Virgin Founder Richard Branson Announces Wife's Passing
British billionaire Sir Richard Branson shared heartbreaking news on Tuesday, November 25, revealing that his beloved wife of five decades, Joan Templeman, has passed away at the age of 80. The Virgin Group founder took to Instagram to express his profound grief, writing: "Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away."
Branson described his late wife as "the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for" and added emotionally, "She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world." The cause of death was not disclosed in his announcement.
A Love Story That Spanned Five Decades
The businessman's social media posts in recent months showed his deep affection for Templeman. Just two days before announcing her passing, Branson had posted a nostalgic throwback picture with the caption "Love this photo of Joan." In July, when she celebrated her 80th birthday, he shared beautiful photographs and wrote a touching tribute: "Happy 80th to my wonderful, wonderful wife. Thank you for being by my side through it all – the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content, and peaceful moments in between."
Their remarkable love story began in 1976 when Branson experienced what he described as love at first sight. In a 2020 blog post, the entrepreneur recalled meeting Templeman while she worked at a 'bric-a-brac shop' called Dodo in Notting Hill, London, close to his Virgin office at Vernon Yard.
"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," Branson had written. He described her as "a blonde-haired, down-to-earth Scottish beauty who didn't suffer fools" and immediately recognized she wouldn't be impressed by his usual antics.
From Shop Visits to Musical Inspiration
To win her heart, Branson employed persistent tactics that eventually led to one of music history's most successful album series. "To win her heart, I had to persistently hang around the shop and buy countless objects before we started courting," he remembered.
One particular purchase – an old advertising sign for Danish bacon featuring a pig and hen singing with the caption "Now, that's what I call music" – became especially significant. This phrase, etched in his mind during brainstorming sessions for Virgin Records' new compilation album series, inspired the name Now That's What I Call Music! which went on to become the biggest-selling album series in history.
Two years after meeting Templeman, Branson made one of his most romantic gestures by purchasing Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands for $180,000. He described seeing the island as "the second time I experienced love at first sight." The couple eventually married on a beach on the island in 1989, beginning their official life together as husband and wife.
In his blogs, Branson frequently credited Templeman as being "my rock, my confidant and my guiding light" and praised her as "the most amazing mother to our two wonderful children – our daughter Holly and our son Sam – and the perfect grandmother to our three beautiful grandchildren, Artie, Etta and Eva-Deia."
As the world joins Richard Branson in mourning the loss of his lifelong partner, their extraordinary five-decade love story serves as a testament to enduring romance and partnership that weathered both business triumphs and personal challenges.
