At age 20, Branson opened his first record shop, then a studio at 22, and launched the Virgin Records label at 23. By 30, his company was international and Branson was a millionaire.

Those early years were tough, he told Entrepreneur:

"I remember them vividly. It's far more difficult being a small-business owner starting a business than it is for me with thousands of people working for us and 400 companies. Building a business from scratch is 24 hours, 7 days a week, divorces. It's difficult to hold your family life together; it's bloody hard work and only one word really matters — and that's surviving."