On Tuesday, August 4, Virgin Atlantic filed for bankruptcy in the US, a move that was another blow to aviation industry, one of the areas hardest hit by the pandemic.
With this move, the airline seeks protection under Article 15 of the US Bankruptcy Code. What the company actually did, and despite the efforts of the eccentric founder and 51% shareholder Richard Branson - he had even offered as a guarantee his own island in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean - is to seek protection from its creditors, just one month after announcing that it has secured the necessary funding, which makes it viable for another 18 months.
According to CNN, Virgin Atlantic has already laid off 3.550 employees and closed its base at London Gatwick Airport as the airline faces the worst blow ever Covid-19.
In fact, it is the second Virgin airline that failed to overcome the effects of the pandemic spread around the world. Virgin Australia, Australia's second-largest carrier, has been under mandatory management status since April 2020, making it the first major "victim" of the country's coronavirus pandemic.
At the end of the same month, in fact, the billionaire Richard Branson, with its net worth property estimated at $ 4 billion, in a fundraising effort he asked the British and Australian governments to help him. According to Forbes, public criticism was strong as many believed that the people of each country should not actually save a billionaire who owns his own island and leads a showy life.
After such a development, then, the "life and state" of Sir Richard Branson, now more than ever, pique the interest of the public.
At the age of 15, in 1972, Branson started his first business, Virgin Records, and then the giant Virgin Group, which operates in various industries that have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, including industries. aviation transport, leisure, hotels and cruise.
The group generates more than $ 21 billion in global revenue annually, and as the president of this lucrative giant, it manages about 500 companies and is best known for its charismatic and, at the same time, eccentric character. The net worth of his fortune is estimated at close to $ 4 billion, and he is directly affiliated with the Virgin Group.
Like businessman, one would say, that he is rather simple and austere in his expenses, while when he wastes his money in an unorthodox way he does it only as an investment and not as a personal pleasure. Like renting property that belongs to him, including the privately owned island of Necker. He is also known for his philanthropy, as he devotes personal time and money to doing so.
Although Sir Branson is best known for his eccentric personality - he even wears a butterfly to run a marathon! - one would say that he is quite simple as a man - his family came from the middle class - but also quite a demonic businessman. . Although it has a history of luxury shopping, it is most often made as an investment, rather than as a personal whim.
His strategy also led him in 1978 to the Necker Island market in the British Virgin Islands, in Caribbean, at $ 180.000. Five years and $ 10 million later, Branson also built a resort on the island, which also serves as his personal refuge. It has hosted several celebrities - including Princess Diana, Kate Moss and Obama.
In fact, in 2006 the value of the island was estimated to have reached 60 million dollars, marking a 33,2% increase in its purchase price, one of the "best economic moves" he has ever made, as he described it. It is the same island that in April 2020 offered as a guarantee to the British government to save the Virgin Group from collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 2009, Branson bought a 32-meter catamaran, which he named Necker Belle, for about $ 6 million. He charged it extra to the islanders for $ 60.000 / week, and recently sold it for $ 3 million!
In addition, the Necker "package" includes a mini submarine, the Necker Nymph, which bought for $ 547.482 and its initial rental prices start at $ 25.000 for seven nights on the island.
The privately owned island in the British Virgin Islands, however, is just one of the demonic businessman's luxury investments, known as the "Virgin Limited Edition".
He also owns the Son Bunyola estate in northwestern Mallorca with three luxury guest villas, a winter resort in the Swiss Alps starting at $ 975 and a one-week exclusive use of $ 89.916. dollars!
It also has a resort in Morocco, with each room costing $ 717 / night, and owns a safari at the Maasai Nara National Reserve in Kenya with an impressive 12-meter infinity pool and $ 590-a-night rooms. of Ulusaba at Sabi Sand Game Reserve, which also offers luxurious safari experiences to its guests.
Prior to settling on Nacker Island, he lived in Oxfordshire Mansion in Kiddlington and owns a home in Holland Park in London which bought $ 3,3 million and sold for $ 23,12 million. Until 2002, Branson was still paying mortgages, as he has revealed to the Guardian, while in none of his homes will you find many expensive works of art, as he prefers to buy watercolors at a reasonable price.
The renovated house he owns in London and bought for about $ 2.600, rents a little over $ 1.000 / week, but as he has revealed, he never intends to sell it.
He has a private jet for his transportation, which costs 21 million dollars, while he drives a Range Rover, which, however, the company provides him every year for free.
In 2004, the demonic businessman founded Virgin Galactic, the first company in the world to aspire to commercial spaceflight, building its own spacecraft. Branson sets the time horizon in 2009 for the first maiden flight to spaceHowever, more than ten years later this has not yet become possible. According to his estimates (before the coronavirus) 2020 was the year that the Virgin Galactic would make its first space trip. It is worth mentioning, however, that at the end of 2019 the "gold tickets" had already been sold for those who are interested in experiencing this unique life experience, for $ 250.000 each.
Such an eccentric character with strategic investments that bring in millions of dollars would be said to work in the same way in his personal life. On the contrary, he is a simple man who does not like fanfares. So he does not spend much on his personal attire, as the plain white shirt and jeans are his dress code for any occasion - from a meal in a restaurant to a talk and a meeting with the queen.
He is also quite generous with tips, especially when "I understand that someone serves me by doing his job with great pleasure", while he is just as generous with people who serve him when he has a specific request - once he rewarded a taxi driver in London with two First-class airline tickets worth $ 5.276.
With large charities In his assets, Branson devotes 80% of his time to Virgin Unite, the group's charitable "face", an organization that creates and supports a variety of projects. Characteristic is the fact that he has signed "The Giving Pledge", to which he promised to donate more than half of his wealth throughout his life.
He is also particularly sensitive to the issue of the environment, as in 2007 he donated $ 25 million to scientists to discover ways to save the planet from climate change. It also pledged $ 3 billion over a decade to develop low-carbon fuels to alleviate global warming.
With more than 60 companies in Virgin's portfolio, Sir Richard Branson continues to invest money in its expansion and development with new ideas.
However, for Branson, the greatest luxury is not money. "If we are talking about personal luxuries - when you can already be your own boss - the greatest reward of all is the time you can spend on family and friends."