Sir Richard Branson’s wife, Joan Templeman, has died at age 80.

The British businessman, 75, announced his wife’s passing Tuesday on Instagram.

“Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away,” Branson began his statement.

“She was the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for,” the Virgin Group founder continued. “She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world.”

Branson concluded, “Love you forever, Joan x.”

Branson did not reveal his wife’s cause of death.

The couple married in 1989 and welcomed three children together: Holly, Sam and the late Clare Sarah, who died at four days old.

Branson met his late wife at The Manor, a live-in recording studio for Virgin Records.

In a 2020 blog post to

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