More than 50 years ago, Richard Branson started his Virgin brand with a mail-order record company.

That evolved into a record store in London and then a successful record label that would spawn an empire of more than 400 Virgin businesses, including an airline, a hotel chain and a wireless phone service.

Now Branson, through his company Virgin Galactic, is the first billionaire to travel to space aboard a spacecraft he helped fund.

Branson's trip came nine days before the world's richest man, Jeff Bezos, is scheduled to make his own spaceflight.

Since the early 2000s, Branson and Bezos have been vying to develop, test and launch suborbital rockets that can take wealthy thrill-seekers on brief rides a few dozen miles above Earth. Their efforts have long been framed as a "billionaire space race."

A young Branson is seen in London in 1969. At the age of 16, Branson dropped out of school and started an alternative youth magazine called Student. He and his friend Nik Powell also started a mail-order record business. It was called Virgin because they were new to the business world.
A young Branson is seen in London in 1969. At the age of 16, Branson dropped out of school and started an alternative youth magazine called Student. He and his friend Nik Powell also started a mail-order record business. It was called Virgin because they were new to the business world.
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Branson poses in one of his Virgin Megastores in 1979. His mail-order record business had evolved into a chain of successful record stores. By this time, Branson also had started his Virgin Records music label. Over the years, Virgin would sign notable artists such as the Sex Pistols, the Rolling Stones and Genesis.
Branson poses in one of his Virgin Megastores in 1979. His mail-order record business had evolved into a chain of successful record stores. By this time, Branson also had started his Virgin Records music label. Over the years, Virgin would sign notable artists such as the Sex Pistols, the Rolling Stones and Genesis.
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Branson reads the newspaper in a bathtub aboard his houseboat in London in 1984.
Branson reads the newspaper in a bathtub aboard his houseboat in London in 1984.
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In 1984. Branson formed the airline Virgin Atlantic. He got the idea after becoming stranded in Puerto Rico when his flight to the British Virgin Islands was canceled because of a lack of passengers. He chartered a private plane and sold tickets aboard the flight to other stranded travelers.
In 1984. Branson formed the airline Virgin Atlantic. He got the idea after becoming stranded in Puerto Rico when his flight to the British Virgin Islands was canceled because of a lack of passengers. He chartered a private plane and sold tickets aboard the flight to other stranded travelers.
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Branson inaugurates his new airline on June 22, 1984.
Branson inaugurates his new airline on June 22, 1984.
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Branson pilots his speedboat, the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, in New York Harbor in 1986. He zipped across the Atlantic in a record-breaking time of three days, eight hours and 31 minutes. He tried to break the record a year earlier, but his $2 million vessel sank.
Branson pilots his speedboat, the Virgin Atlantic Challenger II, in New York Harbor in 1986. He zipped across the Atlantic in a record-breaking time of three days, eight hours and 31 minutes. He tried to break the record a year earlier, but his $2 million vessel sank.
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Branson is seen with his wife, Joan, and their children, Holly and Sam, after they were married on the Caribbean island of Neckar in 1989. The island, part of the British Virgin Islands, was purchased by Branson and is operated as a luxury resort.
Branson is seen with his wife, Joan, and their children, Holly and Sam, after they were married on the Caribbean island of Neckar in 1989. The island, part of the British Virgin Islands, was purchased by Branson and is operated as a luxury resort.
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Branson poses with his parents, Eve and Edward, at a reception in Los Angeles in 1991. His mother was a flight attendant and his father was a lawyer.
Branson poses with his parents, Eve and Edward, at a reception in Los Angeles in 1991. His mother was a flight attendant and his father was a lawyer.
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Branson and Per Lindstrand sit in a capsule as they prepare to fly in a hot-air balloon in 1991. In 1987, Branson and Lindstrand became the first people to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hot-air balloon.
Branson and Per Lindstrand sit in a capsule as they prepare to fly in a hot-air balloon in 1991. In 1987, Branson and Lindstrand became the first people to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hot-air balloon.
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Branson is seen in his office in London in 1996. In 1992, he sold his Virgin Music Group to Thorn EMI. He said the sale would allow him to concentrate on his airline.
Branson is seen in his office in London in 1996. In 1992, he sold his Virgin Music Group to Thorn EMI. He said the sale would allow him to concentrate on his airline.
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Branson fires up a Virgin balloon outside the city walls of Marrakesh, Morocco, in 1996.
Branson fires up a Virgin balloon outside the city walls of Marrakesh, Morocco, in 1996.
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Branson cuddles with a young lion cub at South Africa's Sun City resort in 1996.
Branson cuddles with a young lion cub at South Africa's Sun City resort in 1996.
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Branson applies makeup before the launch of his Virgin Brides venture in 1996. The business combined weddings and honeymoons in a one-stop shop.
Branson applies makeup before the launch of his Virgin Brides venture in 1996. The business combined weddings and honeymoons in a one-stop shop.
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US Coast Guard helicopters head back to the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii after rescuing Branson and his co-pilots following a hot-air balloon crash in 1998. Branson and his co-pilots were attempting to fly around the world in a hot-air balloon. They started in Morocco and passed through Asia before eventually crash-landing in Hawaii. No one was hurt.
US Coast Guard helicopters head back to the Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Hawaii after rescuing Branson and his co-pilots following a hot-air balloon crash in 1998. Branson and his co-pilots were attempting to fly around the world in a hot-air balloon. They started in Morocco and passed through Asia before eventually crash-landing in Hawaii. No one was hurt.
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In 1999, Branson celebrates Virgin Atlantic's inaugural flight to Shanghai, China.
In 1999, Branson celebrates Virgin Atlantic's inaugural flight to Shanghai, China.
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Branson is kissed by his wife, Joan, and his daughter Holly after he was knighted in 2000 for his "service to entrepreneurship."
Branson is kissed by his wife, Joan, and his daughter Holly after he was knighted in 2000 for his "service to entrepreneurship."
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Branson poses for photos in India after launching a direct flight from London to New Delhi in 2000.
Branson poses for photos in India after launching a direct flight from London to New Delhi in 2000.
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Branson launches Virgin Mobile USA, a cellular phone service, at New York's Times Square in 2002.
Branson launches Virgin Mobile USA, a cellular phone service, at New York's Times Square in 2002.
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Branson, left, pilots an amphibious vehicle during a record-breaking crossing of the English Channel in 2004. He crossed the channel in one hour, 40 minutes and six seconds.
Branson, left, pilots an amphibious vehicle during a record-breaking crossing of the English Channel in 2004. He crossed the channel in one hour, 40 minutes and six seconds.
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Branson unveils the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, a single-engine jet that Steve Fossett would later fly around the world in a little more than 67 hours.
Branson unveils the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, a single-engine jet that Steve Fossett would later fly around the world in a little more than 67 hours.
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Branson runs with the Olympic torch in London in 2004, ahead of the Olympic Games that year in Athens, Greece.
Branson runs with the Olympic torch in London in 2004, ahead of the Olympic Games that year in Athens, Greece.
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Branson announced his space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, in 2004.
Branson announced his space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, in 2004.
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Branson kisses Steve Fossett after Fossett flew the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer for 25,766 miles in 2006. It was the longest nonstop flight in history.
Branson kisses Steve Fossett after Fossett flew the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer for 25,766 miles in 2006. It was the longest nonstop flight in history.
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Branson appears in an episode of the TV show "Friends" in 2006.
Branson appears in an episode of the TV show "Friends" in 2006.
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Branson and former US Vice President Al Gore announce the Virgin Earth Challenge in 2007. The Virgin Earth Challenge was a $25 million prize to be awarded to an individual or a group who could demonstrate a commercially viable design to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and safely store them. The prize was never awarded, as Virgin said no entries satisfied all of the prize criteria, and the challenge is no longer active.
Branson and former US Vice President Al Gore announce the Virgin Earth Challenge in 2007. The Virgin Earth Challenge was a $25 million prize to be awarded to an individual or a group who could demonstrate a commercially viable design to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and safely store them. The prize was never awarded, as Virgin said no entries satisfied all of the prize criteria, and the challenge is no longer active.
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Branson jumps off the roof of the Palms hotel in Las Vegas as part of a publicity stunt for his Virgin America airline in 2007.
Branson jumps off the roof of the Palms hotel in Las Vegas as part of a publicity stunt for his Virgin America airline in 2007.
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Branson and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger address the media as Virgin Galactic unveiled a commercial spacecraft designed to send passengers into orbit for $200,000 a ticket.
Branson and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger address the media as Virgin Galactic unveiled a commercial spacecraft designed to send passengers into orbit for $200,000 a ticket.
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Branson kite-surfs the English Channel in 2012. At 61 years old, he was the oldest person to kite-surf the channel. He did it in three hours and 45 minutes.
Branson kite-surfs the English Channel in 2012. At 61 years old, he was the oldest person to kite-surf the channel. He did it in three hours and 45 minutes.
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Branson chats with Britain's Prince Harry at the finish of the London Marathon in 2013. Virgin has been sponsoring the event for years.
Branson chats with Britain's Prince Harry at the finish of the London Marathon in 2013. Virgin has been sponsoring the event for years.
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Branson poses for a portrait in Munich, Germany, in 2016.
Branson poses for a portrait in Munich, Germany, in 2016.
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Branson appears on an episode of the TV show "Shark Tank" in 2017.
Branson appears on an episode of the TV show "Shark Tank" in 2017.
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People take selfies with Branson after he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
People take selfies with Branson after he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2018.
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Branson carries crew member Sirisha Bandla on his shoulders while celebrating after their <a target="_blank">historic spaceflight</a> in July 2021. Branson became the first billionaire to travel to space aboard a spacecraft he helped fund. Bandla is the second woman born in India to fly to space.
Branson carries crew member Sirisha Bandla on his shoulders while celebrating after their historic spaceflight in July 2021. Branson became the first billionaire to travel to space aboard a spacecraft he helped fund. Bandla is the second woman born in India to fly to space.
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