Richard Branson Bought a $6 Million Island for $180,000 to Impress a Girl

In 1978, a 28-year-old Richard Branson was falling hard for Joan Templeman. To impress her, he arranged a trip to view a private island in the British Virgin Islands called Necker Island. The asking price? $6 million. Branson, who had nowhere near that kind of money, decided to bluff.

A Lowball Offer That Got Him Kicked Out

Branson later recalled that he offered the highest amount he could actually afford: $100,000. The owner, Lord Cobham, was so insulted by the offer that Branson was essentially thrown off the island. The gambit had failed — or so it seemed.

The Deal of a Lifetime

A full year passed with no other buyers. Lord Cobham grew desperate. He came back to Branson with a counteroffer: $180,000. That was still a jaw-dropping 97% discount from the original asking price. Branson jumped at the deal and became the owner of his own Caribbean island before he turned 30.

From Bare Rock to Billionaire's Paradise

There was a catch: the purchase came with a condition that Branson had to develop the island within four years or lose it. He poured roughly $10 million into building a luxury resort, which eventually became one of the world's most exclusive getaways. Celebrities, world leaders, and tech moguls have all vacationed on Necker Island, which is now valued at over $100 million.

A Love Story Too

The girl Branson was trying to impress? Joan Templeman became his wife. They married on Necker Island in 1989 and have been together ever since. What started as a reckless attempt to look cool turned into both the real estate deal of the century and a lifelong love story.