Key Takeaways
- Richard Branson announced the death of his wife, Joan Templeman, who was 80 years old.
- The couple’s relationship spanned nearly 50 years.
- The billionaire founder memorialized his wife in an emotional tribute on Instagram.
Richard Branson announced on Tuesday that his wife, Joan Templeman, passed away at the age of 80. The Virgin Group founder shared the news on Instagram, saying he was “heartbroken” by the loss.
In the post, Branson described Templeman as his closest companion and the steady presence in his life. He memorialized her as his “best friend,” “rock” and “guiding light,” and said she had been an extraordinary mother and grandmother.
Related: Richard Branson and Jason Felts — Virgin Group’s Second-Youngest CEO — Share Secrets for Success in Business and Leadership: ‘Get Into the Thick of It’
Branson and Templeman first crossed paths in 1976, a meeting he has often reflected on fondly. In a February 2020 blog post on Virgin.com, he wrote of their first meeting: “I often make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and I fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her.”
He’s also attributed much of his professional success to her enduring support: “I wouldn’t have been able to do all it without Joan, and I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he wrote in that same blog.
Related: ‘I Enjoy Life Too Much’: Sir Richard Branson Has an Adventurous Approach to Business — But He Never Planned on Being an Entrepreneur
Throughout their nearly five decades together, Branson frequently credited Templeman with keeping him grounded. When she turned 80 in July, he celebrated her birthday online, calling her his “wonderful, wonderful wife” and thanking her for standing alongside him through every triumph, setback and quiet moment in between.
No details about the cause of her death have been released.
Key Takeaways
- Richard Branson announced the death of his wife, Joan Templeman, who was 80 years old.
- The couple’s relationship spanned nearly 50 years.
- The billionaire founder memorialized his wife in an emotional tribute on Instagram.
Richard Branson announced on Tuesday that his wife, Joan Templeman, passed away at the age of 80. The Virgin Group founder shared the news on Instagram, saying he was “heartbroken” by the loss.
In the post, Branson described Templeman as his closest companion and the steady presence in his life. He memorialized her as his “best friend,” “rock” and “guiding light,” and said she had been an extraordinary mother and grandmother.
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