Not many people can say they have “done it all.” Richard Branson, on the other hand, quite possibly has. He has achieved an amazing level of personal and professional success, and he has done it all with a smile.
on the other hand：他方では、これに対して
Branson, born in England in 1950, seemed to be in a hurry to get his career under way. In the late 1960s, as a teenager, he started Student Magazine. Just a few years later, he founded Virgin Records. That was Branson’s first major success, as the very first record released by the company sold more than 5 million copies! Over the years, the company signed superstar after superstar and went on to become one of the world’s most successful record labels.
in a hurry：急いで
under way：進行中で
go on to X：続けてXする
Virgin Records was only the beginning for the ambitious young Brit. In 1984, he founded Virgin Atlantic Airways. By providing excellent service at low prices, the company quickly grew to become one of Britain’s largest.
Brit：Britishの略式、英国人
Following his many interests, Branson has opened a string of companies (more than 200 so far!) selling everything from books to wine to vacation packages. One of his most ambitious companies, Virgin Galactic, has plans to take people on trips into space!
a string of：一連の
(ref.) a series of：一連の
(ref.) a bunch of：(房・束)
(ref.) a flock of：(動物の群れ)
(ref.) a heap of：(かたまり)
so far：これまで
ambitious：野心的な
Speaking of the sky, Branson’s personal interests are also related to flying. He has invested a significant amount of time and money (while risking his personal safety) chasing some of aviation’s greatest goals. In 1987, he became the first person to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a hot-air balloon. In 1991, he crossed the Pacific Ocean in a balloon, traveling at speeds faster than any balloon in history. These are just two of a long list of aviation accomplishments. Not bad for one of the world’s most affluent people!
speaking of X：Xと言えば
significant：(数・量が)かなりの
risk：危険にさらす
aviation：航空(学)
the Atlantic Ocean：大西洋
hot-air balloon：熱気球
the Pacific Ocean：太平洋
accomplishment：業績
affluent：裕福な
Just when you think you have seen it all from Richard Branson, there is something more to discover. His charity work with the Virgin Healthcare Foundation and the International Rescue Corps is impressive. He has written several books and has even been knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. With a list of achievements like that, it is not surprising that, in nearly every photo of this bold billionaire, he has an enormous smile on his face.
the Virgin Healthcare Foundation：ヴァージン医療財団
the International Rescue Corps：国際援助隊
be knighted：ナイト爵を授けられる
enormous：すごい