2023 · Why did Kristen Tomassi and Branson Divorce? Well, according to Richard Branson's 1998 autobiography, Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way, his first marriage had issues from the start. But Branson was very smitten with his new bride, Kristen Tomassi. Richard and Tommasi tried to make it work.