Richard Branson Mourns Death of Wife Joan Templeman

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Richard Branson’s family is mourning a tremendous loss.

Richard Branson recently announced the passing of his wife of 50 years, Joan Templeman, who was 80 years old. He shared a statement remembering their life together.

Richard, 75, announced on Instagram on November 25th that his wife of 50 years, Joan, had passed away. He described her as a wonderful mother and grandmother to their children and grandchildren.

He shared, “Joan was everything to me—my closest friend, my constant support, my inspiration, and my entire world. I’ll always love you.”

Richard and Joan married in 1989 and had two children, Holly and Sam. They are also proud grandparents to Etta-Belle, Artie, Eva-Deia, and Bluey Rafe Richard Branson.

After hearing about Joan’s passing, friends and coworkers fondly remembered times they shared with her and the Branson family.

Ian Somerhalder shared a heartfelt message, writing, “Thinking of you, Richard.” He fondly remembered the kindness and thoughtfulness of the person who passed, recalling a pleasant time they spent together on Necker Island. He expressed his deep sympathy, sending love to Richard and his family during this difficult time.

Christie Brinkley sent her condolences to the family, sharing, “My heartfelt sympathy goes out to you and your loved ones. I hope your happy memories bring you comfort.”

Just days before announcing Joan’s passing, Richard shared an old photo of them together on Instagram, captioning it simply, “Love this photo of Joan.”

Richard’s success with the Virgin Group, especially after starting Virgin Galactic in 2004, brought him a lot of attention, but Joan generally stayed out of the public eye.

Still, Richard previously gushed about the support she offered from the background.

 

As many of you know, my wife Joan is a deeply private person. Throughout our forty-plus years together, she’s always cherished her privacy and intentionally stayed out of the public eye – she’s never given an interview, until now! It’s pretty amazing, actually, because she agreed to participate in a film about my ballooning adventures, and that meant her first-ever interview. While she prefers to support me from behind the scenes, she’s always been my rock – offering incredible mental, emotional, and spiritual strength.

Richard shared his enduring love for his wife, saying, “They say every man needs a great woman, and Joan, you’re the best. Happy birthday, and thank you for sharing this journey with me.”

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2025-11-25 22:48