About Gayle & Tom Benson

The Saints & Pelicans

With the Saints franchise under the guidance of Mr. and Mrs. Benson, the team has reached new heights since 2006, when they entrusted Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis to set the direction for the organization, responding by making important coaching hires and continually supplementing and upgrading the roster through the draft, free agency and trades. Since then, the franchise has reached its highest point of success, posting a 189-136 record, featuring 11 winning seasons, nine playoff berths, seven NFC South division titles, three NFC Championship appearances and the Super Bowl XLIV world championship.

In Mrs. Benson's first seven seasons of ownership, New Orleans has posted five winning campaigns, three consecutive NFC South division titles (2018-20) and reached the 2018 NFC Championship. 15 different Saints players have received a combined 34 Pro Bowl selections and nine separate players over the past seven seasons have received Associated Press All-Pro honors. In 2025, Mrs. Benson and Loomis hired former Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore as head coach, igniting a new era of Saints football. Under Mrs. Benson, Loomis and Moore, the Saints will continue their commitment to building a strong and exciting football team, primed to compete this season and into the future.

Thanks to her leadership, Mrs. Benson contributed $180 million to the five-year, $560 million multi-phase transformation of the Caesars Superdome that made its debut for the 2024 Saints season and Super Bowl LIX, resulting in a world-class stadium with state-of-the-art amenities for the football team and their supportive fans. The Caesars Superdome has been sold out on a season ticket basis for every campaign since 2006, with a waiting list of over 73,000 and 192 consecutive sellouts for contests played at the venue. The team's Ochsner Sports Performance Center completed the construction of a brand-new cafeteria and a complete renovation of the draft room and weight room, further upgrading one of the NFL's top training complexes.

Following in the footsteps of her husband, who played a significant role in the City of New Orleans hosting five Super Bowls during his ownership and wielded extensive influence and respect among fellow NFL owners with a 25-year tenure as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Mrs. Benson has become instrumental with her leadership in important league issues, serving on the Audit, Business Ventures and Hall of Fame Committees, as well as the Social Justice Working Group. She served as a key voice in securing New Orleans' bid to host Super Bowl LIX the 11th time the Crescent City served as a host, tied with Miami for the most Super Bowls by a host city. The economic impact of recent Super Bowls for host cities have surpassed $1 Billion, not to mention the exposure and charitable contributions that the National Football League makes during Super Bowl week that extends for generations. Mrs. Benson remains committed to leading the effort to bring the Super Bowl back to New Orleans.

Immediately upon Mr. and Mrs. Benson's purchase of the former Hornets franchise from the NBA in 2012, construction began on a state-of-the-art basketball practice facility to house the entire organization together, while also rebranding as the Pelicans. Through agreements with the State of Louisiana upon the 2012 purchase, the Smoothie King Center has seen renovations, featuring a new center-hung HD scoreboard, which debuted in 2015, along with several additional fan upgrades. Through this commitment, NBA All-Star Weekend was awarded to New Orleans in 2014 and 2017, making the city one of just seven current NBA markets to host the mid-season event at least three times. In 2025, Mrs. Benson announced the hiring of Joe Dumars as the team's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. With over 30 years of NBA experience as a Hall of Fame player, NBA champion, and respected executive at both the team and league levels, Dumars joins Mrs. Benson to lead a new era of Pelicans basketball, committed to building a winner for years to come.

Active in league affairs, Mrs. Benson serves as a member of the NBA's Labor Relations Committee and was named to the NBA Foundation Board of Directors in 2020. As a board member, she is constantly an advocate for the city of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. Since her 2020 addition, distributions by the foundation have benefited numerous deserving New Orleans nonprofits.

Giving Back

Community investment and giving back have been hallmarks of Mr. and Mrs. Benson's ownership of the Saints and Pelicans. This tradition continues under Mrs. Benson's stewardship, sharing her late husband's vision and passion for helping others. She has further enriched the New Orleans community through her support to causes in the health and wellness, cancer care, education, arts and faith-based sectors.

As dedicated corporate citizens, the Saints and Pelicans annually put millions of dollars back into the community in financial support, in-kind donations, charitable appearances and donations of goods and services. Mrs. Benson's philanthropic leadership has been recognized far and wide since becoming Owner.

Mrs. Benson has always quickly responded and taken action to conditions that affect the local community adversely. Following the 2025 New Year's Day tragedy on Bourbon Street, funds were immediately used by the Greater New Orleans Foundation from a $1.25 Million donation over the summer to the foundation's "Gayle and Tom Benson Disaster Relief Fund" to support the victims and their families by providing each affected family the necessary resources and vital assistance needed. Following the terrorist attack, Mrs. Benson, the NFL Foundation and Ochsner Health immediately answered the call, collaborating on a $1.5 Million donation to further support the community's relief efforts for the victims.

With the COVID-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida providing multiple challenges to the New Orleans area and its citizens over a two-year period from 2020-21, Mrs. Benson donated over $2 million, partnering with the Greater New Orleans Foundation to assist local organizations and individuals in need to help the region and its residents recover from difficult circumstances. In 2020, utilizing the platform of the Saints and Pelicans to harness the unifying power of sport to advance race relations across both the Gulf South and the country, she formed the Social Justice Leadership Alliance to advocate for issues of change in minority communities.

In 2014, Mrs. Benson was honored by the New Orleans Council for Community and Justice with its Weiss Award, recognizing achievement for exceptional civic and humanitarian contributions. In 2015, the couple were honored by the regional chapter of the Anti-Defamation League with the A.I. Botnick Torch of Liberty Award. In 2018, she and Mr. Benson (posthumously) were honored by two of the city's leading higher education institutions. They received a Dermot McGlinchey Lifetime Achievement Award from Tulane University, honoring those who have demonstrated service, volunteer involvement and commitment to Tulane and their hometown communities and were inducted into the University of New Orleans' Hall of Distinction.

In 2019, Mrs. Benson received several important honors. She was honored by Xavier University of Louisiana with the Sister Maris Stella "Women of Faith" Award and was recognized by the UNCF with the group's MASKED Award for her support of educational opportunities for all. Additionally, Mrs. Benson was honored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame with its Distinguished American Award. The National World War II Museum selected her as an American Spirit Medallion recipient. The Greater New Orleans Foundation also honored Mrs. Benson with the organization's Spark Plug Award, given to an individual whose philanthropy in the greater New Orleans community has been exemplary.

In 2021, Mrs. Benson was presented by the University of Holy Cross with its Spes Unica Award, the educational institution's highest honor, based on her support of the university's mission to educate the mind and heart. She was the Times-Picayune's 2021 Loving Cup award winner, an honor which has been presented since 1901 to men and women who have performed exemplary service to the community without expecting material recognition.

In 2022, Mrs. Benson was recognized by the local charity, Clover, as a co-recipient of the Reverend Beverley Warner Ward, for her extensive work with the non-profit whose mission is to educate children, strengthen families and build community. Mrs. Benson was honored by the American Cancer Society's Louisiana Chapter with their 2022 Heart & Soul Award for her constant support in the fight against cancer through the services provided to cancer patients, families and caregivers at Ochsner's Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. She was also recognized by the Southeast Louisiana Council, Boy Scouts of America with their 2022 "Distinguished Citizen" Award.

In 2023, Mrs. Benson was honored as a "Louisiana Legend" by Louisiana Public Broadcasting for distinguishing herself in the sports field and through her philanthropy. Realizing the need for the commitment to people with disabilities by her sports organizations and business ventures, whether enhancing their fan experience or providing employment opportunities/support, she was selected for the 2023 Human Highlight Never Moment Award by the KultureCity organization. With Mrs. Benson's encouragement, the Saints became a founding partner of the HBCU Legacy Bowl all-star game held in New Orleans, establishing financial support for the contest and its week of events, which includes hosting a scouting combine for participants at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center and a career fair for both players and HBCU students. The career fair attracts over 100 regional and national employers to help provide opportunities and networking for HBCU students. In recognition of her support of the events, Mrs. Benson received the 2023 Black College Football Hall of Fame Founders Award. Mrs. Benson was also inducted into the Louisiana Center for Women in Government & Business (LCWGB) Hall of Fame alongside former Louisiana first lady, Donna Edwards. Mrs. Benson also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the LCWGB, which recognized her remarkable achievements in business and her unwavering generosity toward various causes across the state of Louisiana.

In 2024, at Washington Mardi Gras, Mrs. Benson received the Humanitarian of the Century Award from U.S. Senator John Kennedy, which recognized her continuous philanthropic efforts throughout New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, and the Gulf South region. In November, Mr. and Mrs. Benson were inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Hall of Fame for their instrumental work in leading the efforts with the Sports Foundation to bring five Super Bowls, four NCAA Men's Final Fours, three NBA All-Star Games, and several other major sporting events to New Orleans. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance, introducing Mrs. Benson with the honor.

In addition to serving on the boards of several local educational institutions and the New Orleans Museum of Art, Mrs. Benson is also a member of the Audubon Commission, which oversees the Audubon Nature Institute.

Mrs. Benson has been a longtime trusted and valued member of the local Catholic community, reflecting her deep religious faith. She has worked tirelessly with the Archdiocese of New Orleans' Catholic Charities organization and its umbrella agencies that feature almost 50 programs and three affiliated ministries. These organizations deliver health and human services to those in need in the eight Southeast Louisiana parishes, which the Archdiocese serves, as well as food and nutrition services throughout the state. Mrs. Benson has worked closely with St. Louis Cathedral's Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program. She also serves on the Board for the Friends of Notre Dame de Paris, which serves as the official the official charity leading the international fundraising efforts to rebuild and restore Notre-Dame Cathedral. Currently, she is in the midst of leading an unprecedented effort to repair and restore the St. Louis Cathedral with the Our City, Our Cathedral campaign, which aims to restore the city's most iconic building after suffering from nearly two centuries of wear and tear, water damage and settling.

Mrs. Benson's support of the Catholic Church has been recognized numerous times locally, nationally and on an international level. In 2002, she received the Medal of the Order of St. Louis Award for dedication to the Church. In 2010, she became an Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate and in recognition of longstanding support of Catholic education, Mr. and Mrs. Benson received the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). In 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Benson received from Pope Benedict XVI the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award, which recognizes outstanding service to the Church and the Pontiff, the highest Papal award granted to a lay person. She holds a leadership role after being inducted as Dame Commander with Star in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and is a commander of the Order of St. Lazarus, a confraternity of Christian faithful who profess their commitment to Jesus Christ.

In February 2024, she was recognized by FADICA, the leading Catholic philanthropic network of foundations and donors supporting Catholic activities and initiatives, with the Mary Magdalene Medal of Service, which recognizes someone who shares their time, talent and treasure with the Church. She was also the recipient of the Catholic Community Foundation's 2024 St. John Paul II Award, a prestigious honor presented by the Archbishop and the foundation to an outstanding Catholic layperson who exhibits unwavering faith, inspirational generosity, and a deep commitment to the New Orleans community. In December, Mrs. Benson was also honored by the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), a papal agency for humanitarian and pastoral support, at their annual "Healing & Hope Gala" in New York City with its Faith & Culture Award, annually given to a prominent advocate for the presence of faith in culture.

Early Life & Career

Mrs. Benson began her professional career in 1968 as a manager for a noted New York-based jeweler. She was responsible for overseeing and managing the daily operation of over 40 sales associates. She then branched out into real estate development, which allowed her to successfully integrate her passion for interior design with property management. Her first real estate transaction occurred in 1978 when she purchased a home in New Orleans's Irish Channel and then sold the property eight months later after extensive restoration. She would go on to purchase, manage and eventually sell numerous properties, primarily in the city's Uptown district.

In 1975, Mrs. Benson began a 30-year design industry career where she achieved tremendous success. Throughout the course of her interior design career, she was recognized with numerous professional awards and served as an inaugural member on the Louisiana State Board of Licensing for Interior Designers for four years. She directed numerous major design efforts with her clients, including the Caesars Superdome (formerly Louisiana Superdome and Mercedes-Benz Superdome), several of the city's most prestigious hotels, local supermarket chains, automobile dealerships, yachts and many others.

In 2000, Mrs. Benson worked with the Superdome on renovations to the iconic New Orleans landmark's third and fourth level public spaces, in addition to renovations on select suites. She also owned and developed a commercial real estate building on the corner of Laura and Octavia Streets, a women's clothing private enterprise called "Toujours la Ligne" and a designer's showroom called "Designers Resource" which served as a wholesale location for designers and architects seeking to purchase fabric, wall coverings and accessories. The Men of Fashion Committee recognized Mrs. Benson as one of the "Ten Best Dressed Women in New Orleans" in 1983.

In addition to her ownership of the Saints and Pelicans, Mrs. Benson established GMB Racing Stables in 2014 with an initial purchase of seven colts and hiring three veteran trainers, all with Louisiana ties. In 2016, two of the thoroughbreds, Mo Tom and Tom's Ready, participated in the Kentucky Derby. Another thoroughbred, Lone Sailor, ran in the 2018 Kentucky Derby and Preakness. She owns Benson Farm in Paris, Ky., a 1,000-acre farm with nearly 50 horses. As part of her passion for horse racing, she is a member of the esteemed Jockey Club of New York. Mrs. Benson also serves as Owner of seven automotive dealerships (Best Chevrolet, Cadillac of New Orleans, Mercedes-Benz of New Orleans, Mercedes-Benz Van Center, Mercedes-Benz of South Mississippi, Porsche New Orleans, Volkswagen of South Mississippi, Infiniti of South Mississippi), three premier collision centers across Mississippi and Louisiana, Benson Tower, Benson Capital Partners, Corporate Realty and is also a co-owner of the Hyatt Regency New Orleans.

Mrs. Benson was born in New Orleans and grew up in the Old Algiers section of the city. She began her education in Catholic schools and in 1966 graduated from Martin Behrman High School in Algiers. She received a Doctorate of Letters from Notre Dame Seminary in 2014. Serving as keynote speaker at their respective commencement ceremonies, Mrs. Benson has been awarded honorary degrees from University of Holy Cross (2015), Southern University of New Orleans (2021), Delgado Community College (2022) and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Loyola University New Orleans (2019).

Mr. and Mrs. Benson married on October 29, 2004 at the Immaculate Conception Memorial Chapel.

The Saints & Pelicans

In May of 1985, after learning that the Saints were on the verge of being sold to groups interested in relocating the team, he made the decision to buy the club. Unsurprisingly, success soon followed as the Saints entered the most compelling and memorable period in franchise history.

In 1986, in one of his first moves as Owner, Mr. Benson hired Jim Finks as president/general manager and Jim Mora as head coach. The following year, the Saints broke through with a 12-3 record and hosted their first playoff contest. In its first 18 seasons of existence, the Saints won a total of 78 games. Under Benson's guidance, the franchise exceeded that win total in only nine years.

The Saints reached even greater heights in 2006, when he entrusted Executive Vice-President/General Manager Mickey Loomis to hire Sean Payton as head coach and sign free agent quarterback Drew Brees. Since those moves, the franchise has reached its highest point of success, posting a 119-85 overall record capped by the Super Bowl XLIV Championship.

Mr. Benson purchased the Hornets franchise in 2012 and rebranded them as the Pelicans. His goal with the team was the same as it was with the Saints: to produce a team that will compete for championships every year, while making a significant positive impact off-the-court in the community. After Mr. Benson inherited a team that finished with the worst record in the NBA's Western Conference in 2011-12, the Pelicans have become a stable and successful organization, reaching the playoffs for the second time in 2018 since the purchase of the club, advancing to the second round.

Since Mr. Benson first purchased the Saints in 1985, the city has hosted five Super Bowls. With the 2013 game in New Orleans bringing $480 million into the city, his efforts to secure the events have resulted in major economic boosts for the city. Mr. Benson also worked to get New Orleans to host the NBA All-Star Weekend. The city hosted in 2014 and 2017 with his lobbying playing a significant role. The most recent All-Star Weekend brought approximately $45 million in spending to Louisiana.

The renovated Benson Tower has served as a boon to the area. Neighboring “Champions Square”, which made its debut in 2010, is also being developed and enhanced into a world-class sports and entertainment destination. This economic investment plan has revitalized the Superdome area.

After a dramatic modernization of the stadium in 2011, the Bensons and Saints organization reached a ten-year agreement with Mercedes-Benz USA to rename the facility the “Mercedes-Benz Superdome.” The stadium upgrades help ensure the areas ability to host elite events including Super Bowl XLVII, the 2012 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship and the upcoming 2022 Final Four, two College Football Playoff semifinal contests and the CFP championship game.

Mr. Benson's contributions in the sports, business and charitable arenas were recognized by several honors, including his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame (2014), the Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame (New Orleans Chapter-2013), the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame (2012), the San Antonio Business Hall of Fame (2011) and the Texas Business Hall of Fame (2007).

Immediately after the storm, the Bensons established the Saints Hurricane Katrina Fund, which raised over one million dollars for region's recovery. The team was among the first major businesses to return to New Orleans, and in 2006 had a thrilling season where they reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time, becoming an inspiration for a region on the mend. In 2010, the club established the Saints Gulf Coast Renewal Fund, which raised over $1.5 million through the raffle of a Super Bowl ring.

Over one million dollars has been distributed to charities that helped the region recover from disasters like the 2010 oil spill and Hurricane Isaac.

Personal Life

Community involvement and giving back was the hallmark of Mr. Benson's career as a local business leader and Owner of the Saints and Pelicans. As products of local schools, Mr. and Mrs. Benson established the Brother Nicholas, S.C. Building Endowment in 2012 to support Brother Martin High School. In 2010, contributed to the creation of the Jesuit Social Research Institute in 2008 and he helped fund the first phase of construction of a chemistry wing in 1999. In 2010, Mr. Benson was honored by Loyola with the school's Integritas Vitae Award, the institution's highest honor, annually presented to an individual who exemplifies the qualities Loyola seeks to instill in its students. Mr. and Mrs. Benson also supported numerous local high schools and colleges with generous gifts. In supporting Tulane University's construction of an on-campus stadium, the Green Wave started playing on “Benson Field” in 2014.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson also made several significant gifts to higher education in San Antonio, Texas. They funded the building of a football stadium located on the University of Incarnate Word Campus, known as Gayle and Tom Benson Field and Benson Fieldhouse, which also services the school's teams. The football squad took to the field for the first time in 2009 and continues to grow. Mr. Benson was inducted into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Benson also established an endowment fund at Central Catholic High School in San Antonio that is dedicated to the memory of the late Robert Carter Benson, who graduated from the school in 1962, and donated the school's “Benson Memorial Library.”

Mr. Benson was a longtime trusted and valued member of the local Catholic community and his and Mrs. Benson's support of the Church were recognized. For his humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors that have positively affected the lives of so many individuals and groups, Mr. Benson was honored in 2012 by the Catholic Church with an Oblate Doctor of Humane Letters certificate that honors his “realities of the most noble of human endeavors, weighted by criteria arising from the deepest human values.” The certificate also honors “excellence in the area of life where excellence makes the most difference,” and further cites his “attributes and accomplishments that come closest to what God would be interested in honoring.” In 2012, Mr. and Mrs. Benson received from Pope Benedict XVI the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice award—for outstanding service to the Church and the Pontiff, the highest Papal award granted to a lay person.

Mr. and Mrs. Benson also displayed their commitment to the health and wellness of the local community with a significant gift establishing the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center on the main campus of Ochsner Medical Center. The center was built and has since been upgraded following multiple gifts to the area's leading health service network of hospitals and clinics. Supporting the efforts of former Saints safety Steve Gleason and his Team Gleason organization which helps provide people with ALS and other debilitating conditions and environment where they can live vital and productive lives with meaningful freedom and independence, Mr. and Mrs. Benson donated five million dollars in 2014 to the Team Gleason House for Innovative Living at the New Orleans St. Margaret's facility.

As a veteran of the U.S, Navy, Mr. Benson was the only enlisted man to serve on the Board of Trustees of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fl. and was honored with an award from the crew of the submarine U.S.S. Louisiana. In 2007, Mr. Benson was honored by the U.S. Navy Memorial with the Lone Sailor Award, presented to those who exemplify the core values of honor, courage and commitment. In 2009, Benson was presented with the U.S. Army's “Army Strong” Award in recognition for his position in the community while demonstrating leadership and Army Values on a daily basis. A leading advocate for the National World War II Memorial in Washington D.C., Mr. Benson was also a major contributor and past director of The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, with his pledges helping fund both the Pacific Exhibit Grand Opening and the Midway Theater. In 2011, he was among five NFL owners honored with an American Spirit Award by the museum for his service in the war.