadly there aren't many left in the world, but the more there can be the merrier.

Q: Has there been an event that changed your life?

A: Meeting Nelson Mandela, just an incredible individual. I'm very privileged to know him well now.

Q: Ever thought about running for political office?

A: I don't think you can mix business and politics so I'd have to give up Virgin and I enjoy it too much. I can campaign a lot of political issues without actually becoming a politician.

Q: What is the most embarrassing thing you've ever done?

A: Ruby Wax and I were in Mallorca and a couple asked to take a photo. Ruby and I put our arms round each other, smiled, and the couple said, "No, we want you to take a picture of us."

Q: What's your most prized personal, material possession?

A: Necker Island. I managed to find it when I was 26.

Q: Who would you most like to stay with you on Necker Island?

A: The 60,000 people that work for Virgin! Sadly, the island is rather small, but you never know.

Q: If you could be a super hero, who would it be?

A: Bond ... James Bond.

Q: Who would play you in a movie of your life?

A: Robert Pattinson from "Twilight." He's English … and he's young!

Q: If you were not you, who would you want to be and why?

A: I'd love to start again, and be my grandson when he's born.

Q: If you could be reincarnated who would you be?

A: Based on the pictures I've seen of Cleopatra, Mark Anthony would be quite nice.

Q: Anybody you're still in awe of?

A: The Dalai Lama.

Q: What is your favorite sport?

A: Kite surfing. It's unusual. We've got the best conditions for it on Necker.

Q: Did running the London Marathon hurt you as much as it did me?

A: I was lucky. I managed to find the time to train. The last 2 miles were very hard but the crowd carried everybody along. I highly recommend it.

Q: Three words to describe the Virgin brand?

A: A challenger brand.

Q: Anything left for you to achieve?

A: One of the most exciting things we're involved in is the Elders. Trying to ensure that conflicts are a thing of the past. It'd be wonderful if the Elders could do some fantastic things.

Q: Is there anything you'd have done differently?

A: No. I've had an absolute blast.


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