How Richard Branson Would Make His First $1 Million (Today)
Big lessons from a billionaire, sharper than any business book.
Watch the full interview: I Asked Richard Branson How To Make $1,000,000 on Simon Squibb’s channel.
When Simon Squibb sat down with Richard Branson, he got more than advice — he got a blueprint.
In under 10 minutes, Branson casually mapped out the exact mindset he’s used to build over 40 companies across 35 countries.
The best part? You don’t need money to start.
Here’s the real breakdown — and how you can use it.
Step 1: Find a problem that pisses you off
Branson doesn’t chase business ideas. He waits for frustration.
“If something annoys you, fix it. Do it better than anyone else,” he says.
- Virgin Records was born because labels rejected music he believed in.
- Virgin Atlantic launched because he hated flying other airlines.
Virgin’s empire wasn’t “planned” — it was a series of solutions, scaled.
Takeaway:
Keep a notebook of everything that annoys you this month. There’s your next business.
Step 2: Get paid before you deliver
No money? Good.
Branson started by preselling ads for his student magazine — using the cash to fund the print run.
Later, he collected money up front for records before buying inventory.
“Sometimes you can start a business by getting cash in advance.”
Takeaway:
- Offer pre-orders, deposits, sponsorships — whatever proves demand before you build.
- No upfront money = no business yet. Keep moving.
Step 3: Find believers, not just workers
When you’re building from scratch, you don’t need employees — you need missionaries.
Branson’s first hire was a classmate who could spell better (he’s dyslexic), not a professional journalist.
“Two or three people who believe… that’s all you need to start.”
Takeaway:
Surround yourself with people who catch fire when you talk about your idea.
Skills can be taught. Belief can’t.
Step 4: Make your brand louder than your size
Virgin Atlantic was one plane against British Airways’ fleet.
How did Branson compete?
He crossed oceans in boats, floated across continents in hot-air balloons — anything to grab front-page headlines.
Today, the stunts are different. But the principle holds:
Takeaway:
- Be bolder than your budget.
- Attention is leverage.
- Your brand is your unfair advantage before you have scale.
Step 5: Love risk — but never bet the farm
Branson lives for adventure — but he’s a professional at protecting the downside.
“If it goes wrong, it shouldn’t bring the whole house down.”
From balloon crashes to business failures, he survives because he designs his risks:
- Insure everything.
- Test cheap before scaling.
- Structure deals to cap your losses.
Takeaway:
Be willing to fail. Just don’t fail catastrophically.
Three Quick Gut-Checks
- What everyday problem annoys you enough to fix?
- How could you get paid before you spend?
- Who already believes — and would help for the mission, not the paycheck?
Why Branson Still Matters (Especially in 2025)
- Net worth: ~$2.8 billion, even after pandemic turbulence.
- Founder of Virgin Galactic, Virgin Money, Virgin Voyages, and dozens more.
- Proof that the same five steps work across music, airlines, finance, space tourism — and beyond.
TL;DR
Branson’s Million-Dollar Formula:
Frustration → Pre-Sell → Team of Believers → Bold Brand → Smart Risk.
Master these five — and your first $1 million stops feeling impossible.
It starts feeling inevitable.
