GREEN RANKING FOR 2009
Ranking: 35=
Worth: £1.2bn
Green investment: Renewable energy

At 58, Sir Richard Branson is still one of Britain’s most recognisable business tycoons, regularly topping polls as the most admired entrepreneur. Today, his empire embraces trains, planes, media, mobile phones, the internet, music, wine sales and holidays — there are more than 285 Virgin companies, either controlled by Branson or where he has a significant stake, and their 2007 combined revenues were more than £10 billion. He has also been busy burnishing his green credentials. He launched Virgin Fuels in 2006 to aid research into renewable energy, and his transport business will provide up to £1.5 billion towards renewable energy over the next decade. Branson has spent £16m on bio-ethanol plants in America, and has committed more than £50m to similar projects. He has offered a $25m prize for an invention to remove carbon dioxide from the environment. We reckon the Virgin business empire should be worth at least £1 billion. We add another £200m for cash from disposals and personal assets.