The winner is a 61-year-old who launched his first business in 1968, 16 years after the Queen’s coronation, and the rest, as they say, is history. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin brand has since grown into one of the world’s most respected companies employing 50,000 people in 34 countries with current revenue hovering around £13bn. The Queen knighted Branson for his contribution to commerce in a Millennium Honours List in 1999 and it appears the adventurous entrepreneur is as popular as ever.
Next time, it could be you who tops that list. Why not” In fact, Real Business writer Charlie Mullins is already on it – congratulations! A four day weekend and some time off is not going to keep you from it. So, have a cup of tea, relax and read the full list below.
- ?Sir Richard Branson Virgin
- James Dyson Dyson
- Lord Alan Sugar – Amshold Group, Apprentice
- Dame Anita Roddick- The Bodyshop
- Nick Robertson ASOS
- Martha Lane Fox – Lastminute.com, LuckyVoice
- ?Karan Bilimoria – Cobra Lager
- ?John Bird – The Big Issue
- Sir Martin Sorrell – WPP Group
- Michelle Mone Ultimo
- Sir Tim Berners-Lee -Inventor of the World Wide Web
- Mike Lynch Autonomy
- Simon Cowell Syco
- James Caan – Alexander Mann Group, Dragons’ Den, Hamilton Bradshaw
- Duncan Bannatyne – Bannatyne Group, Dragons’ Den
- Hilary Devey – The Pall-Ex Group, Dragons’ Den
- Peter Jones – Phones International, Dragons’ Den
- Deborah Meaden – Dragons’ Den and various investments
- Tim Smit- The Eden Project
- Richard Reed – Innocent Drinks
- Bernie Ecclestone – F1
- Charles Dunstone – Carphone Warehouse
- Brent Hoberman – Lastminute.com, Mydeco.com
- Mike Ashley -Sports Direct
- Jamie Oliver – Jamie’s Italian
- Johnnie Boden Boden
- Sir Terence Conran – Designer, Restaurateur
- Steve Pankhurst- Friends Reunited
- Sir Clive Sinclair -Sinclair Radionics, Sinclair Vehicles
- Cath Kidston – Cath Kidston
- Theo Paphitis – Ryman, Boux Avenue, Dragons’ Den
- Michael Acton Smith – Moshi Monsters, Firebox.com, MindCandy
- Michael Birch- Bebo
- Hayley Parsons GoCompare
- John Timpson Timpson
- Dame Vivienne Westwood – fashion designer
- Sarah Beeny – Mysinglefriend.com, Tepilo
- Jacqueline Gold – Ann Summers, Knickerbox
- Peter Cullum “Towergate
- Dame Mary Perkins Specsavers
- Sir PhilipGreen – Arcadia Group
- Sir Tom Farmer – Kwik-Fit
- Charles Saatchi – Saatchi and Saatchi
- Kanya King- MOBO Awards
- Anthony Bamford JCB
- John Caudwell -Phones 4U
- Chrissie Rucker – The White Company
- SimonFuller – XIX Entertainment
- Toni Mascolo – Toni and Guy
- Sir Tom Hunter- Sports Division, West Coast Capital
- Simon Woodroffe – YO! Sushi
- Julian Dunkerton Supergroup
- Sir Gulam Noon – Noon Products
- Peter Boizot – PizzaExpress
- Delia Smith – Author, Chef, TV presenter
- Linda Bennett – LK Bennett
- Mike Clare Dreams
- Simon Nixon- Moneysupermarket.com
- Charlie Mullins – Pimlico Plumbers
- Stelios Haji-Ioannou – EasyJet
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