Posted on 03/15/2018 3:03:51 PM PDT by BBell
The likely contentious question over who will inherit Tom Benson's estimated $3 billion fortune -- including the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans, his most high-profile and publicly beloved assets -- will be a key issue in the wake of Benson's death at the age of 90.
Benson, who died Thursday (March 15), had said he intended to leave the teams to his wife, Gayle Benson.
But a long-running family fight over Benson's empire, including the Saints and Pelicans, could reignite in the settling of his estate in court in New Orleans. Details of how Benson decided to pass on his estate, and whether his estranged heirs would challenge the validity of his will, have yet come to light.
The uncertainty goes back to a surprise announcement Benson made in January 2015. Then 87, Benson said he had disowned his granddaughter Rita LeBlanc -- the heir-apparent to the Saints who had been groomed since childhood to one day lead the team -- along with her brother Ryan LeBlanc and their mother Renee Benson, Tom Benson's only surviving child.
Benson said in cutting ties with his would-be heirs, he was instead leaving his teams, auto dealerships, real estate and bank holdings to his third wife, Gayle Benson, whom he married in 2004. Benson said the switch was intended to "ensure the long-term stability and success" of the sports franchises and his other interests.
Documents later revealed in court included a 149-word letter Benson had sent to Renee, Rita and Ryan, stating that since he married Gayle, they had become "offensive" and "did not act in an appropriate manner," creating an unpleasant family and causing him "heartbreak."
Renee, Rita and Ryan - the "Three R's" as some people called them - responded by filing a lawsuit in Civil District Court in New Orleans claiming
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Musta been a lousy husband and father. He gets the final laugh but I’m sure his kid/grandchildren are doing alright. It reminds me that one should be able legally to divorce family members. Save a lot of drama while one is of ‘sound’ mind and body.
Uncle Schumer, I mean Sam, is licking his chops at the estate taxes.
This is what happened to Joe Robby who owned the Dolphins. The estate couldn’t afford the estate taxes and were forced to sell the team that he had owned since day 1.
You need photos in these type stories. Especially of the second or last wife. Photos of the kin can be helpful. To see if the kids are meth heads, degenerates, or both. Sorry to be so cynical.
It won’t change my retirement pay, so I don’t care.
Until a few years ago, one could only disown children in Louisiana if they either 1)physically attacked you, or 2) failed to ransom you from pirates - forced heirship. Now the protection generally ends when the child reaches a certain age.
His 67 year old wife looks normal. I expected a 20 something blonde trophy wife with plastic boobs when I started to read this post.
“This is what happened to Joe Robby”
My memory is rusty but didn’t something similar also happen with the Redskins following Jack Kent Cooke’s death?
Thanks for posting that link.
I posted below a key sentence. Benson’s kids are already filthy rich thanks to their Dad. So it’s not like he never gave them anything. We don’t know what all went down between Benson and his children. Family matters are never easy when you are on your 3rd wife.
“He (Benson) also says they have received ‘hundreds of millions dollars’ from his already, and he is just stopping their future investment in his companies. “
Yep.
5.56mm
I agree. His last wife looks on the level.
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