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Virgin Dhandho
In the first two chapters, the author shows how hard-working immigrants with few expenditures managed to go from poverty to millions throughout their lifetimes. However, this is not the only way to make money with little risk.
This chapter is about the story of Virgin Airlines and its founder Richard Branson who is also a Dhando investor. Branson has managed to invest in several business ideas with minimal risk and yield high rewards.
Branson knew nothing about the airline business. He received a business plan that he knew must have been turned down by thousands. Branson looked forward to leasing a Boeing jumbo jet. He noticed that with a single plane, he would pay for fuel and staff wages for 30 days, but he would get paid for all the tickets about 20 days before the plane took off. The working capital requirement was low. Branson found a service gap and went for it. The Virgin Atlantic example is a pure Dhandho.
The prevailing theme is “Heads, I win; tails, I don’t lose much!”
Branson's companies don't take on the risk because they don't need investment in infrastructure. Rather, they leverage existing infrastructure or outsource to other companies that have to take on the risk. However, Branson does get the upside. With that risk-reward profile, Branson is capped as a Dhandho investor by the author.
By placing asymmetric bets Branson too follows the low-risk high certainty principle of investing. With that risk-reward profile, Branson is capped as a Dhandho investor by the author.
