Have you ever heard of the term “one percent”? Well, if not then I’m going to tell you about it. There are a handful of people in this world who hold 99% or more wealth and they’re called one-percenters! One famous man from that group is Richard Branson – he’s an investor and business guru.
Despite only a few people being part of the wealthy elite, it doesn’t mean that others don’t benefit from them. For example, spouses and children do as well. So who is Richard Branson married to?
The billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson married his wife Joan Templeman in 1989.
Richard Branson may be one of the most successful businessmen in history, but his relationship record is also pretty impressive. He’s been married to Joan Templeman for more than 30 years and they seem stronger than ever.
Richard Branson and his wife, Joan Templeman met in 1976 at Virgin’s studios. They were together for many years before getting married on Richard’s private island of Necker Island located off the coast of the British Virgin Islands in 1989. After 30 years of marriage, Richard took to his blog in 2020 to write a love letter for Joan.
He wrote: “I experienced love at first sight upon meeting a blond-haired, down-to-earth, Scottish beauty named Joan, who just happened to be making a cup of tea. I generally make up my mind about someone within 30 seconds of meeting them, and Joan won my heart instantly. She was unlike any other woman I had ever met.”
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“She was beautiful. She was bright. She was witty. She was down to earth. She was fun. And she had eyes made of magic,” He added.
In 2021, Virgin Group announced that Richard Branson would be going to space with the company’s rocketship. He blasted 55 miles into space at 3x the speed of sound and told Daily Mail, “As a kid I always dreamed about building my own spaceship to go into outer space,” he said. “It used to just be cardboard boxes then it became more realistic: toy spaceships.” Joan felt both nervous and excited about Richard’s journey into space.
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When asked about how his family felt, he explained that Joan was a bit nervous but understanding of his goals. “As a family, we love to say ‘yes,’ however my wife would be terrified on the Virgin Atlantic airplane.” He joked that his wife told him she wouldn’t be attending her own funeral if something happened to him. He also described her as “the most understanding wife on Earth.”
Richard Branson’s first wife was Kristen Tomassi
In 1972, Richard married Kristen Tomassi in an Anglican marriage ceremony at Holy Cross Church. They were only 21 and 20 years old when they got married.
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The marriage between Richard Branson and Kristen Tomassi was short-lived. In his autobiography, Losing My Virginity, the entrepreneur admitted that whenever he became intimate with Kirsten a painful rash would spread across his body which resulted in a number of medical examinations but nothing seemed to help. They divorced in 1979.
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Richard Branson has three children, one of whom is deceased.
Richard and Joan’s daughter Clare Sarah was born in 1979. Unfortunately, she died three months premature; just a few days after birth. Richard described the experience as “horrendous” to Piers Morgan during an interview in 2009. It took many months for him to recover from his loss but he did say that “The mending process takes time and it didn’t really start until Holly was born 18 months later … but I suspect for the mother it’s never completely completed.”
In 1981, Richard and Joan welcomed their daughter Holly. Then in 1985, they had a son named Sam. Today, Holly is a member of the Virgin Management Leadership team. She graduated from University College with Medical and Physiology degrees alongside her passion for adventure just like her father. Sam on the other hand founded a production company called Sundog Pictures. He splits his time between London and Bali where he has two children of his own.
What is Richard Branson’s net worth?
Richard Branson is so rich he can afford to go into space! And it’s no secret that Richard has a net worth of $5.9 billion USD – which isn’t too shabby at all considering the competition out there with billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates being in his league already.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Richard Branson still married to Joan Templeman?
After more than 30 years of marriage, Richard and his wife Joan Templeman appear more devoted than ever. In 1976, the two initially connected at the Virgin Records studios.
How did Richard Branson get so rich?
According to Forbes, Richard Branson has a net worth of $4.6 billion. The capital generated by Virgin's several brands, like Virgin Galactic, probably accounts for the lion's share of his wealth. Twitter, Slack, Pinterest, and Square are all included in his company's venture capital portfolio.
How old was Richard Branson when he became a millionaire?
According to Forbes, Richard Branson made his first billion in 1991 when he was 41 years old.
How did Richard Branson meet Joan Templeman?
When Templeman and Branson met in 1978 at The Manor, where the latter had set up his live-in studio for Virgin Records, Templeman was given a second chance at love. Branson's place of business was close by Templeman's antique shop.
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