‘Handicapped’: Billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s old report card revealed

A high-profile billionaire has shared his school report card, revealing the “handicapped” comments that have inspired his success story.

British billionaire Sir Richard Branson has taken “prove them wrong” to another level.

The founder of Virgin Group posted an old report card to Instagram on Sunday, delighting followers with a sneak peek into his childhood—which, judging by his grades, did not predict he would eventually become one of the richest people in the world.

“I stumbled across this school report from the Easter break, 65 years ago,” Sir Richard captioned the post.

“It felt very fitting to hear that I was “very backward” in spelling and reading – as I get set to launch my audiobook next week,” he continued, referencing the new version of his ‘Losing and Finding my Virginity’ memoir.

The 73-year-old business magnate is best known for founding Virgin Atlantic airlines, Virgin Galactic, and his latest “adults only” Virgin Voyages cruise ships which recently docked in Australia.

However, throughout his career, Sir Richard has openly discussed his unconventional path to success as an individual with dyslexia – a learning disorder characterised by difficulty reading and writing – and being a high school ‘dropout’ at the age of 15.

Sir Richard Branson has spoken openly about life with dyslexia, a learning disorder that affects reading and writing. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The old report card included feedback such as “handicapped,” “backward,” and “below standard.” Picture: Instagram

“In case you can’t read the handwriting, here are a few highlights,” he wrote about the grades.

“Classics: very keen, but handicapped by a bad memory. Some progress.

“Mathematics: the first half of the term saw a great improvement in his work, but once he began to get onto really new processes his keenness declined, and his standard dropped.

“French: a slight improvement this term but his work is still below standard,” the report card continued.

“English: he is still very backward in this subject, especially in spelling and reading – constant practice in the latter is necessary.

“Drawing: if he took a little care he could be good.”

According to the post, the report card was from around 1959 when Sir Richard was a student at Scaitcliffe, a prep school for boys aged six to 13 in Englefield Green, England.

“Going through school with undiagnosed dyslexia wasn’t at all fun, but I’m glad I didn’t let it squash my big ideas,” Sir Richard wrote beneath the grades.

“I hope this inspires anyone out there who might be struggling at school right now.

“Just remember there’s a whole lot more to life out there, and one day you’ll be able to look back on these reports and smile,” he wrote.

Thirteen-year-old Angus founded his lolly business, Croc Candy, to raise funds for dyslexia charities aged seven, meeting Branson for a private meeting during a visit to Australia. Picture: Supplied.

Sir Richard is worth more than $3 billion dollars. Picture: Supplied

Today Sir Richard is reportedly worth more than $3 billion dollars (USD$2 billion) according to the Forbes Rich List. He has been celebrated for using his influence, money, and platform to raise awareness about dyslexia, which he has often described as his “superpower” and “blessing in disguise”.

“Both of my boys have dyslexia and I often use you as a role model for them,” one follower commented on the post.

“Dyslexia is their superpower, it’s natural for them to see things differently. It’s not a disability. Grateful to people like you for using your platform to increase awareness and destigmatise,” they added.

“Love this,” another commented, “my son’s dyslexic and autistic and finds the rigid school environment extremely hard.

“He has big ideas and I am confident that he’ll find his place in life,” they continued.

The throwback post comes after Sir Richard Branson announced his Resilient Lady cruise ship, which has spent the summer in Australia for the first time, will head back to Europe on a different route due to safety concerns.

Sir Richard Branson pictured dancing on the Virgin Voyages ship Resilient Lady in port in Sydney Harbour. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

The business billionaire has come a long way from his early school days. Picture: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Virgin Voyages said it and global security experts had been “watching the current conflict in the Middle East closely” and were “left with no choice” but to make changes to the repositioning voyage beginning on March 27.

“We remain concerned about potential escalations in this part of the world over the next 12 months and the risk that this presents for safe passage through the region,” a company spokesperson said.

The ship will now sail around the coast of Africa and has removed three Australian stops from its itinerary.

It will leave Sydney and make stops in Eden and Fremantle in Australia, Port Louis in Mauritius, Durban and Cape Town in South Africa, Walvis Bay in Namibia, Praia in Cape Verde, Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain, Casablanca in Morocco, Barcelona in Spain, Valletta in Malta, and Santorini and Piraeus/Athens in Greece.

Originally published as ‘Handicapped’: Billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s old report card revealed