大象传媒

It's not often we get an actual billionaire into the Radio 1 studios. Pop stars, actors, YouTubers, presenters - yes, but people like Richard Branson? Not so often.

The man behind all things Virgin (the record label, the airline, maybe even your internet service provider) visited the Radio 1 studios today to chat to Nick Grimshaw about his new book and his incredible life as one of the world's most successful businessmen.

Here are 6 things we learned (none of which is how to earn a billion, sadly).

Richard has wanted to go into space since man first landed on the moon in 1959 (let's not get started on the conspiracy theories) and via his company Virgin Galactic Airways, people will be going into orbit over the next few years.

"We've spent the last 12 years building a space airline," said Richard.

"Three months from now, the BSS Unity, which is our first spaceship, will be in space.

"In their lifetime, a lot of people today will become astronauts."

Don't expect to get a cup of tea and a selection of movie releases on Virgin Galactic Airways; you'll be too busy struggling with the g-force to focus on a repeat viewing of Bridesmaids.

"We built the spaceships with big windows so you can get spectacular views of the earth," said Richard.

"We've made the insides large so you can float around and look out. You're not going to have a lot of time for eating or doing other things.

"I think the reason people want to go to space is to look back at this beautiful earth in all its wonder and hopefully come back more determined to protect it when they come home."

Richard Branson's loo is probably not like a normal person's loo. He has space to hang his favourite artworks in his, for one. Most people use it as somewhere to keep the mop.

He says the most unusual gift he's ever received is a painting of Nelson Mandela, which he keeps in the most important room of his house.

"I got to know Nelson Mandela quite well and when he died his wife Graça Machel sent me a beautiful painting," Richard revealed.

"We'd worked on projects together, trying to resolve conflicts in the world and it's definitely pride of place in my home.

"I have it in the lavatory because everyone goes to the lavatory. The things you really feel are special, you shove them in the loo."

Richard Branson, like Donald Trump, is one of the most successful businessmen in the world. But in Richard's new book, Finding My Virginity, he reveals how the two first clashed in 2004 over a reality TV show Richard was involved him.

Richard says he was keen to share his experience with the politician and businessman.

"I think he's a slightly mean individual," Richard told Nick.

"I did a chapter on Donald Trump because I think it's important people realise there is a side to him that is not [the same as] the guy who runs the biggest free country in the world."

Richard lived on Necker Island in the Caribbean (before Hurricane Irma all-but destroyed it), and it cost him a relatively modest $100,000 (£60,000 - at the time).

"I bought it I was in my 20s and I couldn't afford it," he said.

"I fell in love with it; it was a little jewel in the Caribbean. It was decadent but it has been the love of all our family's lives."

However, he possibly underestimates house prices in some parts of the UK, saying the amount he paid was "the price of a small flat in London," something many people renting might take issue with.

Richard's Virgin Airlines is one of the biggest names in travel, but it started life out of frustration when he was 'bumped' from an overcrowded flight to the British Virgin Islands.

While waiting for a replacement flight, he decided to take things into his own hands and get himself and other stranded passengers to their destination.

"I hired a plane, got a blackboard, wrote 'Virgin Airlines' as a joke, and that it was $39 one way to the Virgin Islands," he said.

"I went around all the people who had been bumped and I filled my first plane."

When he got home after his trip, he got on the phone to Boeing and bought a second hand 747.

"It was risky because we had one plane against British Airways' 300," he admitted.

"Nobody thought we would survive and now Virgin Atlantic is the main competitor to British Airways on a global basis."