Kristen Tomassi Wiki, Net Worth, Relationship : Richard Branson Wife Ex

Name Kristen Tomassi

Age / How old / Birthday / Date of Birth / DOB Born in 1952. As of 2025, she is around 73 years old.

Wikipedia Biography / Profile Background

Introduction :

Kristen Tomassi, an older woman with bright blonde hair and a shy smile, is an American designer and architect.
Although Kristen is from the US, she has lived in the UK for many years, as she is also the ex-wife of British billionaire investor and business mogul Richard Branson.

Personal Life, Parents and Family Details :

Kristen, born in 1952, grew up in an affluent family from the northeastern United States. Her father, Joseph Tomassi, worked for a canned and frozen food company called “Libby International” as the Director of International Marketing and Development.
The position allowed him to dote on his daughter and send her to the best private schools possible.

Education : Qualifications, High School & College Info

Boarding School :

Kristen began her education at the Concord Academy in Massachusetts, an independent boarding school for grades 9-12. The school acted as a college prep school and increased her chances to get into a good college.

College Life :

After graduating from the Concord Academy, she enrolled in Fairfield University, a private Jesuit Catholic university in Fairfield, Connecticut.
She attended the university until she found her career of choice – home design.

Architecture and Design :

After Fairfield University, Kristen moved to New York and began attending the Parsons School of Design, another private school.
She graduated from Parsons, then moved on to focus in architecture at the Arizona State School of Architecture.

Marriage to Richard Branson :

Kristen first met Richard Branson when she was still in school. Branson was working on his flagship publication Student Magazine and was just beginning to launch the Virgin brand.
The young couple soon grew enamoured with each other, and Tomassi moved to the UK to be with him.
Branson, the man who would become Tomassi’s first husband, is well-known today as the head of the Virgin Group, a conglomerate controlling companies like Virgin Mobile, Virgin Radio, Virgin Atlantic & Virgin Galactic.
A school dropout at age 17, Richard became a self-made billionaire through his own ambitions and tenacity & later became one of the UK’s wealthiest men.
Tomassi married Branson in July 1972 when they were very young – She was 20 years old, and he was 21 years old. Rev. Hubert McCann officiated the Anglican ceremony at the Holy Cross Church in Shipton‐on‐Cherwell.

Separation & Divorce :

The couple went strong for a few years, but their relationship became strained with Branson’s busy schedule and Kristen’s restlessness. Neither of them had dated many other people, and they began to feel stifled.
Eventually, the strain led to infidelity on both sides.
In 1974, the couple attempted to patch up their relationship by going on a trip to Cozumel.
There, they hired a deep-sea boat but were caught in a tremendous storm. Together, Tomassi and Branson swam to shore. The boat was never seen again.
Though the couple managed to beat the weather storm, they were unable to survive their marital storm.
Kristen began a relationship with rockstar Kevin Ayers. She eventually ran off with him, and the couple divorced in 1979.
Tomassi went on to have one child with Kevin Ayers, a daughter & continues to live in the UK.