Richard Branson Joan also had a daughter named Clare Sarah, who died when she was four days old in 1979. They were married in 1989 on Necker Island. In 1998, Branson released his autobiography, titled "Losing My Virginity", an international best-seller. Branson was deeply saddened by the disappearance of fellow adventurer Steve Fossett in September 2007; the following month he wrote an article for "Time" magazine, titled "My Friend, Steve Fossett". In 2013, Branson became President of the Old Stoic Society of Stowe School. In March 2015, Branson said that almost all drug use should be decriminalised in the UK, following the
Richard Branson purchase of Brawn GP by Mercedes Benz, Branson invested in an 80% buyout of Manor Grand Prix, with the team being renamed Virgin Racing. In 2010, Virgin Hotels was launched under the Virgin Group. In February 2018, Branson announced the first Virgin hotel would open in Edinburgh. Branson and Tony Fernandes, owner of Air Asia and Lotus F1 Racing, had a bet for the 2010 F1 season where the losing team's boss should work on the winner's airline during a charity flight dressed as a stewardess. Fernandes escaped as the winner of the bet, as Lotus Racing ended tenth in