Branson: Why I rarely have to fork out for my restaurant bills

WITH billions of pounds to his name, he would not have the slightest problem paying any bill.

But Sir Richard Branson has revealed that he rarely even picks up his own tab for meals as restaurants do not expect him to pay despite his wealth.

The Virgin chief (pictured) admitted it was a ‘bizarre’ concept and there are people who would ‘warrant that more’.

Speaking to Australian news website news.com.au, the 69-year-old added: ‘Obviously if you’re in that lucky position where you can afford [to pick up the bill] you should do it.

‘But one of the bizarre things about being successful and making money is the amount of times restaurants will say, “Oh, don’t worry Richard, we don’t expect you to pay”.

‘It’s funny because I’m like, “Hang on, I’ve worked all my life to be able to pay and now you don’t want me to pay?”

‘Surely there’s someone else who would warrant that more than me? Picking up the tab is a luxury I can afford.’

Sir Richard, worth a reported £3.8billion, made the comments at a new Virgin Active gym in Sydney. But he admitted he had only just started going to one of his global chain of 300-plus gyms.

‘I always play a very hard game of tennis first thing in the morning and then again in the evening,’ he said.

‘But approaching 70, I have to do some weight training so I now do that as well to try and build the body up.’