Later in 2018, Gayle decided to partner with Dixie brewing company so as to come up with a distribution point in New Orleans east. She has been married three times. By generating more than $16 billion in revenue in the 2019-2020 season, professional football is seen to be a significant business. The arbitrator ruled against Henry on the claims of racism. [34][33] On August 7, 2018, Benson announced, with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, that Dixie Brewery would open a distribution center at the old MacFrugal's Distribution Center in New Orleans East. LajaunieJa and Brenda .M.Lajaunie. She got the name ‘Benson’from her late husband Tom Benson and become the immediate legal owner of her late husband’s sports franchise called New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) and the New Orleans Pelican of the National Basketball Association (NBA). NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson was the victim of an attempted auto theft Saturday afternoon, according to team … About her education: she went to St Joseph, St Anthony, and later went to Holy Name of Mary schools. [7], She was born Gayle Marie LaJaunie, the daughter of Francis J. LaJaunie (January 5, 1924 – July 18, 2010), and Marie Folse LaJaunie (1924-May 30, 2010). New Orleans, LA 70130 919 St. Charles Avenue, Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird, nearly 20 years younger than her husband, met Tom Benson shortly after his second wife, Grace Marie Trudeau Benson, died … [6][18], On December 27, 2014, Tom Benson wrote an e-mail to his daughter and two grandchildren stating he wanted "no further contact with any of you." It’s speculated that Gayle Benson is amongst the female owners of the National football league (NFL). In November 2012 Gayle Benson and her husband, Tom, donated $7.5 million towards the construction of Tulane University's Yulman Stadium. Their marriage wants for five years. The Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) launched the Louisiana Service and Hospitality Family Assistance Program, an initiative to support negatively impacted Louisiana service … [3], Gayle's third marriage was to Tom Benson, who she was married to until his death in 2018. She is an independent lady and very kind: that she does not only strive into building herself but as seen in so many instances, she is seen giving back to the community, which is a recommendable act. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics Partners. As much as she has acquired her other wealth from her late husband, but also she is running her own businesses, which is a positive thing that we learn from her. The lawsuit claimed that Gayle Benson had treated him with disrespect because of his race. She advanced her education at Martin Behman High school. This program is launched in partnership with the Louisiana Restaurant Association which will be promoting the initiative alongside its ongoing advocacy for the region’s restaurants and workers. Gayle started quite at ama lower level. She was first married to Have Anthony Salomone (in 1967). We use cookies to analyze our traffic. In addition, she is a successful business lady who ventured into interior business-related activities. This has highly contributed to her current net worth and has made her be listed among the billionaires in her generation. As mentioned earlier, Gayle has her personal interior design company, together with the sports franchise activities. Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird Benson (born January 26, 1947) is an American billionaire, businesswoman and sports franchise owner. Reference: Family Assistance Fund. The program is the first initiative to launch with resources contributed by Mrs. Gayle Benson through the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund at GNOF. [30][31][32], In July 2017, it was announced that Tom and Gayle Benson had finalized an agreement to buy a majority share of Dixie Brewing Co.[33] The company's brewery plant had been damaged and closed after Hurricane Katrina. Her height is 1.70m tall, and her weight is 67 kg. [44][45][46], While married, Gayle and Tom Benson funded the construction of the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, which opened on campus on September 1, 2008. Tom Benson is the owner of the National Football League's New Orleans Saints and the National Basketball Association's New Orleans Pelicans. She got the name ‘Benson’from her late husband Tom Benson and become the immediate legal owner of her late husband’s sports franchise called New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) and the New Orleans Pelican of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Her first marriage was to Nace Anthony Salomone, on April 8, 1967, which ended in a divorce and annulment in 1972. The richest person in every state, the significant source of her wealth us pro sports teams. Benson became wealthy by investing profits from his … [4][5][6], Benson is the first woman to be the majority shareholder of the voting stock in both an NFL and NBA franchise. [17], Tom Benson had planned on bequeathing the voting stock shares of the New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans to his daughter Renee Benson, grandson Ryan Benson LeBlanc, and granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc. Greater New Orleans Foundation Service and Hospitality Family Assistance Program was made possible with leadership gifts from Mrs. Gayle Benson and the McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco® brand pepper sauce. It seems Gayle lives some private life since its not surely known when she has kids of her own. So these were amongst the allegations made to challenge his decisions, which were said that he made out of his mental competency. [38][39][40] They married on October 29, 2004, in San Antonio. ", "Gayle and Tom Benson renew their wedding vows in celebration of their 10th anniversary", "Ten Years Later, Saints Owners Tom and Gayle Benson say "I Do" Again", "Tom and Gayle Benson receive highest papal honor for their generosity to Catholic Church", "Tom Benson, Tycoon Who Danced With His Saints, Dies at 90", "Tulane names new football venue Yulman Stadium", Tulane's field to be named for Benson – San Antonio Express-News, "Tulane stadium, field, club seats to honor donors", "Gayle and Tom Benson Give $20 Million for Cancer Care, Research", "Benson family donates historic $20 million to Ochsner Cancer Institute", "Gayle Benson to donate $5 million to Jesuit High – the largest gift in school history", "Gayle Benson donates $3.5 million to Second Harvest Food Bank", "Gayle & Tom Benson Charitable Foundation makes $1 million gift to Children's of Mississippi", "Judge considers Tom Benson trust change jurisdiction", "Tom Benson family feud: Saints, Pelicans ownership struggle focus of hearing", "In court, Pelicans owner claims family members 'tried to kill' him", "Trial for Tom Benson's Saints, Pelicans ownership dispute moved to February", "Benson and his heirs reach settlement in contentious ownership battle", "Tom Benson settles Saints, Pelicans ownership dispute", "Spurned daughter, grandchildren sue Saints owner for writing them out of will", "Report: TX judge freezes large chunk of Benson assets", "Tom Benson deserves better than this squabble", "Prenuptial agreement wouldn't keep Gayle Benson from taking over Saints, Pelicans, expert says", "Saints' Owner Marches Out of Step With His Heirs' Expectations", Temporary home venues in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina, Majority team owners in the National Basketball Association, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gayle_Benson&oldid=985618741, Women National Football League executives, Short description is different from Wikidata, BLP articles lacking sources from May 2018, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Articles with multiple maintenance issues, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 26 October 2020, at 23:24. Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird Benson widely recognized as Gayle Benson is an American businesswoman and sports franchise owner. She then met Tom Benson in 2004 and got married until March 2018 when Tom Benson passed on. Gayle is an amazing woman that has done quite a lot in building her name. The fracture in the Benson family went public in late 2014 when a letter Benson sent to his heirs revealed their was growing tension between them and Gayle, whom he wed in 2004. She graduated from Martin Behrman High School in 1966. As of November 2020, She is estimated to have a net worth of $4 billion. Gayle Benson was named his heir. They met at St. Louis Cathedral,while Gayle was participating at a mass. Five hundred thousand dollars from the Gayle Benson Community Assistance Fund and $100,000 in newly contributed money from McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce, will be the catalysts to kick this program off with an initial $600,000 in funding. Following the death of her husband, Tom Benson, she became principal owner of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) and the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 2018. [19][20], Tom Benson's daughter and grandchildren filed lawsuits challenging his decision to name Gayle his heir, questioning his mental competency. [21][22][23], Tom Benson was determined to be mentally competent and was allowed to change his estate and leave wife ownership of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans. Maybe you know about Gayle Benson very well, but do you know how old and tall is she and what is her net worth in 2020? Her support of the establishment was recognized in 2008, when the campus named its new football stadium (which had been funded by the Benson family) “the Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium”. Currently, Gayle Benson is a widow. The playing surface is known as Benson Field. Copyright © 2020 Greater New Orleans Foundation. Benson is a generous contributor to the University of the Incarnate Word, a private catholic school in Texas. [54][55], In February 2019 the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Trust donated $5 million to Jesuit High School. She then worked in a jewelry company that was well known as a manager. Gayle grew up alongside two other siblings, namely: Wayne .J. Following their divorce, Benson continued an interior decorating business called Gayle Bird Interiors, Ltd.[10][13], In the first ten years, Gayle and her then-husband Thomas Bird, renovated one hundred properties. She grew up in Algiers, New Orleans. [41][42][43], On October 22, 2014, Gayle Benson and her husband commemorated their tenth anniversary by renewing their wedding vows at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. They later divorced after Ten years of marriage. If you do not know, we have prepared this article about details of Gayle Benson’s short biography-wiki, career, professional life, personal life, today’s net worth, age, height, weight, and more facts. [27][28][29] An NFL arbitrator ruled in favor of Henry and against the Saints on the labor complaint, awarding him overtime pay, a contractual payout for his dismissal, and attorney's fees. [47][48], In January 2012, Benson and her husband were awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice for their service to Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI.