Tom Benson
Tom Benson (July 12, 1927 – March 15, 2018) was an American businessman and sports team owner who built his fortune from car dealerships and bank investments before expanding into professional sports.
Benson owned several automobile dealerships in New Orleans and San Antonio and later formed Benson Financial by investing profits in local banks. He sold Benson Financial to Norwest in 1996. In 1985, he bought the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and kept the team in New Orleans, where it eventually won Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. He faced criticism during the 2000s for suggesting a move of the Saints, especially after Hurricane Katrina, but the team remained in Louisiana and flourished.
In 2012, Benson purchased the NBA’s New Orleans Hornets (renamed the Pelicans). He also briefly owned the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League. Beyond sports, Benson supported many Catholic and educational causes, including donations to Loyola University New Orleans, Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Benson was married three times: Shirley Landry (deceased), Grace Marie Trudeau Benson (deceased), and Gayle LaJaunie Bird. He and his wives adopted three children—Robert Carter Benson, Renee Benson, and Jeanne Marie Benson—and later faced a high-profile family dispute over the estate, which was settled in 2017.
At his peak, Forbes estimated his net worth at about $2.8 billion. Tom Benson died in 2018 at the age of 90 in Jefferson, Louisiana.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 19:39 (CET).