Branson Lays Plans For An Oil Business

Sky-high fuel costs could push Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines into bankruptcy as early as today. If only those carriers had a billionaire behind them.

Sir Richard Branson, you see, has decided he has had enough of being at the mercy of the oil companies: The man who has built his own music company, airline and cell phone carrier is planning to put $100 million of his fortune into a plan to build a $2 billion refinery for airline fuel.