Richard Branson Fun Facts, Quotes and Tweets

30^th December 2014

Fact: Virgin mogul Richard Branson has become a first-time grandfather after his daughter Holly welcomed boy and girl twins with her husband Freddie Andrews. The new mum shared the news online on Tuesday (30Dec14), revealing the proud parents have named their son Artie and daughter Etta.

19^th August 2014

Fact: Virgin boss Richard Branson is to play himself in an upcoming episode of The Simpsons. The animated Branson will play show regular Mr. Burns’ nosy neighbour. The entrepreneur will join the likes of Sarah Silverman, David Hyde Pierce, Willem Dafoe and Jane Fonda among those who will appear in cartoon form for the upcoming 26th season of the show.

18^th November 2013

Quote: "(It's) where people can watch the stars and I'm sure lots of babies will be made. The favourite name for babies made on Necker - for girls, anyway - is Anecker. About six Aneckers have been conceived here. It's that kind of island." Sir Richard Branson hopes his sun-kissed home in the British Virgin Islands, which was destroyed by a fire in 2011, will resume its role as a love palace for guests now the sprawling property has been re-built.

11^th July 2013

Quote: "I was invited very early on... to purchase, not to just 'join'. I didn't have a spare $250,000 lying around at the time so I declined the invitation. I'll let him work out the kinks for a couple of years, then I'll go." 30 Seconds To Mars rocker Jared Leto was invited to board one of Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic space flights.

13^th May 2013

Fact: British tycoon Sir Richard Branson has donned a skirt and make-up to serve as an air stewardess after losing a bet with Air Asia chief executive Tony Fernandes.

9^th January 2012

Fact: British model/actress Lily Cole and businessman Sir Richard Branson turned out to celebrate Stephen Hawking's 70th birthday at the U.K.'s prestigious Cambridge University on Sunday (08Jan12). The celebrated scientist and author, who has suffered motor neurone disease since the 1960s, was unable to attend the event after battling an infection which saw him briefly hospitalised last week (begs02Jan12).

21^st December 2011

Fact: Richard Branson's daughter has married on the airline tycoon's private Necker Island resort in the British Virgin Islands. Holly Branson wed Fred Andrews on Tuesday (20Dec11) in front of 100 friends and family, including former British royal Sarah Ferguson and her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, according to UsMagazine.com.

19^th April 2011

Fact: Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson is to turn his private Caribbean island into a sanctuary for lemurs. Branson hopes to help save the endangered animals from near extinction in Africa by giving them a new home on Necker.

21^st May 2009

Fact: British tycoon SIR Richard Branson is launching a worldwide search for a doppelganger. The lookalike competition is to celebrate 25 years of his company VIRGIN ATLANTIC.

14^th October 2008

Fact: Actor Christian Slater has paired up with SIR Richard Branson to sell and air his charity documentary OUR SAFARI DIARY IN SOUTH AFRICA on the Virgin mogul's airline in an effort to raise money to build a school in the country.

23^rd May 2008

Quote: "My character is so unique. I see him as a chocolate Richard Branson." African-American actor Blair Underwood on his billionaire character SIMON ELDER in hit TV series DIRTY SEXY MONEY.

6^th February 2008

Fact: SIR Richard Branson is teaming up with the makers of James Bond for the second time. A Virgin Atlantic plane - owned by Branson - will feature in the new 007 film QUANTUM OF SOLACE.

28^th November 2007

Fact: Virgin Atlantic boss Richard Branson has launched a competition to name the jumbo jet which will transport the Spice Girls on their forthcoming world tour. The band came up with three suggestions - Spice One, Girl Power and Spice Girl.

18^th April 2007

Fact: Dallas star VICTORIA PRINCIPLE will become the first female tourist in space after booking a place on SIR Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.

5^th January 2007

Fact: Supermodel Kate Moss has joined forces with the sons of veteran singer Bryan Ferry and business tycoon SIR Richard Branson in a star-studded new campaign for fashion house Burberry. The shoot, featuring OTIS and ISAAC FERRY and SAM BRANSON, was headed by acclaimed photographer MARIO TESTINO.

14^th August 2006

Fact: Former Dallas star VICTORIA PRINCIPAL, designer PHILIPPE STARCK and SUPERMAN RETURNS director Bryan Singer have all paid SIR Richard Branson $200,000 (GBP111,000) to venture into space on VIRGIN GALACTIC airways when it is eventually ready to blast off.

31^st May 2006

Fact: British tycoon SIR Richard Branson is selling his lavish 12-bedroom mansion in Holland Park, west London, for GBP17.5 million ($31.5 million). The Virgin boss initially paid GBP5 million ($9 million) for the home in 1992.