Joan Templeman, the wife of Virgin founder Richard Branson, is dead. The news was shared by Branson via an Instagram post on Tuesday. The English businessman shared a picture of Joan wearing a red dress and smiling at the camera. He captioned it:“Heartbroken to share that Joan, my wife and partner for 50 years, has passed away. 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 x.” View this post on Instagram Instagram PostA few days before he made the announcement of Joan’s passing, Branson posted a picture of himself and Templeman from February 1998. In the photo, the couple has their arms wrapped around each other. Joan leans her head on Richard while the latter has a fist raised in the air in celebration. Both of them have big grins plastered on their faces.Richard Brandon captured the post:“Love this photo of Joan.”More details on Richard Branson and Joan Templeman’s relationshipRichard Branson and Joan Templeman got married in 1989 and were together for almost fifty years (having first met around 1976) before Joan’s passing in November 2025. The couple had three children, including Holly Branson, Sam Branson, and Clare Sarah Branson, who died days after birth.Throughout their relationship, Richard Branson had never been shy about posting about his wife and speaking about their successful marriage. On November 12, the businessman posted a lengthy message detailing how he made his marriage with Joan work. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostHe wrote:“I credit a good deal of my success - not to mention my marriage - to being a good listener. When I'm sitting in a business meeting and someone doesn't respond to a suggestion l've made, I know immediately they disagree... I know this because I use this tactic myself! When it happens, I say, 'I can tell by the fact you haven't responded that you see it differently. What do you think?”Richard Branson added:“Too many people presume they are right, and they don't listen to other points of view. They speak categorically and then close their ears. This is the most disadvantageous thing you can do for yourself. Some leaders and entrepreneurs surround themselves with brilliant people and then ignore them. Most people who behave in this autocratic way get their comeuppance. You need to be a genius, like Steve Jobs, for that to work. I know I am not better than anyone else, and so l take a different road!”Rest in peace Joan Templeman.Read more: "Woke is dead!": Piers Morgan reacts to Jammie Booker’s disqualification from strongest woman title after officials found athlete is "biological male"