Gayle Marie LaJaunie was born the daughter of Francis J. LaJaunie (January 5, 1924 – July 18, 2010) and Marie Folse LaJaunie (May 30, 2010).[6][7] She grew up in Algiers, New Orleans, and went to St. Joseph, St. Anthony, and Holy Name of Mary schools. She graduated from Martin Behrman High School in 1966.
Benson began her career as a receptionist and secretary while also studying interior design, before buying and remodeling businesses with her second husband, Thomas “T-Bird” Bird. Following their divorce, Benson continued to operate Gayle Bird Interiors, Ltd., an interior decorating business.[8][11] Gayle and her then-husband Thomas Bird renovated 100 residences throughout the first ten years.
Benson took over ownership of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans after her husband Tom passed away.[14] Benson is one of ten female NFL owners, including Sheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions), Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills), Carol Davis (Oakland Raiders), Denise DeBartolo York (San Francisco 49ers), Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans), Virginia Halas McCaskey (Chicago Bears), Janice McNair (Houston Texans), Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks), and Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns).
Benson and Allen (Portland Trail Blazers) are two of five female NBA owners, joining Jeanie Buss (Los Angeles Lakers), Miriam Adelson (Dallas Mavericks), and Ann Walton Kroenke (Denver Nuggets). Tom Benson had planned to leave the voting stock shares of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans to his daughter Renee Benson, grandson Ryan Benson LeBlanc, and granddaughter Rita Benson LeBlanc.
On December 27, 2014, Tom Benson sent an e-mail to his daughter and two grandsons requesting “no further contact with any of you.” Gayle Benson was selected as his heir.[17][18] Tom Benson’s daughter and grandkids filed lawsuits challenging his decision to select Gayle as his heir, disputing his mental capacity.[19][20][21] Tom Benson was declared to be mentally competent and was permitted to modify his will to give ownership of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans to his wife.
