ORLANDO, Fla. – David Siegel, the founder of Westgate Resorts, was a husband, father, and the man behind a vast business empire.

However, at home, he was simply David—a man who cherished his wife and eight kids,  and kept a watchful eye on the electric bill.

“He said if you love me, you’ll turn out the lights. ‘But honey, I love ambiance, but now I’m seeing the electric bill… oh my god, kids, turn out the lights,‘” Jackie Siegel recalled with a smile.

Jackie shared that David was a family man who fought multiple myeloma. Despite his illness, he prioritized family experiences. Jackie said in 2024, the family received the devastating news that David likely would not live until Thanksgiving.

“All of a sudden on Christmas Day, he said, ‘I want to take them to Park City to go on a ski trip and Las Vegas,’ and we did,” she said.

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David battled cancer for five years, but this did not deter the family’s mission to combat the opioid epidemic.

“He devoted the last ten years of his life to saving lives,” Jackie said.

The Siegel family faced tragedy in 2015 when their daughter Victoria died of a fentanyl overdose. Victoria’s death fueled their commitment to putting Narcan in the hands of law enforcement. Together, they established the Victoria’s Voice Foundation to fight the opioid crisis.

“I’m going to carry on his legacy. This is what he wanted me to do,” Jackie said.

Jackie also plans to expand their legacy to include advocating for cancer research. She intends to use the lessons learned during David’s battle to assist other families facing similar challenges. 

“He really energized our family, and he wants me to use Versailles to raise awareness and save lives,” she said.

Versailles, the mansion the Siegels have been building since the early 2000s, is nearly finished. 

“We took him there a few weeks ago, and he was so impressed. I was getting it ready for his 90th birthday. It was like his dream come true. And to see now that our oldest sons helped complete it,” Jackie said.

In November, the Broadway show “The Queen of Versailles” will open, and Jackie expressed her gratitude that David and Victoria’s stories will continue to reach new audiences through the production.

Jackie is also planning a celebration of life for David on Friday and will post details on her Instagram, “Queen of Versailles.”

Instead of flowers, the family requests donations to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation to continue their mission of saving lives.

For anyone interested in learning more about their battle against the opioid epidemic, Jackie encourages visiting their YouTube channel and watching “The Princess of Versailles,” which highlights their journey and advocacy efforts.

Jackie is turning her pain into purpose, emphasizing that the time to start is now. 

“And now he’s my guardian angel. He’s going to make sure we save lives. He’s not going to let me rest… gotta get to work now,” she said.