Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson has announced the death of his wife, Joan Templeman, describing her passing as heartbreaking after more than five decades together.
In a statement, Branson paid tribute to Joan as his “best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.” Joan died at the age of 80, though the family has not disclosed the cause of her death.
Branson and Templeman met in the 1970s and married in 1989. Their relationship spanned almost 50 years, during which Joan remained a central, grounding figure in both his personal life and the Virgin empire’s global journey.
Tributes have poured in from around the world, with many acknowledging Joan’s long-standing but quiet influence behind Branson’s success. Funeral arrangements have not yet been publicly communicated.
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Sir Richard Branson is a British billionaire entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, which controls more than 400 companies across industries including aviation, music, telecommunications, and space exploration. Widely known for his adventurous spirit and bold business strategies, Branson has built one of the most recognizable global brands over the past five decades.
