Sir Richard Branson, 75, was born in Blackheath, London. The thrill-seeking business magnate found fame in the 1970s when he turned a mail-order record business into the record store and music label Virgin Records. He went where others feared to tread, including signing the controversial band the Sex Pistols.

The serial entrepreneur went on to shake up the aviation, telecommunication, fitness and space industries with the launch of Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Mobile, Virgin Active and Virgin Galactic. He lives with his wife, Joan, on Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands. For our weekly My Saturday column, Sir Richard reveals how he spends his downtime.

5.30am

I wake up at 5.30am every day. I love to get up early to see the sun rise. You can see it coming up over the ocean. My wife, Joan, sleeps in a bit longer.

5.45am

I will start the morning with an ice bath on the beach. I jump in the ice bath just to wake myself up and it’s meant to be good for you as well. I dunk my head and it kick-starts the body for the day. I’m advised not to do more than about two and a half minutes. It’s something which I love to do.