Billionaire Mogul 'Heartbroken' as Wife of 50 Years Passes Away
Sir Richard Branson, the flamboyant British billionaire founder of the Virgin Group, has announced the death of his wife, Joan Templeman, at the age of 80. The entrepreneur shared the news in a poignant social media post on Tuesday, expressing that he was 'heartbroken' by the loss of his partner of half a century.
A Life Together: From a Recording Studio to a Global Empire
Branson revealed that he first met the 'down-to-earth Scottish lady' in 1976 at The Manor, a recording studio in Oxfordshire, England. In a 2020 blog post, he admitted that he quickly realised she wouldn't be impressed by his usual antics. Their courtship began with Branson frequently visiting the antique shop where she worked, amassing a collection of old signs.
The couple went on to build a life and family together, marrying in 1989 on his private Necker Island in the Caribbean. Their union produced three children: Holly, Sam, and Sarah Clare. Tragically, their daughter Sarah Clare died shortly after her birth in 1979.
'My Rock and My Guiding Light': A Family's Tributes
In his tribute, Branson did not just mourn a wife, but a life partner. 'She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world,' he wrote. He also celebrated her role as 'the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.'
Their son, Sam Branson, shared his own profound grief, describing his mother as 'the kindest, most loving, warm and abundantly generous woman to walk this Earth.' He expressed deep gratitude for the privilege of having her as his mother.
Branson also noted that his wife was a 'very private person' who had consistently supported him 'mentally, emotionally and spiritually' throughout their five decades together, a steadfast presence behind one of the world's most recognisable business figures and his ventures, including Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic.
