Joan Branson, the wife of British billionaire Richard Branson, has died at age 80.

Branson announced her death Tuesday on Instagram and LinkedIn. No other details were disclosed.

“Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away,” he said. “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.”

Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin Atlantic airline, space tourism company Virgin Galactic and satellite launcher Virgin Orbit.

Richard Branson and his wife Joan in London in 2007.

Lewis Whyld / AFP via Getty Images

In a 2020 blog post , he said he met Joan in 1976 at The Manor, a recording studio in Oxfordshire, England.

“Joan was a down-to-earth Sc

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