richard Branson Mourns Wife Joan Templeman After 50-Year Relationship
Richard Branson is mourning the loss of his wife, Joan Templeman, after a decades-long relationship that began in the late 1970s. The couple married in 1989, but had been together for approximately 50 years prior to her death. Branson famously stated he fell in love with Templeman “the first moment I saw her,” a sentiment he reiterated in a 2020 blog post, adding he typically makes a decision about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them.
The pair first connected at Branson’s newly founded recording studio, Virgin Records. Templeman was working at a nearby trinket store when Branson, captivated by her, actively pursued a relationship despite learning she was already involved with someone else. He famously arranged a helicopter trip for two to view a potential island purchase in the Virgin Islands – a trip she accepted – ultimately leading to them finding a property and becoming inseparable.
That island, Necker island, became a cherished home for the couple, frequently hosting celebrities from the entertainment and business worlds.
Tragically, Richard and Joan Templeman experienced the loss of their daughter, Clare, who died a few days after birth. They are survived by their two other children, Holly, 44, and Sam, 40. Branson consistently expressed his deep love for his wife throughout their life together.