Behind the towering public persona of a billionaire entrepreneur and space pioneer lies a deeply devoted family man. For Sir Richard Branson, his greatest adventures have not been in boardrooms or the edges of space, but alongside his wife of over five decades, Joan Templeman, their children, and their growing brood of grandchildren. While the Virgin brand became a global symbol of innovation and challenge, Branson’s private world was steadfastly built on a foundation of love, partnership, and the simple joys of family life.
The Branson family story recently faced a profound chapter of heartbreak. In late 2025, Richard Branson shared the devastating news that his wife, Joan, had passed away at the age of 80. He posted a heartfelt tribute to his “best friend” and “rock,” writing that he was “heartbroken” to lose his partner of 50 years. Joan was remembered not just as his guiding light, but as “the most wonderful mum and grandmum our kids and grandkids could have ever wished for.” Her passing cast a shadow over the family, reminding all of the quiet, steady force she had been throughout their extraordinary journey.
The Foundation of a Family: Joan, Holly, and Sam
Richard Branson’s love story with Joan Templeman was the cornerstone of his family life. He first saw the “down-to-earth Scottish lady” in 1976 and, by his own account, fell for her almost instantly. Their romance blossomed, and Branson famously purchased Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands two years into their relationship as a grand gesture of his affection. They married on that same island in 1989, surrounded by close family and friends.
You Might Like: Bryce Young Beyond the Field: The Romance He Keeps Quiet
Together, Richard and Joan built a family. They have two children: their daughter, Holly, born in 1981, and their son, Sam, born in 1985. The couple also experienced a tragic loss with their daughter Clare Sarah, who died just four days after her birth in 1979. Joan was famously private, often described as a steadying and wise influence on Branson, a “stay-at-home mum who was… always there with a hug.”
Both Holly and Sam have followed paths that blend their own passions with the family’s entrepreneurial and humanitarian spirit. Holly is a qualified medical doctor who now works as the Chief Purpose and Vision Officer for the Virgin Group. Sam is an adventurer, filmmaker, and musician who works as an informal adviser to the family business.
Also See: Mark Kelly, Gabby Giffords, and the Home That Shaped a Senator
The Next Generation: Grandchildren and Lasting Legacies
In recent years, Richard Branson’s role as “Granddad” has brought him immense joy. His family expanded rapidly, welcoming three grandchildren in just two months. The family tree now includes five young members who are being raised with the same close-knit family values their grandfather cherished.
The Branson grandchildren are:
- Etta and Artie: Twins born to Holly and her husband, Freddie Andrews, in December 2015.
- Lola: Holly and Freddie’s younger daughter, born in 2019.
- Eva-Deia and Bluey: The two children of Sam and his wife, actress Isabella Calthorpe. Eva-Deia was born in 2015, and Bluey in 2017.
Branson is an enthusiastic and hands-on grandfather, often sharing moments of surprising his grandkids after school or spending quality time with them. This new generation represents the future that Branson and Joan worked to build. Despite his vast fortune, estimated at $3 billion, Branson has long been committed to a different kind of inheritance. He and Joan signed the Giving Pledge, promising to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes, a decision they made with their children’s full support. For Richard Branson, true success was never just measured in financial wealth, but in the love and resilience of the family he built with his beloved wife, Joan.
