A true pioneer, Richard Branson has used his billions to actively promote new technologies, boldly going where no tycoon has been before.

Following the well publicised Virgin Galactic with Virgin Oceanic, Branson will continue to explore both space and deep sea travel, creating and promoting an array of new technologies that could eventually filter down into consumer devices.

Branson's Virgin brand is also at the forefront of more mundane tech, with the now TiVo-powered Virgin PVR, the UK's fastest broadband and the Project iPad magazine.

A talismanic front man, Branson is the elder statesman of consumer technology in the UK. Nice beard, too.

Richard Branson on Apple video