Billionaire Sir Richard Branson had life-changing response after 22-year-old asked him for money
Topics: Richard Branson, Money
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: Rob Kim/Getty Images / YouTube/ABC iview
Topics: Richard Branson, Money
If there's anyone you'd ask for money from, it's a billionaire.
The likes of Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk and Bill Gates make thousands of dollars a minute, so asking these tech powerhouses for $1,000 is pretty much pocket change to them.
The same applies to Sir Richard Branson who, as of this year, has a net worth of around $2.7 billion.
Branson has made his money through his company Virgin Group, which has everything from cellphones networks and gyms, to an airline and its own radio station.
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With his vast wealth in mind, one guy decided to shoot his shot and asked the 74-year-old for $1,000.
Recalling the conversation, Australian comedian and radio host Hamish Blake said a member of his radio show team asked Branson for money when the billionaire featured on the show.
Blake recalled: "We had Richard Branson on the show and one of the guys on our radio show, Jack, basically said to Richard Branson, 'You are a billionaire. Can we just go to the ATM downstairs and give me $1,000? It's nothing to you but it'll change my month.'"
While most people probably would have been laughed out of the room for asking for $1,000 in such a nonchalant manner, Branson gave a much more surprising response.
"There's something I'd give you all my money for," the billionaire reportedly replied. "Your age."
Blake went on: "I was like, 'That’s interesting'. Jack was 22, and we were like, 'What do you mean by that?'
"And he said, 'I’d happily be broke and 22 than a billionaire and 68,' or whatever he was at the time."
Apparently Branson's reply has stayed with Blake and he thinks about what he said 'all the time'.
"Whatever age we're at. Let's say we have $10 million and we're 90 years old, of course we'd give $10 million to go back to be 40," Blake continued.
Blake recalled the conversation on ABC's The Assembly.
While the comic was evidently quite moved by Branson's sentiments, others weren't as impressed.
One person commented on the YouTube clip: "Nice way for Branson to avoid the original question. Also rich people don't stay rich by giving their money away."
Someone else argued: "From someone who has grown up poor, money does change lives. People treat you differently, you have far less opportunities and even at 22 youth does not keep a roof over your head."
What do you think?