Joan Branson, the wife of British billionaire Richard Branson, has died. She was 80.

Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, announced her death on Instagram on Tuesday, but no other details were shared.

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

Branson’s Virgin conglomerate operates across numerous industries including travel, aviation, media, telecommunications, leisure, space and financial services.

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

“I often make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds

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