The 74-year-old Virgin records legend is well known for being a close friend with countless A-List stars - and counts the Rolling Stones guitarist among them, Music-News reports.
And it appears that Branson is a very reliable friend indeed - as he once saved 81-year-old Richards from being murdered when a man showed up looking to kill him.
Recalling the incident on Virgin Radio UK on Thursday, the businessman said, "I went to the front door. There was this huge guy there and he had a gun."
Branson continued, "He went, 'I've come to kill Keith Richards, he's in your house with my wife.'"
While the command sounded preposterous, it appeared the angry man was correct - as Richard went on with his tale.
"As I was talking to him, I saw a naked Keith Richards and a naked wife running behind him across the lawn," he recalled.
"I said, 'Put the gun down and you can search the house'. He searched the house, he apologised, he left."
The Virgin Airlines boss added, "About an hour later, a naked Keith Richards came back without the wife."
Richards has been in a relationship with model Patti Hansen since 1979 and they have been husband and wife since 1983.
The couple share two children together - while Richards has three other children from a past relationship with late model Anita Pallenberg.
