‘My Guiding Light, My World’: Richard Branson Pays Tribute to Late Wife Joan Templeman
Richard Branson, the renowned British entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin Group, has shared heartfelt tributes to his late wife, Joan Templeman, who passed away at the age of 80. In a poignant Instagram post, Branson expressed his devastation, describing Joan as the “shining star” around which their family revolved. Married for 50 years, the couple shared three children—Holly, Sam, and Clare Sarah, who tragically died shortly after birth—and five grandchildren. Branson fondly remembered Joan as not only his partner but also as a nurturing mother and grandmother, stating, “Life will never be the same without her.” He emphasized the depth of their relationship, filled with laughter, love, and countless memories that shaped their family.
The couple’s love story began in 1976 at the Virgin Records studio, where Branson was instantly captivated by Joan’s down-to-earth nature. Over the decades, Joan played a crucial role in Branson’s life and career decisions, including convincing him to purchase the idyllic Necker Island, a decision he regards as one of his best. Branson reflected on Joan’s radiant smile and nurturing spirit, noting that her influence and wisdom were pivotal in his life. While the cause of her death has not been disclosed, Branson assured that he was by her side during her passing, which he described as “quick and painless.” He concluded his tribute with a touching sentiment: “Joan’s light is not gone; it’s just taken on a new shape. It will guide us forward, and we will carry her with us, always.”
Branson’s legacy as a successful entrepreneur is well-established, with the Virgin brand encompassing a variety of industries, including music, air travel, and space tourism. He initially gained fame with Virgin Records in the 1970s, selling the label to Thorn EMI in 1992 for £560 million. Despite the ups and downs of his business ventures, Branson’s personal life, particularly his enduring love for Joan, remains a central theme in his narrative. As he navigates this profound loss, he continues to honor their shared journey and the indelible mark Joan left on his life and the lives of their family.
Richard Branson has remembered his late wife Joan Templeman as the “shining star” around which the Branson “family’s universe has always orbited.”
In a pair of posts on Instagram, Branson, the British businessman who founded the Virgin Group and launched scores of recording careers through his labels Virgin Records and V2, said he was “devastated” at the death of Templeman, aged 80.
“Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away,” he writes. “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. Love you forever, Joan.”
The pair married on Necker island in 1989, owned by Branson, and had three children three children — Holly, Sam, and Clare Sarah, who died after four days — and five grandchildren.
In a followup post, Branson writes of her “radiant smile,” her joyfulness, kindness and her nurturing instincts. “Life will never be the same without her. But we have fifty incredible years of memories – years filled with tears and laughter, kindness, and a love that shaped our family more than words could ever capture. It was a relationship that worked. We just had lots of laughs. We were very lucky.”
View this post on Instagram
Branson met his wife back in 1976 at the Manor, Virgin Records’ live-in recording studio. He fell for her “almost from the moment I saw her,” he wrote on his blog
in 2020
. “Joan was a down-to-earth Scottish lady and I quickly realized she wouldn’t be impressed by my usual antics.”
Templeman was, in his mind, Branson’s better half. “Joan has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small part in some of my better life decisions.” It was Templeman who convinced Branson to buy Necker island, for a knockdown price, which he went on to describe as “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
Although the cause of death has yet to be announced, Branson confirms he was by Templeman’s side when she passed “quickly and painlessly”.
Joan’s “light is not gone,” he continues. “It’s just taken on a new shape. It will guide us forward. And we will carry her with us, always.”
View this post on Instagram
Branson is considered one of Britain’s most successful entrepreneurs. He founded the Virgin brand with Nik Powell in the early 1970s, initially with Virgin Records, before expanding into other industries including air travel, record stores, hotels, wines, space tourism and more. He sold Virgin Records to Thorn EMI in 1992 for £560 million ($804 million), and continued to own the Virgin Megastores music retail chain until 2007, when the market for CDs was in a state of collapse.
Branson and Virgin Group returned to the record business in November 1996 with the launch of the indie label V2. Virgin Group sold a chunk in V2 Records to Morgan Stanley in 2002, and disposed its remaining stake to the U.S. investment bank in May 2006. UMG reached an agreement to buy V2 from Morgan Stanley later that year.
