Richard Branson's treasure island where world's richest celebrities holiday


Necker Island is Richard Branson's private resort in the British Virgin Islands. The billionaire entrepreneur opened up his home to Australian fashion and celebrity photographer Russell James for his new book, "A Virgin Island."

Richard Branson has never been one to shy away from sharing his ostentatious exploits with the wider world.

Over the years, the billionaire entrepreneur has invited us to follow his attempts to hot-air balloon around the globe, delve the deepest recesses of the oceans and cross the Atlantic on a speed boat.
Now the founder of the Virgin Group has provided access to his very own private Caribbean resort, Necker Island, for a new book by Australian fashion and celebrity photographer Russell James.

 Branson (right) relaxes with James. They met by chance on a flight between Sydney and Los Angeles in 2009.

Branson purchased the island for $180,000 in 1979 and opened a luxury resort there facility in 1984. The entire island can be rented out for the princely sum of $64,000 a night.

Famous guests over the years include Nelson Mandela, Diana Princess of Wales, Eddie Murphy, Robert De Niro and former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

A fire destroyed much of the infrastructure on Necker in 2011 after one of its residences was struck by lightning, but the island has since been restored to its former glory.

Branson credits Necker for inspiring him to come up with the idea for his space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic. "One clear night as I gazed at the stars, I thought, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful for people to travel through space,' " he says in the photo book's introduction.


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