Billionaire timeshare king David Siegal — who lived in one of the vital costly houses within the US along with his spouse, “Queen of Versailles” star Jackie Siegel — has died, his firm mentioned Saturday.
The 89-year-old founding father of Westgate Resorts had been battling most cancers, in keeping with the Las Vegas Journal-Evaluation, which famous he was surrounded by his household in his last days.
“I used to be fortunate sufficient to share twenty-five great years with David, and collectively we raised eight unimaginable kids,” Jackie wrote in a touching Instagram submit Saturday alongside a photograph of the couple reducing their marriage ceremony cake.
“His life and legacy stay on via all of them,” she mentioned.
“To say we’re devastated is an understatement. However I discover consolation in realizing that Victoria was there to greet him—the very first thing he heard was “Dad,” adopted by an enormous hug,” Jackie mentioned, referring to her daughter who died of a drug overdose in 2015 and who her husband adopted.
“And naturally, Steven is there too,” Jackie wrote, referencing her husband’s late son. “That thought brings me a lot peace.”
Westgate Resorts mentioned in an announcement, “David by no means stopped dreaming massive.
“His entrepreneurial spirit, relentless drive, and perception within the American dream helped form one of the vital acknowledged hospitality manufacturers within the nation.”
Siegel, an Air Power veteran, began his well-liked timeshare firm in 1982 in Kissimmee, Fla., and grew it to the biggest privately held timeshare firm on the planet and the biggest non-public employer in central Florida, in keeping with the assertion.
The timeshare empire includes greater than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts within the US, making his firm one of many largest resort builders within the nation. He was additionally the proprietor of considered one of Las Vegas’ most well-known resorts, Westgate Las Vegas.
Siegel was identified not just for his entrepreneurial endeavors but in addition for his charity and advocacy for dependancy consciousness after the methadone demise of Victoria.
“He based the Victoria’s Voice Basis to honor Victoria and advocated zealously for the widespread availability of Naloxone, lobbying Congress and elevating consciousness on this vital subject,” Westgate Resorts mentioned within the assertion.
Naloxone is a nasal spray that stops the consequences of an opioid overdose. Siegel began his basis to advocate for the drug’s widespread availability.
“When [Victoria] overdosed, she was nonetheless alive,” Siegel informed the Journal-Evaluation in 2019. “By the point she received to the hospital, she had died. I’m an enormous advocate that if a household has a toddler who is perhaps utilizing medicine, they need to have Narcan of their houses.”
Siegel married Jackie in 2000. She starred in a 2012 actuality present about constructing their wildly lavish house.
He’s survived by her, 9 kids, two stepdaughters twelve grandchildren and step-grandchildren and his brother Barry.
