Sir Richard Branson shared heartbreaking news with the world, announcing the death of his wife, Lady Joan Branson, at the age of 80. He broke the news through a raw and emotional message posted to Facebook and Instagram on November 25, 2025. The English business magnate, 75, called Joan his “partner of 50 years,” the center of his world, and the heart of their family.
"She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world," Richard wrote on Instagram.
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The duo’s long partnership stood in sharp contrast to the fast pace and short-lived nature of many high-profile relationships today.
The Love Story Started With Chance
He visited the antique shop where she worked in London again and again, pretending he needed furniture, even when he didn’t. The tycoon admitted that he kept buying things just to talk to her.
Their story took them from London to the Caribbean, where they married on Richard’s private Necker Island in 1989. It was a quiet ceremony compared to the scale of Richard’s business ventures, but it fit them perfectly. Their life together grew into a family with two children, Holly and Sam, and later five grandchildren.
In 1979, they lost their first child, Clare Sarah, only days after her premature birth. Richard once described that moment as horrendous and said it shaped them forever. Even during that painful time, they leaned on each other. Their devotion only deepened. It became the backbone that carried them through later joys and challenges.
Richard / IG / Richard and Joan first met in 1976 at The Manor, his recording studio in Oxfordshire. Richard always said he felt something the moment he saw her.
Family Tributes Filled With Love
Sam Branson shared a personal tribute online, remembering his mother as the kindest and most generous person he had ever known. In his words, Joan had an instinctive way of making people feel at ease, noticed, protected, and understood. He thanked her for her steady guidance, her constant encouragement, and for creating a home defined by warmth and reassurance that never wavered.
Holly, their daughter, has previously reflected on Joan’s life as a hands-on, stay-at-home mother who prioritized family above all else. She remembered small but meaningful habits: open arms, thoughtful words offered quietly, and a calm presence that eased tension. Those moments revealed why Joan remained such a steady center in their family dynamic.
Joan Branson’s Quiet Strength
Richard / IG / Joan Templeman grew up in Glasgow in a working-class home. She carried that down-to-earth nature with her throughout her life. She never chased the spotlight.
While Richard traveled the world for business, she built the foundation their family held on to. She kept things steady. She made home feel like a place to land.
Richard often joked about how persistent he was while trying to win her over. He admitted that Joan had a calm confidence that balanced his urge to push forward.
Branson shared more details a day after the announcement. Both he and Joan were in the hospital for unrelated injuries. He had hurt his shoulder in a biking accident, and she was being treated for a back issue. By coincidence, he was moved to a room on the same floor as hers. They were able to spend time together that morning. He said they shared a joyful lunch. She was “cheerful and comfortable.”
Her passing later that day was sudden but peaceful. Richard was by her side. He wrote that they were grateful she did not suffer. The billionaire also said that being together at the end brought comfort to the entire family. It was a simple moment, but the kind that stays with a person forever.
Richard, now 75, is with his children as they support each other through their grief. They are choosing to celebrate Joan’s life rather than focus only on the loss.
