Kathy Finn, author

"Tom Benson: A Billionaire's Journey"

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Remembering Tom Benson
 
      Tom Benson passed away on March 15, 2018 at the age of 91. My biography of Mr. Benson shows him as a driven – at times brutally ambitious – businessman whose extraordinary deal-making skills brought him great wealth and many challenges. The story reveals a plain-spoken man whose inherent toughness enabled him to ignore public criticism and endure personal tragedies as he built his legacy. 
—Kathy Finn

About me
Kathy Finn

THE FIRST AND ONLY TOM BENSON BIOGRAPHY  

My book, Tom Benson: A Billionaire's Journey, is available in New Orleans area bookstores and online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Walmart and other major sites. To order an AUTOGRAPHED copy directly from me, CLICK HERE!

     The book is the story of the New Orleans Saints owner's relentless pursuit of wealth and the triumphs and tragedies he experienced before seeing his family come utterly unglued as he approached 90 years of age.

    I am a longtime New Orleans journalist, editor and business writer, and I approached the writing of this book as any good reporter would, with a goal of telling a complete and interesting story based on facts gathered through many months of research.



Tom Benson: A Billionaire's Journey

What people are saying
New Tom Benson book illustrates controversial, tragedy-filled life of Saints owner
"This is not a fawning portrait. Finn doesn't shy from controversy, and with Benson there is plenty."
                                                                             — Jeff Duncan, The Times-Picayune/Nola.com

Exploring the divide between 'self-made' and 'born rich'
"Finn’s exploration of Tom Benson and his journey is as insightful as it is fascinating because Finn addresses the many mysteries in Benson’s life that have inspired curiosity ..."  
                                                                             —Thayer Willis, author of Wealth Navigator Newsletter

Sizing up Tom Benson ... without his blessing
"Local business writer/journalist Kathy Finn has written an unauthorized biography of New Orleans Saints/Pelicans owner Tom Benson ... What intrigues me most is this book was not written with Benson’s blessing." 
                                                                              —Brian Allee-Walsh, SportsNola.com

Reviews by Amazon.com readers (rated 5 out of 5 stars): 

"GREAT BOOK!"
"You don't have to be a football fan to enjoy this most interesting & very well written book. Like him or not, this is a fascinating rags to riches story. A shrewd, powerful & intriguing character whose life experiences devastating tragedies & soars to ultimate highs. Highly recommend!" —Sharon B.

"GREAT BOOK AND VERY GOOD READING"
"Author writes with very good skills and keeps you interested in next paragraph, I'm looking forward to Ms. Finn's next book." —Joe

"WELL DONE"
"Very well done. Learned a lot of behind the scenes stuff from a bunch of different angles. Would recommend." —Jeremy B. 

"FIVE STARS"
"Kathy Finn did a wonderful job in writing this. A must buy!" —David R.

"FINALLY,  THE FULL STORY"
"This is a great read! Full of revelations not only about Tom Benson and his feuding family, but about how the NFL makes football team owners rich and how owners shake down cities and states where the teams are located. About time somebody wrote this book!" —TC

"THE GOOD JOURNALIST THAT SHE IS ... "
"As Kathy says, this is an 'unauthorized biography.' And it reads that way. The good journalist that she is, Kathy starts with a very neutral title and then moves on to reveal material that is new to even some of the oldest Saints fans, some of which is positive and some of which probably hasn't made Benson very happy. His comment: No comment." —AC

Coverage of my book

New Orleans sports writer Jeff Duncan reviews Kathy's book in The Times-Picayune and Nola.com, Dec. 2, 2016.

Kathy discusses her book on WYES-TV's "Informed Sources," Nov. 18, 2016.

Tom Benson, heirs get more time to settle suit over Saints, Pelicans ownership, BizNewOrleans.com, July 20, 2016

Settlement of Tom Benson lawsuit may leave fans in the dark about Saints ownership, BizNewOrleans.com, July 8, 2016

Tom Benson valued Saints at $1.23B, handed lux condo to heirs, BizNewOrleans.com, June 22, 2016

New Orleans Saints owner ruled competent to own NFL, NBA teams  (Kathy Finn/Reuters)

New Orleans Saints owner's family appeals mental competency ruling  (Kathy Finn/Reuters)

Mercedes-Benz eyes big score with Super Bowl ad  (Kathy Finn/Reuters)


Interview on WWL-TV Morning Show, Dec. 10, 2016

Interview on WRBH-FM, with moderator Sherry Alexander, Dec. 8, 2016.

Interview on "It's Just Sports" with Kristian Garic, WWL-AM/FM, June 26, 2016

Interview with Matt Mascona, "After Further Review," ESPN Radio New Orleans, June 28, 2016

Interview with Robbie Hamilton, "Chasing Foul Balls," K106, McComb, MS, June 29, 2016

Kathy Finn, Susan Larson interview, NPR radio, Tom Benson
NPR radio interview with Susan Larson, on "The Reading Life," Dec. 20, 2016
TV interview on Tom Benson biography, by Kathy Finn, with Mike Hoss, WWL-TV
Interview with Mike Hoss, WWL-TV/WUPL, on Dec. 21, 2016
Kathy Finn, Tom Benson book, Eric Asher radio interview
Interview with Eric Asher, host of Inside New Orleans, on radio WGSO/990, Dec. 21, 2016
Tom Benson, Kathy Finn author, ESPN Radio interview
Interview with ESPN Radio's Matt Moscona, on "After Further Review," Dec. 21, 2016
New Orleans Saints, Tom Benson, Kathy Finn, John Fourcade, Mike Detillier
Appearance on The John Fourcade Show, with Mike Detillier and John, Dec. 22, 2016
Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Kathy Finn
Kathy Finn discusses her book on WWL-TV, Dec. 10, 2016
Saints, Jeff Duncan, Tom Benson, Kathy Finn
Nola.com sports writer Jeff Duncan reviews Kathy's book on Tom Benson, Dec. 4, 2016.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Blogs

NFL aims to shield records in trial over Saints ownership

NEW ORLEANS — The National Football League has weighed in on billionaire Tom Benson’s legal feud with his heirs over ownership of the New Orleans Saints by asking permission to argue in court for sealing sensitive financial records in a trial slated to begin Monday.  Read more.  Feb. 3, 2017


New estimate of Saints' value puts Tom Benson's net worth above $2.7 billion

When editors at Forbes.com on Thursday publicized their annual valuation estimates of National Football League teams and pegged the New Orleans Saints at $1.75 billion, they didn't do Tom Benson any favors.  Read more


Benson Tower, Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints
Benson Tower stands near Mercedes-Benz Superdome

Tom Benson, heirs get more time to settle suit over New Orleans Saints, Pelicans 

A federal judge has given New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson and three of his heirs, who have battled with him over ownership of assets that include his two sports teams, more time to work out details of a settlement that is likely worth more than $1 billion. Read more.


Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints, NFL

Settlement of Tom Benson suit may leave fans in dark about Saints ownership 

Terms of an agreement over who owns the New Orleans Saints could become final within a few weeks, and while the details may remain under wraps, indications are that the $835 million valuation Tom Benson placed on his heirs' interest in the team was not a high enough price to buy them out. Read more.


Tom Benson's condo, San Antonio, New Orleans Saints

Tom Benson valued New Orleans Saints at $1.23 billion, handed luxury condo to his heirs

A veil of secrecy cloaks the recent settlement of disputes over the estate of New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner Tom Benson, but public records indicate that the billionaire and his heirs were far apart in how they valued his teams and that pricey assets such as Benson's San Antonio condominium changed hands even before the battle ended.   


APPEARANCES:

Thurs., Dec. 7 – Kenner North Kiwanis, Doubletree Hotel, Veterans Boulevard, Kenner; 7:30 a.m.

Thurs., Dec. 7 – Northlake-Mandeville Rotary Club, Beau Chene Country Club, 125 Longwood Drive, Mandeville; noon

Wed., Nov. 15 – Metairie Literary Guild, New Orleans Country Club, 11 a.m.

Tues., Nov. 14 – Learning Before Lunch speaker series, Innsbruck Room at University Center, University of New Orleans; 10 a.m.

Mon., Nov. 13 – Scandia House fundraiser, @ Scandia House, 1772 Prytania St., New Orleans; 6 p.m.

Thurs., Nov. 2 – Northshore Mandeville Kiwanis Club, Mandeville Community Center; 7:15 a.m.

Thurs., Nov. 2 – Milton H. Latter Memorial Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans; 6 p.m.

Sat., Oct. 28 – Louisiana Book Festival, Baton Rouge, 10-11 a.m.; State Capitol, House Committee Room 3

Fri., Oct. 13 – Entré Nous Book Club (private), Metairie Country Club

Tues., Sept. 26 – Causeway Branch/St. Tammany Parish Public Library, 4023 Highway 411, Madisonville, La.;  6-7:30 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 27 - Rotary Club of Kenner, Chateau Country Club, 3600 Chateau Blvd., Kenner;  6-7 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 20 – West Jefferson Kiwanis Club, at Tony Mandinas Restaurant, 1915 Pratt St., Gretna, La.; 12 noon.

Sept. 12 – Kiwanis of New Orleans, Lakeview Harbor Restaurant, Harrison Avenue, New Orleans.

Sept. 6 – Kiwanis of Third District, Maple Street Cafe, 7623 Maple St., New Orleans.

Aug. 31 – Kiwanis Club of Algiers, Aurora Tennis & Swim Club, 5244 General Meyer Ave., Algiers.


 
 

Kathy Finn • Author, Tom Benson: A Billionaire's Journey • New Orleans • Contact
Copyright 2017