Gayle Benson

Gayle Benson is the principal owner of the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans, making her the first woman to serve as majority voting shareholder of both an NFL and NBA franchise. She assumed ownership following the passing of her husband, Tom Benson, in 2018, continuing the family legacy of sports and community leadership in New Orleans.

A native of New Orleans, Benson is a business executive and philanthropist deeply connected to the Gulf South region. Under her leadership, the Saints and Pelicans organizations have expanded community engagement initiatives while maintaining competitive performance in professional sports. She has supported organizational investments in player development, fan experience, and regional economic participation surrounding team operations.

Beyond sports ownership, Benson is widely recognized for her charitable work through the Gayle and Tom Benson Charitable Foundation, which supports education, healthcare access, hunger relief, and youth programs across Louisiana and the surrounding region. Her philanthropy includes contributions to schools, medical institutions, and community food security organizations.

Benson remains a prominent civic and business leader in New Orleans, playing an active role in initiatives supporting the cultural, social, and economic vitality of the Gulf Coast region. Through both sports leadership and philanthropy, she continues to influence the city’s community development and professional sports landscape.