Sir Richard Branson, the globally recognized founder of the Virgin empire, is publicly grieving the profound and unthinkable loss of his wife and lifelong partner, Lady Joan Branson. The entrepreneur revealed on Tuesday that Lady Joan, with whom he shared five decades of life, love, and partnership, has died.

The announcement was made via a deeply emotional message posted across social media, where Branson offered a raw, heartfelt tribute to the woman he consistently credited as his foundation.

“My Best Friend, My Rock, My Guiding Light”

In his public statement, Sir Richard conveyed the depth of his loss, writing:

“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.”

The immense depth of their connection was visible just last week when Branson shared a tender photograph of himself kissing Joan’s head, accompanied by the simple, powerful caption: “Everyone needs a Joan in their life.” Her death marks the end of a remarkable partnership built on unwavering support and devotion across a lifetime of global fame and entrepreneurship.

A Love Story That Began in a London Shop

Branson has frequently described his first encounter with Joan as love at first sight, a narrative that began far from the glamorous world of private islands and private jets. He first met Joan in the 1970s in West London, where the Scottish-born woman was working in a modest bric-a-brac shop, according to ITV reporting.