You’ve probably seen her on the sidelines, usually in a sharp blazer, standing where her late husband Tom used to do his famous "Benson Boogie" with a second-line umbrella. But Saints owner Gayle Benson isn't just a placeholder for a legacy. She’s currently the most powerful woman in professional sports, and honestly, the way she got there—and what she plans to do next—is a lot more complicated than the highlight reels suggest.
There is a massive misconception that she’s just a "trustee" of the teams. People talk as if the New Orleans Saints and the Pelicans are just waiting for a new billionaire to swoop in from Silicon Valley or Dubai.
That isn't happening.
Gayle has already locked the doors. She has a plan for these teams that is basically unprecedented in American sports. It’s a plan that involves a total sale, billions of dollars in charity, and a legal "iron curtain" meant to keep the teams in New Orleans forever.
The Algiers Girl Who Didn’t "Do" Football
Gayle Marie LaJaunie didn't grow up in luxury. She was a girl from Old Algiers, a working-class neighborhood across the river from the French Quarter. Before she was a billionaire, she was a receptionist. Then she was a secretary. Eventually, she built a very successful career as an interior designer. She was self-made long before she met Tom Benson.
Their meeting sounds like something out of a movie, or maybe just a very New Orleans story. They met at the St. Louis Cathedral in 2004. Tom was a widower; Gayle was a devout Catholic serving as a lector. When the priest told her Tom wanted to take her to a football game, her response was legendary: "I don't do football."
Four months later, they were married during the Saints' bye week.
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She had to learn the game from scratch. Imagine sitting in a dark room with General Manager Mickey Loomis while he turns off the sound on game film and explains what a "nickel package" is. That was her life in 2004. By the time Tom passed away in 2018, she wasn't just a fan; she was a partner who had been in the room for every major decision, including the hiring of Sean Payton and the signing of Drew Brees.
The Brutal Legal Battle for the Saints
You can't talk about Gayle Benson without talking about the "3Rs." That’s the nickname for Tom’s daughter, Renee, and his grandchildren, Rita and Ryan. For years, they were the heirs apparent. Rita LeBlanc was the public face of the Saints’ front office, and everyone assumed she’d take over.
Then, in 2015, everything exploded.
Tom Benson sent a famously cold letter to his heirs telling them he was cutting them out. He wanted Gayle to own everything. What followed was a nasty, public legal war. The heirs sued, claiming Tom was mentally incompetent and being manipulated by Gayle. They talked about his diet—claiming he was being fed candy and soda—and his memory.
It was ugly.
Ultimately, Tom won. The courts ruled he was "sharp as a tack," and a confidential settlement eventually cleared the way for Gayle to take full control. When Tom died in 2018, she became the first woman to ever own both an NFL and an NBA franchise simultaneously.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Succession Plan
Here is the part where fans get nervous. Gayle is in her late 70s. She doesn't have children. So, what happens to the Saints and Pelicans when she’s gone?
Most owners leave teams to their kids, who eventually sell them to the highest bidder, who then threatens to move the team to a bigger market like London or Las Vegas. Gayle has effectively blocked that move.
The "Benson Legacy" Sale Plan:
- The Sale is Mandatory: Both the Saints and Pelicans will be sold after her death.
- The New Orleans Stipulation: The teams must stay in New Orleans. This is baked into the legal framework of the transition.
- The Profits Go to Charity: This is the kicker. The billions of dollars from the sale won’t go to a family estate. They will go into a foundation dedicated to the people of New Orleans and the Gulf South.
Basically, the teams are being used as a massive endowment for the city. It’s a "community-first" model that we haven't really seen on this scale. If the Saints sell for $5 billion and the Pelicans for $3 billion, that’s $8 billion going back into local healthcare, education, and faith-based initiatives.
Managing Two Teams in Transition
Success on the field has been... let’s say "mixed" lately.
The Saints are in a post-Brees, post-Payton era that feels a bit like treading water. Fans have been vocal about wanting change, especially regarding the coaching staff and the front office. Gayle, however, is famously loyal. She has publicly backed Mickey Loomis, calling the idea of firing him "ridiculous" as recently as late 2025.
Over at the Smoothie King Center, the Pelicans have the "Zion Problem." When he plays, he’s a superstar. When he doesn't, the team feels like it's stuck in the mud. Gayle has dumped money into these franchises—over $180 million just for the Superdome renovations—but she isn't an "meddling" owner. She hires people she trusts and stays out of the way, which is a blessing when things are good and a frustration for fans when things are bad.
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Honestly, her management style is very "old school." She values continuity. She values the "Benson way."
Why Gayle Benson Still Matters in 2026
Her net worth is currently hovering around $7.9 billion, making her one of the wealthiest people in Louisiana. But she still lives in the same city where she grew up. She’s not an absentee owner. You’ll see her at the grocery store or at Mass.
She recently helped land Super Bowl LIX for New Orleans, which was a massive win for the local economy. She’s also pushed the Saints into international markets, specifically France, becoming the first NFL team to lean into that cultural connection.
But it’s the philanthropy that defines her now. Whether it’s $1 million for Bourbon Street tragedy relief or millions for cancer care at Ochsner, she is spending her wealth as fast as the teams can generate it.
Key Assets Under Her Control:
- The New Orleans Saints (NFL)
- The New Orleans Pelicans (NBA)
- GMB Racing: Her thoroughbred horse racing stable.
- Benson Automotive: A massive network of dealerships.
- Faubourg Brewing Co.: (Though the physical brewery has seen changes, the brand remains part of the legacy).
- Real Estate: Significant holdings throughout the Gulf South.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Investors
If you are trying to understand where the Saints are going, stop looking for "new ownership" rumors. They are a waste of time. Gayle is the owner for the duration of her life.
Instead, watch Dennis Lauscha (President) and Mickey Loomis. They are the architects of the transition. If you want to know how the teams will be run for the next decade, look at their track records, not the rumors of a tech mogul buying the team.
The real "next step" for the organization isn't a sale—it's the completion of the Superdome renovations and the stabilization of the Pelicans' roster. Gayle’s goal is to leave these teams as "turnkey" operations: profitable, modern, and deeply embedded in the New Orleans soil.
The teams are safe. The money is spoken for. Now, they just need to start winning again.