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David Siegel, the founder of Westgate Resorts, died on April 5, 2025, at the age of 89. He was an American businessman, CEO of CFI Resorts Management Inc, and Central Florida Investments Inc with business ventures in real estate, construction, hospitality, and more. Siegel was also an advocate against drug abuse after his 18-year-old daughter, Victoria, died of a drug overdose in 2015. He founded the Victoria's Voice Foundation to address the stigma associated with drug addiction and raise funds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | David Alan Siegel |
| Date of Birth | May 3, 1935 |
| Date of Death | April 5, 2025 |
| Age | 89 |
| Cause of Death | Cancer |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Notable For | Founder of Westgate Resorts |
| Daughter | Victoria Siegel |
| Daughter's Death | June 6, 2015 |
| Daughter's Cause of Death | Drug Overdose |
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What You'll Learn
David Siegel's daughter, Victoria, died of an overdose in 2015
David Siegel, the founder of Westgate Resorts, lost his 18-year-old daughter, Victoria Siegel, to a drug overdose on June 6, 2015. Victoria was found unresponsive at the Siegel family home in Windermere, Florida, and was pronounced dead at Health Central Hospital. An autopsy revealed that the cause of death was an overdose of methadone and sertraline, an antidepressant.
Victoria's struggle with anxiety began in high school, for which she was prescribed Xanax by a psychiatrist. Unaware of the potential dangers of prescription medications, Siegel admitted that he never suspected his daughter of drug use. On the day of her death, Victoria was at home celebrating an anniversary with her boyfriend. She was also enduring a cyberbullying attack by her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend.
Following their daughter's tragic death, David and his wife, Jackie Siegel, established the Victoria's Voice Foundation to fight drug abuse in young people and advance initiatives to prevent substance abuse. They also wrote a book, "Victoria's Voice: Our Daughter's Losing Battle with Drug Abuse," to share their story and raise awareness about the opioid epidemic.
David Siegel himself passed away on April 5, 2025, from cancer. His legacy includes not only his business success but also his advocacy against drug abuse, inspired by his personal tragedy.
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Siegel's death was announced on social media
David Alan Siegel, the founder of Westgate Resorts, passed away on April 5, 2025, at the age of 89. His death was announced by his family on social media.
"Unfortunately, my father-in-law passed away early this morning," Janessa Siegel posted on Facebook. "I will always miss him and the memories we created. Please keep our family in your prayers."
Siegel was an American businessman and the president and CEO of Westgate Resorts, a Florida-based timeshare resort firm. He was also the CEO of CFI Resorts Management Inc and Central Florida Investments Inc and had various other businesses, including real estate, construction, hotel and apartment management, travel services, insurance, transportation, and retail.
Siegel and his family gained further public attention when they were featured in the 2012 documentary "The Queen of Versailles." The film chronicled their attempt to build a large mansion in Florida during the 2008 financial crisis and documented the financial challenges faced by Westgate Resorts.
In addition to his business ventures, Siegel was also known for his political donations and activism. He supported George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential election and later joined the financial team for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ successful 2018 campaign. Following the death of his stepdaughter, Victoria, in 2015 due to a drug overdose, Siegel and his wife established the Victoria’s Voice Foundation to raise awareness about the opioid crisis and support prevention efforts.
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He was the husband of Jackie Siegel, the 'Queen of Versailles'
David Alan Siegel was the husband of Jackie Siegel, the Queen of Versailles. Jackie Siegel is an American socialite, model, actress, and beauty pageant director. She was one of the main subjects of the 2012 documentary film "The Queen of Versailles", directed by Lauren Greenfield. The film followed Jackie and David as they worked to build their Florida home, named Versailles, amid the 2008 recession. The house has become one of the most expensive single-family houses in the United States. The couple also appeared in the 2022 Discovery+ follow-up series, "Queen of Versailles Reigns Again", which showcased their attempts to finish the 20-year-long home renovation.
David Siegel was a successful businessman and the founder of Westgate Resorts, the largest privately owned timeshare company in the world. He was also the CEO of CFI Resorts Management Inc and Central Florida Investments Inc, with business interests spanning real estate, construction, hotel and apartment management, travel services, insurance, transportation, and retail. In addition to his hospitality ventures, he owned the Orlando Predators, an arena football team, and acquired notable properties such as the Cocoa Beach Pier and the Las Vegas Hotel.
David and Jackie Siegel had eight children together, including Jackie's adopted niece, Jonquil. Their other children are Victoria, David, Daniel, Debbie, Drew, and twins, Jacqueline and Jordan. In June 2015, their eldest daughter, Victoria Siegel, died at the age of 18 from a drug overdose. The tragedy motivated David to advocate against drug abuse and he established the Victoria's Voice Foundation to provide resources for preventing substance use disorder and overdose deaths.
In April 2025, David Siegel passed away at the age of 89 after a battle with cancer. His death was announced by Jackie on Instagram, who wrote about their 25 years of marriage and the eight children they raised together. She found comfort in knowing that their late daughter Victoria was there to greet him.
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He founded Westgate Resorts, a timeshare company
David Alan Siegel, born on May 3, 1935, was an American businessman who founded Westgate Resorts, a timeshare company. Siegel grew up in Florida and graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1953. He later studied marketing and management at the University of Miami but ended up dropping out.
Siegel founded Westgate Resorts, a Florida-based timeshare resort firm, in 1982. The company is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and has 29 themed destination resorts and over 13,500 luxury villas and hotel rooms across the United States. Westgate Resorts is the largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the US. Siegel started the company in his garage, and over 40 years, he built it into the largest private employer in Central Florida.
Siegel was also involved in other businesses, including real estate, construction, hotel and apartment management, travel services, insurance, transportation, and retail. He was the CEO of CFI Resorts Management Inc and Central Florida Investments Inc. In addition to his hospitality ventures, Siegel owned the Orlando Predators, an arena football team, and acquired notable properties such as the Cocoa Beach Pier and the Las Vegas Hotel.
In 2015, Siegel's 18-year-old daughter, Victoria, passed away due to a drug overdose. This tragedy changed Siegel's life mission, and he became dedicated to solving the nation's drug epidemic. He founded the Victoria's Voice Foundation in her honour and advocated for the widespread availability of Naloxone, lobbying Congress and raising awareness. Siegel's efforts led to significant progress in addressing the drug crisis, including the passing of Victoria's Law in Florida and the CARA Act, a federal law that allocated funds to fight the drug epidemic.
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Siegel was 89 when he died
David Alan Siegel, the founder of Westgate Resorts, passed away at the age of 89 on April 5, 2025. Siegel was born on May 3, 1935, and lived a remarkable life, becoming a successful businessman and entrepreneur.
Siegel was a proud family man, husband to Jacqueline, and father to 13 children and 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren. He was also known for his philanthropic efforts, donating over 28,000 complimentary vacations to members of the armed services as an Army Veteran himself. Siegel and his wife, Jackie, established the Victoria's Voice Foundation to honour their late daughter, Victoria Siegel, who passed away from a drug overdose at the age of 18. Through the foundation, they advocated for drug education and addiction prevention, successfully lobbying for legislative changes to address the opioid epidemic.
Siegel's business career was notable, particularly his founding of Westgate Resorts, the largest privately-owned timeshare company in the world. He was also involved in various other ventures, including real estate, construction, hospitality, and entertainment. His empire included over 13,500 rooms across 22 resorts, and he was responsible for creating thousands of jobs. Siegel's business success brought him recognition, including an honorary doctorate and multiple awards for entrepreneurship and philanthropy.
In his later years, Siegel faced health challenges and ultimately passed away from cancer at the age of 89. His legacy lives on through his numerous business achievements and his charitable endeavours, particularly his work in addiction prevention and support for members of the military.
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Frequently asked questions
No, David Siegel passed away on April 5, 2025, at the age of 89.
David Siegel had been living with cancer prior to his death.
Yes, David Siegel had eight children: Victoria, David, Daniel, Debbie, Drew, Jacqueline, Jordan, and his wife Jackie's adopted niece, Jonquil.
David Siegel was a businessman and the founder and executive chairman of Westgate Resorts, a timeshare resort company.
Victoria Siegel, David Siegel's eldest daughter, passed away at the age of 18 on June 6, 2015, due to a drug overdose.
