Welcome to my world! Richard Branson shows off his new 'underwater plane' as he gives a guided tour of Necker Island paradise
Sir Richard Branson showed off his tropical lifestyle and new 'underwater plane' as he welcomed cameras to his finished private island home for the first time. The billionaire entrepreneur, recently ranked the world's 212th richest man, gave the Oprah Winfrey Show unprecedented access to Necker, his 74-acre Caribbean island.
He gave presenter Nate Berkus a tour of his home, which he has recently finished building, his cliff top guest house and his extravagant toys.
Asked about the purchase of the British Virgin Islands property, for a mere $200,000 in the late 1970s, he referred to his pursuit of wife Joan.
He said: 'I was about 26-years-old, I was chasing this beautiful lady, trying to persuade her to come live with me and we discovered this beautiful islands.
'I somehow managed to get the island, get the lady and get the mother of my children.' He added: 'I appreciate every moment of my life. I was born under a lucky star.'
Branson started off the tour with the main home, boasting a stunning moon-shaped infinity pool next to a luxurious bar, a master bedroom with virtually no walls, an open kitchen and an outdoor bathroom - all with amazing views of the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Asked if the design reflects his personality, he replied: 'I hope so. I would like to think I'm quite an open person and this is open.'
The 59-year-old ended the home tour with his office - where he does business from his white hammock.
Welcome to my humble abode: The Virgin boss took presenter Nate Berkus on a tour of his Necker Island property
Then it was time for the jewel in his crown - the Necker Nymph, an aero submarine with an open cockpit owned by nobody else in the world.
Branson announced the purchase earlier this year and the toy will be lent out to guests of his island, which is available for rent as part of his Virgin Limited Edition luxury line.
The submarine uses its wings to create downward lift underwater and is fitted with scuba gear for its pilot and two passengers.
'It's like an airplane that flies underwater, a little fighter plane,' Branson said.
And he allowed cameras to shoot as he went for his first ride on the Nymph, describing the experience as 'brilliant' through microphones fitted on his scuba gear.
Sam said the best advice he ever gave him was 'probably to be yourself... he never put pressure to conform in any sort of form.'
At the end of the show, Branson signed up to Oprah's No Phone Zone drive to outlaw talking on mobiles and texting while driving in the US.
Is it my imagination or is the tone of this article, from the British Daily Mail, rather smarmy. The underwater submersible is a "toy", "welcome to my humble abode," and so on.
Richard Branson may be extremely wealthy, but he runs several companies that gives jobs - and salaries - to millions of people. If he likes to spend his money on himself, big deal.
Indeed, the goal of Volcano Seven is to have such an island, and such a submarine, ourselves. And we won't demand that Branson give up his luxuries so we can have them... no, we'll buckle down and get the wherewithal to acquire something similar ourselves. (Or at least dream about it.)
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