Richard Branson is known for his healthy lifestyle, with his fitness and diet regimes keeping him in tip top shape. However, the billionaire founder of Virgin Group has said he has banned the word “longevity” from his household.
His approach is quite the opposite of billionaires like Bryan Johnson, an American entrepreneur and venture capitalist who recently released a Netflix documentary titled Don’t Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever.
Branson, 74, told The Times: “We’re not going to live forever. You’re just trying to make sure your body is as fit and as healthy as possible, so you can enjoy every minute while you’re alive.”
In stark contrast, Johnson, 47, is known for his efforts to stop his body from ageing and who is spending a reported US$2 million a year on anti-ageing treatments and technologies. Branson, on the other hand, is maintaining his health through a healthy diet and cycling challenges.
In his efforts to ensure he can enjoy life to the fullest, Branson sticks to a diet recommended by a nutritionist, which he said he has depended on for advice since the age of 50.
He said his breakfast, which he considers his main meal of the day, usually consists of “things like nuts, Greek yoghurt, chia seeds, avocados, scrambled eggs, sourdough bread, smoked salmon, half an apple”.
The business mogul said he has realised he feels “much better” when he eats well over the past few years, prioritising ingredients and dishes like “salmon, grains, vegetables, soup, sushi”.
“I’ll have sugar-free puddings, which taste just as good as puddings with sugar,” he added. However, he does let himself have the occasional break from his healthy diet. “I’ll treat myself occasionally to my wife’s shepherd’s pie or fish and chips and peas — so I’m not completely fixated on everything being absolutely perfect.”
He also regularly fasts for 16 hours a day, which can mean foregoing dinner most days, to keep his weight under control. Branson also told the publication that he takes statins to control his cholesterol levels and does blood tests every six months to track cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
He has largely given up caffeine and alcohol, although Branson says he does enjoy “a glass of champagne on special occasions”. Apart from that, he drinks decaf tea and “fizzy water with a slice of lemon”.
While Branson has not spoken of any ailments, he has been involved in accidents related to his cycling adventures. In 2016, he survived an accident that led to a cracked cheek bone and torn ligaments.
In a blog post at the time, Branson said he saw his life “literally flashing before my eyes” when the accident occurred. He had been cycling down a hill when he hit a bump and was “hurled over the handlebars”.
He also had accidents in 2021 and 2024, which led to bloody scratches and a hematoma, which is a bad bruise caused by blood pooling under the skin.
But Branson said he doesn’t let the “horrible near misses” stop him from continuing with his adventuring, writing: “I won’t stop taking on challenges and adventures – it’s how I’ve always lived my life.”
Watch: Sir Richard Branson feels ‘fortunate to have survived’ his various adventures
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