ORLANDO, Fla. – David Siegel, the timeshare mogul and Westgate Resorts founder who established an addiction-prevention foundation with his wife Jackie after their daughter’s overdose, has died at the age of 89.
In an email sent to employees, Westgate Resorts said that Siegel died Saturday morning, adding his last months were spent surrounded by his family and friends.
“Throughout his life, as well as in his last years, David’s passion for our company, our industry and the hospitality we create was always at the forefront of his mind,” the email reads. “David never forgot his humble roots, starting Westgate in his garage and using the company as a way to lead others to become inspired and successful.”
Siegel founded the timeshare resort company in 1982. Since then, Westgate Resorts has expanded across Florida — from Orlando to Miami Beach — and has reached as far as Tennessee, Utah, Nevada, Virginia, Missouri, Mississippi and Arizona.
The empire he built includes more than 13,500 rooms at 22 resorts across the United States. Over 40 years, Siegel built Westgate Resorts into the largest private employer in Central Florida. Most recently he announced an expansion of more than 44 resort destinations set to close this year with the acquisition of Vacation Ownership Sales the management and development company of VI Resorts.
Westgate Resorts Mourns the Passing of Founder David A. Siegel | April 5, 2025 (excerpt)
David and Jackie Siegel’s 18-year-old daughter Victoria died in June 2015 of an accidental drug overdose, leading her parents to later establish the Victoria’s Voice Foundation in 2019. The foundation provides drug education and addiction-prevention support to meet the needs of communities and at-risk families.
In 2024, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 66, known as “Victoria’s Law,” which designates June 6 as “Revive Awareness Day,” encouraging the state health department to hold more events to raise awareness of the safe use of opioid counteractives and to warn of the dangers of overdoses. Following this, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings proclaimed June 6 as "Orange County Naloxone Awareness Day."
The Siegels had also advocated for the federal Comprehensive Addition and Recovery Act, which was signed into law in 2016, and managed to have June 6 federally designated as “National Naloxone Awareness Day,” according to Victoria’s Voice.
“She’d be very proud of the work our parents have done and the work we’ve done spreading the awareness because every single life matters,” David Siegel Jr. said in 2024. “(...) Our sister’s legacy is to save as many lives as possible and make sure that no family has to go through what we had to go through with losing her.”
As an Army Veteran, Siegel has donated more than 28,000 complimentary vacations to members of our armed services as a thank you for their service to our country. The Westgate Foundation recently distributed grants of $1.5 million to community-focused organizations across the United States.
David Siegel was the proud husband of Jacqueline and father of 13 children, 12 grandchildren and step grandchildren. He was also responsible for creating thousands of jobs, including for the 8,500 team members who currently work for the company.
Westgate Resorts Mourns the Passing of Founder David A. Siegel | April 5, 2025 (excerpt)
In a statement to News 6, Jackie Siegel said she is planning a public celebration of David, welcoming anyone wishing to pay their respects.
“David and our daughter Victoria are together again, and our foundation will grow even more now,” Jackie Siegel said. “Our family is traveling to Washington D.C. on June 6 for Naloxone Awareness Day to continue David’s legacy.”
Jackie Siegel also expressed gratitude that David and Victoria’s stories will live on in the Broadway musical “The Queen of Versailles,” which opens in November at St. James Theatre.
David Siegel would have celebrated his 90th birthday in May, Jackie said.
The Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church of Orlando on April 11 from 4-7 p.m., according to the family.
No RSVP is needed and event staff will assist with parking.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Victoria’s Voice.
