Sir Richard Branson has said he is “devastated” by the death of his wife Joan, 80.
The couple, who married in 1989, have three children and five grandchildren.
In a post on Instagram, the Virgin Group founder said his wife was his “best friend” and “guiding light”.
“She was the most wonderful mother and grandmother to our children and grandchildren,” the 75-year-old wrote.
The entrepreneur did not reveal what caused his death.
In his post, Sir Richard wrote: “I am very sad to announce that Joan, my wife and partner of 50 years, has passed away.”
He added, “She was my best friend, my rock, my guiding light, my world. Love you always, Joan X.”
The couple married on Necker Island in the Caribbean, owned by Sir Richard, and had three children, Holly, Sam and Claire Sarah, who died four days later.
In 2018, Holly wrote in a blog that her mother was raised in the center of Glasgow and worked in a pawnbroker’s shop, and later, in a London bric-a-brac store in Portobello Road, west London.
She said it was here that her father first fell in love with Lady Branson and “every day for months he came to the shop and bought things he didn’t want or need.”
Holly described her mother as “a stay-at-home mom who was (and still is) always there with hugs, inspiring words of wisdom, and a beautiful, welcoming smile.”
In a blog to celebrate their wedding anniversary five years ago, Sir Richard said that “I fell in love with Joan from the moment I saw her”.
He said, “Joan has always been a steady source of wisdom and has played no small role in some of the better decisions of my life.”
Sir Richard is one of Britain’s most successful businessmen.
He founded Virgin Records in the 1970s, before his group expanded into other industries including air travel, broadband and space tourism.
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