“Joan Templeman, Richard Branson’s ‘Guiding Light’, Passes Away at 80”

Richard Branson announced on November 25, 2025, that Joan Templeman has died at the age of 80.
In his tribute, he called her his “best friend,” “rock,” “guiding light,” and “world.” He described her as a devoted mother and grandmother, and said she had been his partner for 50 years.
The cause of her death has not been publicly disclosed.

Her Life & Their Story

Joan Templeman and Richard Branson first met in 1976, when she was working at a bric-a-brac/antique shop in London, near the early offices of Branson’s venture, then Virgin Records. Branson has said he “fell for Joan almost from the moment I saw her.”
Their relationship led to a grand gesture: when Branson learned an island in the British Virgin Islands — Necker Island — was for sale, he purchased it allegedly as a tribute to her. The two eventually married there in 1989.
Despite Branson’s global fame and high-profile businesses (which today also include Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Galactic and more), Joan maintained a very private life — described as grounded, down-to-earth, and the stabilising influence behind many of Branson’s decisions.

The couple had three children: daughters Holly Branson and Sam Branson, and a daughter Clare Sarah Branson, who died just four days after being born.
Over the decades, Joan was frequently credited by Branson as the emotional and moral anchor of their family life — “the most wonderful mum and grandmum” their children and grandchildren could have wished for.

Tributes have poured in for Joan, with many remembering her as the quiet strength behind one of the world’s most famous entrepreneurs.
Despite Branson’s notoriety and the high-flying lifestyle associated with him, Joan Templeman’s story is often described as one of humility, privacy, and quiet support — a reminder that behind big names are often quieter lives filled with love and sacrifice.