TOM Benson went from hosting car shows to building a successful NFL franchise.
The self-made billionaire bought the New Orleans Saints in 1985, leading the franchise to win a Super Bowl two decades later and now worth billions.
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Benson owned over 20 auto dealerships in New Orleans and San Antonio, Texas.
He earned his fortune investing in auto dealerships and banks before buying New Orleans' NFL team in 1985.
Benson led the investment group that purchased the Saints for $70million.
At the time, the Saints were a lousy football team — the franchise had never had a winning record since joining in 1967 and was in jeopardy of being moved out of New Orleans.
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When he purchased the team, Benson expressed that he understood the Saints' impact on the community and wanted them to stay.
"Even though I wasn't a rabid football fan, I thought it would be a terrible blow to the city to lose the Saints," he said.
"I saw it as an opportunity to do something for my hometown, where I got my start."
The Saints would make the playoffs for the first time two years later and made the postseason several times after.
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Hurricane Katrina devastated the region in 2005 the team to move their home games out of New Orleans.
The Saints played in Baton Rouge, San Antonio, and New Jersey.
He considered moving the team permanently to San Antonio after, but it was met with backlash.
Benson decided to keep the team in New Orleans after getting the stadium renovated.
The team won their first NFL Super Bowl in 2010, defeating the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning.
Benson would go on to purchase an NBA team in 2012.
He bought the New Orleans Hornets for $338million and changed the name to the Pelicans.
Benson died in 2019 at the age of 90. The New Orleans Saints are now worth $3.5billion, and the Pelicans are worth $1.63billion
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