Westgate Resorts founder and opioid awareness activist David Siegel dies at 89

Westgate Resorts CEO David Siegel had died, his family announced on social media Saturday. He was 89.

A political donor and activist, Siegel focused energy in recent years on addressing the opioid crisis following the death of his daughter Victoria Siegel, who died in 2015 at age 18. Those efforts included launching the Victoria’s Voice Foundation with wife Jackie Siegel.

“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 stepped down as CEO of Westgate last year, and the Orlando timeshare company since significantly reduced its workforce. Siegel after his retirement as CEO had remained Executive Chairman of the Board and President.

But the company has remained the “largest privately held timeshare company in the world and one of the largest resort developers in the United States” and the largest employer in Central Florida. Just last month, the American Resort Development Association honored Siegel with the ARDA Lifetime Achievement Award.

“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,” said Jim Gissy, CEO of Westgate Resorts. “David worked hard to leave us a company that will continue to preserve its family origins and the significant resources and ambition to instill joy in the lives we touch through the hospitality we provide.

“It was David’s enduring wish that the spirit of what makes Westgate successful – entrepreneurialism, customer satisfaction, and quality product that is at the heart of our DNA –will be the guiding principles of the next generation of leadership at our company. We know that we are all up to the task of driving forward the legacy of this visionary man and the company he founded.”

Outside the hospitality world, David and Jackie Siegel may best be known as the subjects of the documentary “Queen of Versailles,” which followed the troubled construction of the couple’s decadent Central Florida mansion.

Siegel in 2016 donated $30,000 to the Trump Victory Fund, as reported by POLITICO. He later joined the financial team for Gov. Ron DeSantis’ successful 2018 campaign.

Last year, the Siegels were at the ceremony when DeSantis signed Victoria’s Law, which directs the Florida Department of Health on efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of overdose abuse and risk of overdose.

Victoria’s Voice Foundation also successfully lobbied federal leader in 2023 to declare June 6, the anniversary of Victoria’s death, as National Naloxone Awareness Day as part of an effort to “spread awareness of opioid reversal medications like naloxone, remove stigma and save lives from overdose.”