Westgate Resorts founder David Siegel passes away at 89

David Siegel, the founder of Westgate Resorts and owner of one of Las Vegas’ most storied hotels, Westgate Las Vegas, has died at age 89. Siegel’s passing was announced Saturday morning in a company-wide memo and on social media. 

Though no official cause was given, Siegel had been battling cancer in recent years. He passed away in Orlando, surrounded by his wife Jacqueline, children, extended family, and close friends, the Las Vegas Review Journal reported.

A timeshare pioneer and real estate mogul, Siegel’s influence on the Las Vegas Strip took root in 2014 when he purchased the historic LVH hotel-casino—formerly known as the Las Vegas Hilton and the International Hotel—from Goldman Sachs. The 3,261-room resort was famously home to Elvis Presley’s Vegas residency from 1969 to 1976.

Rather than shuttering the property for a full renovation, Siegel opted to keep the resort running to preserve jobs. “That would have put 2,000 people out of work, and we thought we’d work around the operation,” Siegel said at the time. “It’ll cost more, but it will save a lot of jobs.”

The resort was rebranded as Westgate Las Vegas, with Siegel himself ceremonially replacing the “L” on the iconic 279-foot sign with a “W.” 

Beyond business, Siegel became an outspoken advocate in the fight against the opioid crisis following the tragic death of his daughter Victoria in 2015 from an accidental overdose at age 18. Alongside his wife Jackie, he launched Victoria’s Voice Foundation, which provides resources, including naloxone (Narcan), to first responders and families. The foundation has hosted annual fundraisers in Las Vegas since 2019.

Despite stepping down as CEO in 2024 due to health concerns, Siegel remained executive chairman and president of Westgate Resorts. He oversaw the company’s growth into the largest privately owned timeshare operation in the U.S., with over 8,500 employees across 22 properties. The acquisition of Vacation Ownership Sales last year added 44 new resort destinations to the company’s portfolio.

Cami Christensen, President of Westgate Las Vegas, expressed deep sorrow at Siegel's passing in a statement: “David was not only a visionary leader, but also a mentor and dear friend to many of us. Las Vegas always held a special place in his heart. When he acquired the Westgate Las Vegas resort, he immediately recognized the legendary status of the property and the outstanding potential of its people."

In pop culture, Siegel was widely recognized from the 2012 documentary The Queen of Versailles, which chronicled his and Jackie’s attempt to build the largest private home in America. The story has since been adapted into a Broadway musical set to debut this fall, with F. Murray Abraham portraying Siegel.

In lieu of flowers, the Siegel family requests donations be made to the Victoria Siegel Foundation at victoriasiegelfoundation.org to continue David’s fight against the opioid epidemic.