Majority owner: Tom Benson, 87

Minority owners: Benson announced plans in January to name his wife, Gayle, his successor, and she is listed as a second owner on the team’s website. But former owner/heirs are fighting his decision in court — daughter Renee Benson and grandchildren Rita LeBlanc and Ryan LeBlanc.

Source of wealth: Primarily automobile dealerships and banking. Began his career by working his way up from a bookkeeper at a New Orleans Chevrolet dealership in the 1940s to eventually running, then owning his own Chevrolet dealership in San Antonio, then spawning that into ownership of more than 30 dealerships in the San Antonio and New Orleans areas over the years (according to multiple newspaper reports, including New Orleans Times-Picayune). … Also reportedly bought interest in five San Antonio banks from the 1970s to 1990s, forming Benson Financial Group, which was later sold. Got back into banking business in San Antonio in 2003, and now owns Lone Star Capital Bank there. Currently owns New Orleans Saints, NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, local TV station WVUE FOX 8, Mercedes Benz and Chevrolet dealerships in the New Orleans area and other automobile dealerships in San Antonio, Benson Tower downtown office building in New Orleans among many other real estate holdings.

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