Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson announced on Tuesday that his wife of 50 years, Joan Templeman, has passed away at the age of 80. 

According to FOX Business, Branson shared the news on Instagram, describing himself as “heartbroken.”

“She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world,” he wrote, adding that Joan was “the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.” No cause of death was immediately provided.

Branson and Joan first met in 1976, and he frequently credited her as a grounding presence throughout his life. In a 2015 blog post, he recalled the instant he fell for her.

“I fell in love with her from the first moment I saw her, while she worked in a bric-a-brac shop in Westbourne Grove, in London,” he wrote. “A blonde-haired, down-to-earth, Scottish beauty who didn’t suffer fools, Joan was unlike any other woman I had ever met.”

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Joan celebrated her 80th birthday in July, and Branson publicly marked the occasion with a heartfelt post, thanking her for being by his side through “all the highs, the lows, and all those quiet, content, and peaceful moments in-between.”

The couple raised their family together, and Branson frequently highlighted Joan’s role as a devoted mother and grandmother. He often emphasized the balance she brought to his fast-paced life as the founder of the Virgin Group.

Branson’s announcement has prompted an outpouring of condolences from friends, family, and colleagues around the world, as well as from fans who have followed his public life and business ventures.

This loss marks a deeply personal moment for Branson, who has built an international empire yet consistently credited Joan with being the emotional anchor of his life.

This is a developing story; further updates are expected regarding memorial arrangements and additional tributes.