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Richard Branson announced on Instagram that his wife of 50 years, Joan Templeman, has died at 80. He called her his best friend and guiding light. The cause of death was not disclosed.
Richard Branson’s wife Joan Templeman.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 26, 2025 02:50 IST
Richard Branson made one of the most personal announcements of his public life on Tuesday, telling his millions of followers that Joan Templeman, his wife and partner of 50 years, had died. The Virgin Group founder said he was heartbroken, calling her "my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.”
“She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for,” Branson wrote in the emotional Instagram post, adding a final tribute: “Love you forever, Joan x.”
Joan Templeman was 80. Branson did not disclose her cause of death.
The couple’s story began long before Branson built his global business empire. He first met Joan in 1976 and later wrote that he was instantly captivated. “I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her,” he recalled in a 2015 blog post, describing her as a blonde-haired, down to earth, Scottish beauty who didn’t suffer fools.
They married in 1989 after more than a decade together. Their family grew to include three children: Holly, Sam and Clare Sarah, who tragically died just four days after birth in 1979. Branson often credited Joan with keeping him grounded as his companies expanded across aviation, music, space travel and hospitality.
Although married to one of the world’s most recognizable entrepreneurs, Joan preferred a quieter life. Branson once wrote that she was “a very private person,” adding in 2016 that she “has always been keen to avoid the public eye.”
In July, for Joan’s 80th birthday, Branson wrote: “Thank you for being by my side through it all – the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content and peaceful moments in between. “These are the moments I cherish most with you, I love you more and more each year.”
Branson met Joan while she worked at a shop near the Virgin Records store where he was spending most of his days. The relationship that followed, he said, became the anchor of his life even as his ventures carried him far from home.
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Published By:
Aashish Vashistha
Published On:
Nov 26, 2025
