(July 12, 1927-March 15, 2018)
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana
Owned 33 car dealerships
Formed Benson Financial
Owned the New Orleans Saints (1985-2018), New Orleans Pelicans (2012-18) and New Orleans VooDoo (2004-08)
Net Worth: $2.8 billion

He tried to change the Saints’ colors to blue and gold, but gave up in the face of fan opposition.
He received $187 million in state subsidies and other concessions to keep the Saints in New Orleans (2001).
During a period after Hurricane Katrina when he considered moving the Saints to San Antonio, he lunged at a TV news crew filming a fan heckling him and grabbed a camera (October 30, 2005).
His decision to leave his 3rd wife, Gayle in control of the Saints and Pelicans led to an acrimonious lawsuit from his daughter, Renee, and her children, who tried to have him declared mentally incompetent (2015).

He hired general manager Jim Frinks and head coach Jim Mora, who led the Saints to their first winning season in team history.
He was known for his ‘Benson Boogie’ after home victories, performing a second line dance down the field while carrying a black and gold umbrella.
He and his wife were awarded the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, the highest papal honor a Catholic layperson can receive, for their contributions to the Church and Catholic charities (2012).

Credit: C. Fishel

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• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 67]
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• I Died in the City I Was Born In
• I Married in 2004
• I Outlived My Child
• I Own a Sports Team
• I was Estranged From My Child
• I'm a Billionaire
• Look at My Umbrella
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• New Orleans Saints
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