Man who lived with Richard Branson for a week on private island shares five key takeaways about billionaire

A social media user who spent a week with Virgin Group’s Richard Branson has shared some of the knowledge the businessman imparted upon him.

Tyler Newman is the founder of Luxury Property Partners, an estate business, and hopped online on Thursday (15 October) to tell the world he had the opportunity to join Branson on his private island - and he seemingly learned a lot from the business mogul.

He explained on X: “I just spent the week with Richard Branson on his very own private island. Probably the most insane & eye-opening experience of my life. Here are my biggest takeaways.”

He said that the first thing he learned was that ‘Branson is playing to win in all areas of his life’ and has been able to maintain his health, relationships, happiness and family, despite pouring his heart into many successful ventures.

At 75, he explained that ‘this guy has built billion-dollar companies in 8 different sectors, completed some crazy adventures, is in elite physical condition at 75 years old, and has an amazing relationship with his wife and kids’.

I just spent the week with Richard Branson on his very own private island. Probably the most insane & eye opening experience of my life. Here are my biggest takeaways: pic.twitter.com/y40CINKGYM

— Tyler Newman (@mrtylernewman) October 16, 2025

To him, this showed him that ‘you really can have it all’.

The second point showed Branson playing chess, sharing that ‘he prioritises health, fitness & adventure’.

“Yesterday I woke up at 6:00am, went down to the beach house, and watched Richard play tennis with one of his two professional tennis coaches that live on the island — & he was winning. He told me he’s been playing twice a day for 15 years. He also joined us for a crazy 3-hour hike up a rocky canyon, a 7km run in 40 degree heat, an intense cycle ride up an adjacent island, and kite surfed 5km from Necker to his neighbouring private island, where he then took us cliff jumping,” shared Newman.

Apparently, Branson also has chess mats in every building on the island, just so he can play multiple times a day, wherever he is, to keep his mind sharp.

The third lesson was in ‘lifestyle design’.

According to Newman, Branson’s Necker Island is a place where you’ll get the same ‘billionaire treatment as Richard himself’.

He explained that the 160 staff who look after him also look after you.

Newman explained: “The island has been a great way for Richard to bring the most famous, powerful, and wealthy people in the world, into his proximity. He hosts royal families, presidents, and anyone who is anyone.”

For the fourth takeaway, he said Branston revealed some of his business ‘playbook’ insights, revealing that ‘when he decides to launch a business, his role is to bring brand & capital, and be the one taking the risk’.

From there, he ‘partners with the right team that can execute and provide necessary infrastructure.’

Branson is also allegedly 'obsessed with customer experience’, which was proven to Newman via the way he treated people on Necker Island.

Lastly, he just 'really cares’.

Newman captured Branson on a range of adventures, stroking a turtle, hiking, and lounging with people surrounding him.

He explained that while he ‘seemed quite introverted,’ a 'fire would light up inside of him when he spoke about the causes he’s working on and the problems he wants to solve in the world’. He shared that Branson was ‘hyper focused on making a positive impact’.