Tom Benson's daughter says he moved $25M out of bank hours before succession plan changed

The daughter of New Orleans Saints and New Orleans Pelicans owner Tom Benson, who was recently written out of his succession plan, believes her father is in a state of mental decline.

Renee Benson testified on Jan. 21 that her father recently moved $25 million out of a Central Texas bank that the family has a controlling interest in, an uncharacteristic move for the Louisiana-based billionaire.

"It would be more probable that he would put more money in rather than take it out," Renee told a San Antonio judge. 

Mere hours after Renee's testimony, the 87-year-old patriarch changed his succession plan, giving his wife Gayle Benson controlling interest of his teams in the event he dies. 

It was previously expected that Renee and her children, Rita and Ryan LeBlanc, would take over the NFL and NBA franchises upon Benson's death.

The three would-be heirs filed lawsuits against the elderly businessman as a result. Renee also had a request to freeze assets of a trust overseen by Benson temporarily granted by a probate judge. A decision will be made Wednesday on whether the order will remain in effect permanently.

Benson's daughter said her father's health has deteriorated in recent months. 

"He says, 'I feel terrible, I feel terrible,' " Renee said. "He's practically crying on the phone. He says, 'I need you here, I need you here now, you need to come here.' Emphatically. I mean, you know, shaky voice."

According to Renee's testimony, the Saints' owner is inaccessible and Gayle allegedly screens his calls. 

"If you want to call him, doesn't matter who calls, it could be NFL, the president, the Pope, doesn't matter, they have to call Gayle's cell phone," Renee said. "She controls everyone who talks to him."