Must not speak simple truths if you are rich

Colourful British billionaire Sir Richard Branson has unleashed a Twitter storm by sensationally claiming money doesn’t buy happiness.

The Virgin founder — who has a staggering estimated net worth of $US4.1 billion ($A5.9 billion) — took to the social media platform yesterday to post a sweet photo of himself with wife Joan Templeman.

It was accompanied by the caption: “I truly believe that ‘stuff’ really does not bring happiness. Family, friends, good health and the satisfaction that comes from making a positive difference are what really matters.”

It immediately sparked an avalanche of criticism, with countless Twitter users accusing the father-of-three of being a “hypocrite” and wildly out of touch — especially considering he is the 34th richest person in the UK, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

In fact, the 69-year-old is so wealthy he owns his own 299,467sq m island, a private jet, a yacht and a string of luxury properties around the globe.

However, it is also worth noting that the eccentric mogul — who made his first million in his early 20s — is known for his generosity and philanthropy.

He is a member of the Giving Pledge, a commitment by the world’s wealthiest people to dedicate most of their wealth to giving back to the world.

He’s also promised to give away $3 billion over 10 years to help the fight against global warming, and spends the majority of his time working on Virgin Unite, his company’s charity sector which supports a number of causes and non-profits.

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