Richard Branson announced Tuesday, Nov. 25, that his wife, Joan Templeman, has died. Branson described her as his “wife and partner for 50 years” in a statement shared on social media.
According to Branson, Templeman was 80 years old. In his post, he wrote: “Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away. She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for. She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you forever, Joan x.”
Branson and Templeman married in 1989 and had two surviving children, Holly and Sam. Their first daughter, Clare Sarah, died four days after birth.
The couple met in 1976, and Branson has often credited Templeman as a constant source of stability throughout his personal life and business career. No cause of death has been released.
