Editing Richard Branson (section)

==Personal life==
Branson married Kristen Tomassi in 1972 and divorced her in 1979. They had no children together. In 1976, Branson met Joan Templeman and later began a relationship with her. Three children were born during the course of the relationship: daughter Clare Sarah (b. 1979) who died only four days after birth; another daughter Holly (b. 1981) and a son Sam (b. 1985).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.babychums.com/2009/02/richard-bransons-baby-death-talks-to-piers-morgan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012210520/http://www.babychums.com/2009/02/richard-bransons-baby-death-talks-to-piers-morgan/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 October 2009 |title=Piers Morgan interviews Richard Branson, Richard talks about death of baby |publisher=Baby Chums |date=22 February 2009 |access-date=14 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.virgin.com/news/65-things-youve-always-wanted-to-know-about-richard-branson|title=65 things you've always wanted to know about Richard Branson|website=Virgin|date=17 July 2015|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316151957/https://www.virgin.com/news/65-things-youve-always-wanted-to-know-about-richard-branson|archive-date=16 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1989, Branson and Templeman married on [[Necker Island (British Virgin Islands)|Necker Island]].<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Richard Branson Has Been Married for 30 Years – These Are His Secrets to a Lasting Romance|first=Stacey |last=Leasca|url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/richard-branson-shares-romance-tips|date=7 August 2019|access-date=6 November 2020|website=Travel + Leisure}}</ref>

In 2017, Branson's Necker Island home was left uninhabitable after [[Hurricane Irma]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Irma wrecks Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island home|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41224243|url-status=live|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222133708/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-41224243|archive-date=22 December 2017}}</ref> It was the second time the Necker Island home had been severely damaged, after the building caught fire when it was struck by [[lightning]] caused by [[Hurricane Irene]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 2011|title=Twenty people escape fire at Branson's holiday home|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14616123|url-status=live|access-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130015540/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14616123|archive-date=30 November 2017}}</ref> Branson's mother [[Eve Branson|Eve]] died from [[COVID-19]] complications in January 2021 at the age of 96. A celebration of her life was posted online by her son.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrating my mum, Eve Branson {{!}} Virgin|url=https://virgin.com/branson-family/richard-branson-blog/celebrating-my-mum-eve-branson|first=Richard|last=Branson|date=11 January 2021|access-date=11 January 2021|website=Virgin.com}}</ref>

In 2007, Branson was ordained as a minister by the [[Universal Life Church Monastery]] to conduct an on-flight wedding as part of a marketing effort for domestic flights in the USA on [[Virgin America]] airline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0dfe492e-8f7f-4226-baaf-6543f54570fb|title=If This Were Anyone Else, It Would All Be Very Strange|website=aero-news.net|access-date=2 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518073436/http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?do=main.textpost&id=0dfe492e-8f7f-4226-baaf-6543f54570fb|archive-date=18 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> From 2013 to 2017, he served as President of the Old Stoic Society of [[Stowe School]].<ref>{{cite news|date=15 October 2013|title=Old Stoics have birthday Teese|work=London Evening Standard|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/old-stoics-have-birthday-teese-8881545.html|url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023205705/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/londoners-diary/old-stoics-have-birthday-teese-8881545.html|archive-date=23 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About|url=https://www.stowe.co.uk/school/old-stoics/about|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904161228/https://www.stowe.co.uk/school/old-stoics/about|archive-date=4 September 2019|access-date=21 November 2019|website=Stowe School – Old Stoics}}</ref>

In November 2017, singer Antonia Jenae, a backing singer for [[Joss Stone]], claimed Branson sexually assaulted her at Necker Island by "putting his head between her cleavage and making boat engine noises", a practice that, when performed consensually, is known as [[motorboating (sexual act)|motorboating]].<ref name=":2" /> A spokesperson for Branson confirmed to ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' newspaper that members of the band had been invited for a party on the island in 2010, but that he and friends and family in attendance had "no recollection" of the events and that "there would never have been any intention to offend or make anyone feel uncomfortable. Richard apologises if anyone felt that way."<ref name=":2">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/25/sir-richard-branson-has-no-recollection-alleged-incident-necker/|title=Sir Richard Branson has 'no recollection' of alleged incident at Necker Island|first=Patrick |last=Sawer| newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 November 2017|access-date=22 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323092402/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/11/25/sir-richard-branson-has-no-recollection-alleged-incident-necker/|archive-date=23 March 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a843901/sir-richard-branson-joss-stone-antonia-jenae-alleges-assault/|title=Richard Branson apologises after singer alleges assault|date=25 November 2017|work=Digital Spy|access-date=3 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181103210139/http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a843901/sir-richard-branson-joss-stone-antonia-jenae-alleges-assault/|archive-date=3 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Branson is an experienced [[kitesurf]]er, and set two world records in the sport. The first was as the oldest person to kitesurf across the [[English Channel]].<ref>{{cite news|date=1 July 2012|title=Branson sets kitesurfing record|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-18664278|url-status=live|access-date=5 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517072247/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-18664278|archive-date=17 May 2018}}</ref> Then in 2014 he broke the [[Guinness World Record]] for most people riding a [[surfboard]] by kiting with three women attached to him, including professional kiteboarder Susi Mai and entrepreneur Alison Di Spaltro.<ref>{{cite web|title=Branson: How 3 Bikini-Clad Women Helped Me Set Another Guinness World Record|website=[[Business Insider]] |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-kite-surf-world-record-2014-10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506173537/http://www.businessinsider.com/richard-branson-kite-surf-world-record-2014-10|archive-date=6 May 2018|access-date=5 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Richard Branson goes kiteboarding with girls on his back|url=https://www.surfertoday.com/kiteboarding/richard-branson-goes-kiteboarding-with-girls-on-his-back|date=26 March 2014|access-date=11 January 2022|website=Surfertoday}}</ref> Also an avid cyclist, in August 2016 he was injured while riding his bicycle in the British Virgin Islands, resulting in torn ligaments and a [[Zygomatic bone|cracked cheek]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37198354|title=Sir Richard Branson 'thought he would die in bike crash|work=BBC News|date=26 August 2016|access-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826161629/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37198354|archive-date=26 August 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>