In 1970, Richard founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer and, not long after, he opened a record shop in Oxford Street, London. The equity of Virgin Music Group – record labels, music publishing, and recording studios was sold to THORN EMI in 1992 in a US$1 billion deal. Since then, Virgin has become one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Virgin has expanded into aviation, hospitality and leisure, telecommunications, financial services, health and wellness, and clean energy through more than 300 companies worldwide, employing approximately 50,000 people in 29 countries.

Companies like Virgin Atlantic, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, and the newest airlines, Virgin America and VAustralia, are shaking up the travel industry while Virgin HealthMiles, Virgin Money, Virgin Mobile and other Virgin-branded companies continue to offer exceptional customer service and value for money.

In December 1999, Richard was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Millennium New Year's honours list for "services to entrepreneurship."

Richard has been involved in a number of world record-breaking attempts since 1985. In 1986 his boat, "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II," crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest ever recorded time. This was followed a year later by a hot air balloon crossing of the same ocean in "Virgin Atlantic Flyer." In January 1991, Richard crossed the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Arctic Canada. In June 2004, he set the record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel by an amphibious vehicle to mark the 20th anniversary of Virgin Atlantic. He and fellow adventurer Steve Fossett also unveiled an aircraft designed to attempt the first solo-piloted non-stop trip around the world without re-fuelling.

In the summer of 2004, Richard launched Virgin Unite as a vehicle to pull together the resources of the Virgin Group internationally and, most importantly, Virgin's best asset – its people – to tackle some of the tougher challenges facing the world today. Virgin Unite and on-the-ground partners participate in efforts such as the creation of sustainable health clinics in Africa and the fostering of new entrepreneurs through the Branson School of Entrepreneurship in South Africa.

In 2006, Richard pledged 100% of profits of Virgin transportation companies to clean tech investments through Virgin Green Fund. In 2007, he announced a new global science and technology prize – The Virgin Earth Challenge – to award $25 million to the individual or group able to demonstrate a commercially viable design which will result in the net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases.

Also that year, Richard joined Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, and Desmond Tutu to form The Elders, a group of independent leaders that will seek sustainable solutions to global humanitarian issues.

Most recently with Virgin Unite, Richard has helped incubate initiatives such as the Disease Control Room, a new health resource for South Africa and the sub-Saharan African region that will help transform responses to devastating diseases such as HIV and AIDS, TB and malaria; and the Carbon War Room, which taps into global entrepreneurs to mobilise capital, innovation, expertise and international collaboration to fill in the gaps of climate change efforts already underway.

Richard is the author of "Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way," (Crown Business, 1998) "Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life" (Virgin Books, 2006), and "Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur" (Virgin Books, 2008).

For three decades, Anthony Robbins has passionately pursued answers to the question "What creates an extraordinary life?"

His own outstanding life has allowed him to personally meet, consult, and coach an incredibly diverse group of over 3 million people from 80 different countries – from prisoners to presidents, parents to professional athletes, and gang members to high-powered CEOs.

As well as his public speaking engagements and live appearances, Robbins has directly impacted the lives of nearly 50 million people from 80 countries with his best-selling books and audio products.

Apart from being an adviser to some of the greatest sport stars, business giants and leaders of our time, his work with people worldwide from all walks of life has earned him the reputation as the 'ultimate life coach' – he knows what it takes to succeed. He knows how to empower and teach you how to do it YOURSELF!

Robbins' commitment to creating an enduring legacy that will impact the world is surpassed only by his passion for family as a dedicated father of four children and a loving husband to his wife, Sage Robbins.

After leaving school in Hackney aged 16, Sugar started selling car aerials and electric goods out of a van he bought for £50. In 1968, he founded Amstrad, and now, over 40 years later, he has an estimated worth of £730 million, and was ranked 85th in the 2010 Sunday Times Rich List.

A former Chairman of Tottenham Hotspur FC, Sugar sold his Amstrad empire to Sky in July 2007. Sugar's other companies include AMSCREEN, which offers digital screen media advertising networks, AMSAIR, which offers business and executive jets to a number of high profile clients around the world, AMSPROP, a property investment firm and VIGLEN, a manufacturer specialising in computers, networks and solutions.

In 2000, Sugar was knighted for his services to business and he holds two honorary Doctorates of Science degrees, awarded by City University and Brunel University respectively.

Having previously sat on the Business Council for Britain and fronted a campaign promoting the benefits of apprenticeships, in 2009 he was named as Enterprise Champion and appointed to the House of Lords as Baron Sugar of Clapton in the London Borough of Hackney.