Finding My Virginity: The New Autobiography

by Richard Branson

  Finally, we made it! All the way from the Matterhorn to Mount Etna, under human power. Hiking, cycling, swimming, running, climbing, Striving. When we got to the top it was spectacular. I could see the lava that had spilled out, the beautiful shrubbery growing around and ladybirds in the stones. The best view, though, was seeing the jubilant faces of my fellow Strivers, dancing and singing on the top of the volcano. It was the most exhilarating, extreme, fulfilling achievement.

  Somebody said to me after Strive that there are three stages to life: youth, middle age, and “you’re looking well!” Sadly, it’s probably true. I found myself getting more “you’re looking well” comments than usual after Strive. But the adventures we do as a family help keep me young, and give me another reason to stay fit and healthy. Will Strive continue? Of course. We’re already planning the next one. During the first Virgin Strive Challenge, Sam and Bellie had told us the most happy news that they were expecting Eva-Deia, who was born after the first Challenge. Before the second, they told us they were expecting their second. Another Branson was going to embark upon the greatest adventure of all. I hope I am there every step of the way.

  CHAPTER 41

  “We’re free!”

  “This is going to hurt for a while,” the dentist said to me. “I could give you an injection to prevent pain, but you might end up drooling over lunch. Do you have an important lunch?”

  “You could say that.”

  The day before I had been playing tennis on Necker and slammed my racket into my front teeth for the second time in two months. “I really am in the wars this year!” I’d said to Joan. The first time I had to get a new tennis racket after leaving such a dent in the frame. This time, my teeth fared worse than the racket. Looking in the mirror, I knew I needed a visit to the dentist. I had been invited by President Obama to join him for lunch in the Oval Office—an opportunity I wasn’t about to turn down.

  I chose pain over drooling and visited a dentist in Washington. One hour later, I was outside the West Wing, remembering when I first heard of President Obama. It had been at a dinner on Necker with investor Suhail Rizvi in 2004.

  “I met the first black president of America this week,” he said. “He’s a senator in Illinois and he’s probably the brightest person I’ve ever met.”

  “Really?” I was dubious—I’ve heard a few people incorrectly predict future presidents over the years.

  “Absolutely. He was president of the Harvard Law Review and he’s just an extraordinary individual. His name is Barack Obama.”

  Although I had massive respect for Suhail, I took his prediction with a pinch of salt. But three years later, I had been completely captivated by this young man’s campaign for change at a time of real strife for America and the world. Now, as Obama’s time as president drew toward its close, I found myself being escorted into the Oval Office. President Obama gave me a warm welcome and suggested we do a picture together in front of the infamous desk. To break the ice I commented on the pretty ivy growing on the mantelpiece.

  “Thank you,” he said. “It was there when JFK was shot and it has been kept alive ever since.”

  The two of us then sat down to lunch. He started by telling me that he’d kept a close eye on the various not-for-profit initiatives we were involved in such as tackling climate change, conflict resolution, ocean conservation, prison and drug reform, ending capital punishment and inspiring young entrepreneurs. He said he felt we were closely aligned on almost every issue. We then went on to discuss kitesurfing and personal challenges.

  “How do you manage to keep the balance between work and play so well?” he asked.

  “I make sure to treat them as equal priorities—it’s all just living. But then I’m not as busy as you, Mr. President!”

  “Well, I hope to keep a better balance when I leave office.”

  President Obama cited John Kerry, his Secretary of State, as a person in his seventies who “eats a lot” but manages to keep extraordinarily fit.

  “Funny you should mention that,” I said. “Secretary Kerry and I are planning to kitesurf the English Channel together soon with your ambassador to Britain. There’s always room for one more,” I added.

  I mentioned the incredible work that Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton had achieved since leaving office. “I think you’re in a position to achieve even more since you’re still young and leaving at the height of your popularity.”

  President Obama agreed that at only fifty-five—that very day—he felt he had the time to devote to a lot of causes that we both felt passionate about. We spoke of climate change and he agreed it could be a very exciting challenge for companies to help overcome if the right framework was put in place by governments. He was proud of the fact that solar power had increased sixteenfold since he took office and excited about how cheap it was now. He said, with a smile, that he had a personal reason to fix climate change: “I’ve got my eye on a plot on a beach in Hawaii and I don’t want it underwater.”

  Obama cited climate change and weapons of mass destruction falling into terrorist hands as the two biggest threats to the world. Otherwise, we agreed that the world was in the best position it had ever been and that between us all in the years to come it could only get better. Having spoken in this optimistic way, he went on to contrast it by mentioning how most of the problems of the world get dumped on his desk every morning in what Michelle calls his “death book.”

  He asked about Virgin Galactic, saying, “I’d be excited to go up one day.”

  “We’d be delighted to have you!” I replied. I told him about our Virgin Orbit satellite plans, too, and he was very interested.

  As we spoke about prison and drug reform, he said he’d continue working on all these out of office: “Using a sledgehammer doesn’t work as President. Doing things step-by-step is more effective.” He explained he’d done that with cannabis reform and believed that, because of positive feedback from Washington State and Colorado, hopefully more than 50 percent of states would follow and legalize over the next few years. On harder drugs he thought it would be more difficult. I cited Portugal and the excellent results they’d had by treating all drugs as a health issue, not a criminal problem. He agreed that if society could be educated better on such issues, reform would be that much easier: “The problem is the public are not getting balanced, unbiased information.” It was one of the areas he wanted to look at when leaving office.

  “There have to be better ways to educate people with real facts on issues,” he said. “I think I’m the third most followed person on Twitter [behind Katy Perry and Justin Bieber!]—I don’t want to waste that following and hope I can put it to use as part of our education efforts.”

  We spoke about the death penalty and Equal Justice Initiative founder Bryan Stevenson’s work.

  “Would you consider using Presidential Decree to remove the death penalty for the sixty people under federal jurisdiction on death row?” I asked. “Or at least five of the sixty that Bryan feels have particularly strong evidence for pardoning?”

  Obama said that he’d read up on all of the cases and agreed that, for America to move forward, the death penalty should be abolished.

  “I don’t think you can truly be a civilized country until it is gone. Europe successfully abolished it many years ago,” I added.

  He said that he was more inclined to pardon all sixty than make a judgment on five. He felt that was the morally correct path, since he disagreed with the death penalty on principle. I got the impression that he’d do it if Hillary Clinton was elected, and before he stepped down, to make sure it didn’t damage her chances.

  Turning to family life, Obama spoke of how he’d been looking forward to spending more time with Michelle and his children.

  “The only problem is that now we’re finally stepping down they are no longer children and will soon be leaving home. It’s going to be slightly strange for us b
oth, to be ending our jobs and ‘losing’ our kids at roughly the same time.”

  “You’ll have plenty to keep you busy, I’m sure.”

  He spoke passionately about wanting to help young people generally and in particular in Africa. I mentioned an organization of inspiring young leaders we were setting up with people like Malala.

  “A younger version of the Elders?” he replied. “Love the idea and would love to see how what we are both doing can overlap in the years to come.”

  Obama mentioned how sad it must feel for young people in Britain after Brexit. He said he knew of young Brits who were so upset that older people had let them down. I agreed wholeheartedly and mentioned they were particularly sad they could no longer work and live in twenty-eight countries but were restricted to one. I almost hoped that I could go through lunch without talking about Donald Trump. But we spoke about him, too. I told President Obama of the time Trump had invited me to lunch and spent the entire two hours talking about his determination to get revenge on people who hadn’t helped him when he went bankrupt.

  Although he was confident the American people would elect Hillary Clinton, he did speak about the risks of reality TV shows, and how dangerous fake news on the internet could be in shaping people’s views. On election night, watching in disbelief as Trump was elected, his words echoed in my head.

  The lunch was coming to an end. I handed him a document that Bryan Stevenson and our team had prepared on the death penalty, which he promised to read. There were plenty of other things that I’d have loved to touch on with him (refugees, short-termism in business, biodiversity—the list goes on) but those would have to wait.

  As we stood up to leave I noticed the red buttons on his desk. Obama saw me looking at them.

  “They used to be there for emergencies, but now I use them for ordering tea for my guests.”

  “I’d be pressing them all the time,” I joked. “I drink over twenty cups a day!”

  As we left the Oval Office, I carefully avoided walking into the bulletproof glass more than a foot thick.

  “I look forward to seeing you again tonight at my birthday party,” he said. “We’ve asked Stevie Wonder to play for an hour. I have to warn you it’s likely to be two hours!”

  Assuming all the ladies would be dressed to the hilt, I wore a suit (no tie). Then I saw Obama in jeans. It was the first time in my life I felt overdressed and I was at the White House! As the party got going, after Stevie had sung “Happy Birthday” to the President, to my horror Michelle Obama came over and pulled me to the front of the stage for a dance. I quickly retreated into the crowd, but look forward to telling my grandchildren one day that I once danced with the First Lady! I arrived back on Necker early the next morning to be greeted by my daughter’s words: “Welcome home. Sorry, Dad, would you mind changing Artie and Etta’s nappies?” I was truly back in reality—or my ego had truly landed!

  I came away with my views about President Obama strengthened. I believe he was instrumental in saving the world from an economic crash even more catastrophic than 1929. Obamacare, while by no means perfect, is an amazing achievement considering the difficulties posed by the Senate. Major progress has been made on climate change, criminal justice reform, legalizing same-sex marriage and protecting natural resources. He has brought Iran and Cuba back into the fold. Could he have handled Syria and Isis differently? Who’s to know? He comes across very naturally, which is very important. He doesn’t use his huge intellectual prowess to talk down to people; quite the reverse. I know some people reading this book will disagree, but I think Barack Obama will go down as one of the greatest presidents of America.

  —

  That lunch wasn’t my only visit to the Obama White House. A few months later, I told Joan that she should pick out a beautiful dress, get her hair and makeup done and prepare for a special evening. As she knows me so well, she detected something was up. She started pestering me to tell her where we were going, but I held firm. Eventually, just before the do, she convinced me and I let the secret out: we were going to the White House Christmas party.

  It was a great honor to be invited back to the White House again. The Obamas addressed the crowd with the kind of warm, wonderful words we all got used to from the President and the First Lady. Later, Joan and I were fortunate to spend some time alone with both Barack and Michelle away from the hustle and bustle of the party in their private chambers for a nightcap.

  Since we had last seen each other, Donald Trump had been elected and the world had changed.

  “When we met, you said Trump had very little chance of getting into the White House,” I reminded Barack.

  He grimaced, but added that he fully intended to offer as smooth a transition as possible. Once out of office, he said he would hold the new administration to account as best he could. I invited them to visit the British Virgin Islands, and they kindly accepted. Joan and I left dreaming of a White House Christmas, and looking forward to seeing them again.

  —

  “We’re free!”

  The first words out of Michelle Obama’s mouth as we greeted them on Moskito were full of delight and happiness. Since I’d last seen Barack and Michelle Obama, Donald Trump had been inaugurated as the new US President. Getting away from the madness of Washington, they’d accepted our invitation to come and visit the BVI.

  I’ve never been one for reserve and Barack and Michelle were eager to do away with formalities, too. When one of our team asked how to address the former First Lady, she gleefully shouted, “Michelle!”

  “It’s so nice to have my name back after eight years.” She smiled.

  As well as relaxing, the Obamas were also eager to get active. One of the first stories Barack told me when they arrived was how, just before he became President, he had been surfing on a dangerous break in Hawaii. When he came in after an exhilarating session, the new head of his security team turned to him and said: “That will be the last time you surf for at least four years.” During his presidency, he didn’t have the chance to get out onto the water. Now, he was itching to get back in.

  At Necker, we have the perfect conditions and team to help anyone learn, and so I gave Barack a challenge. I had wanted to learn foilboard surfing for some time: could Barack learn to kitesurf before I learned to foilboard? We agreed that on the final day of the holiday we’d battle to see who could stay up the longest. Barack started learning to kitesurf on the beach on Necker for two days solid, picking up the basics and flying a kite as if going back to being a child again. Then he went into the water, standing up and getting a feel for the kite. Finally, he put the board at his feet and gave it a go.

  On the next stretch of water, I soon learned that foilboarding, even if you can kitesurf, is a completely new sport. You come shooting out of the water, crashing down at high speed, and very much need a helmet and body armor for safety. But I slowly got the hang of it. Barack and I both fell many times, but we kept trying again and again and made progress. We were neck and neck until the last run on the last day, when I got up on the foilboard and screamed along for over fifty meters, three feet above the water. I was feeling very pleased with myself, only to look over and see Barack go 100 meters on his kiteboard! I had to doff my cap to him and celebrate his victory. At the end of the thrilling kitesurfing session, he was standing shirtless at the back of the boat with an invigorated look on his face, muscles bulging and eyes beaming. I looked at him and thought: “Eat your heart out, Putin!” On his next visit, we plan to do the long kite over to Anegada together—and I intend to get my revenge and win.

  We also played competitive doubles tennis, pool and snooker, as well as once going over to Virgin Gorda for a few holes of golf. I quickly realized Barack is a superb natural sportsman, and I suspect he’ll be beating us all on the tennis court on their next visit. I’m proud to say I won our chess duel, though! When we weren’t playing sports, Barack and Michelle
simply enjoyed Moskito, Necker and everything they have to offer. We took them to Anegada to see the remarkable Horseshoe Reef, the third-largest in the world. Afterward, we enjoyed a nice lunch at Cow Wreck, where somehow about 300 people also turned up at the usually quiet bar. It was lovely to see the esteem in which everybody held the Obamas, and the warmth they gave back.

  Barack told me about his meetings with Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama and the Queen, four of the people he admires most in the world. He said how, when he met them, they were even more impressive in real life than from afar. I asked how hopeful he was for the future, and he told me Michelle has more of a glass half-empty attitude, whereas he is a more glass half-full type of person. While all the news coming out of the US was about Trump trying to dismantle all Barack had worked so hard for, his attitude was just to get on with his life, have a well-deserved holiday and recharge ready to work—I’m sure, tirelessly—when he returned to the US. I was very excited to learn about the Obama Foundation, and they were equally keen to hear more about our efforts combating climate change, promoting ocean conservation and helping young people through entrepreneurial programs. Our values match theirs, and we’re all sure we will work together in the future.

  Over the ten days they stayed we had a lot of fun, a lot of laughs and became good friends. On the last night they had the delightful idea of holding a party for all the staff on Necker and Moskito they had come into contact with. Alongside Holly and myself, they were the first up onto the bar dancing with us, getting the party going, making everybody feel at home and welcome. There were a couple of local women who looked a bit lonely on the sidelines, watching other people enjoying themselves. Barack and Michelle made a point of going over to them, inviting them into the group and dancing with them. They made time for everybody. When they left, Michelle told us it was the first time she had felt teary at the end of a holiday.