Gayle Marie LaJaunie Bird Benson was born on January 26,1947 and is an American billionaire, businesswoman and sports franchise owner.
12 Facts About Gayle Benson
2.
Gayle Benson is the first woman to be the majority shareholder of the voting stock in both an NFL and NBA franchise.
3.
Gayle Benson was born Gayle Marie LaJaunie, the daughter of Francis J LaJaunie, and Marie Folse LaJaunie.
4.
Gayle Benson grew up in Algiers, New Orleans, and attended St Joseph, St Anthony and Holy Name of Mary schools.
5.
Gayle Benson graduated from Martin Behrman High School in 1966.
6.
Gayle Benson began her career in receptionist and secretarial positions while doing interior design before buying and renovating businesses with her second husband, Thomas "T-Bird" Bird.
7.
Gayle Benson became the owner of both the Saints and Pelicans following the death of her husband Tom.
8.
Gayle Benson is one of ten female NFL owners, including Sheila Ford Hamp, Kim Pegula, Carol Davis, Denise DeBartolo York, Amy Adams Strunk, Virginia Halas McCaskey, Janice McNair, Jody Allen, and Dee Haslam.
9.
Tom Gayle Benson was determined to be mentally competent and was allowed to change his will to leave ownership of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans to his wife.
10.
The lawsuit claimed that Gayle Benson had treated him with disrespect because of his race.
11.
In July 2017, it was announced that Tom and Gayle Benson had finalized an agreement to buy a majority share of Dixie Brewing Co.
12.
In 2015, the Gayle Benson family gave $20 million for cancer care and research.