Summary:
David Siegel built Westgate Resorts from a garage startup to the world's largest timeshare company, employing thousands and reviving it post-2008 crisis through sheer entrepreneurial grit.
Jackie Siegel leveraged her engineering background to lead community projects like Ocoee Thrift Mart and Victoria's Voice, while driving the ambitious Versailles replica as a form of art.
The story challenges critiques of excess by highlighting job creation and economic contributions, aligned with Dr. Johnson's perspective on wealth accumulation as a positive force.
The Broadway musical, based on a 2012 documentary, stars renowned actors and composers, offering a fresh look at resilience and innovation in business beyond stereotypes.
F. Murray Abraham and Kristin Chenoweth pose at a photo call for the upcoming Broadway musical "The Queen of Versailles" at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel on September 18, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)
The Broadway opening of the musical "The Queen of Versailles" offers a fresh chance to explore one of the most unusual business stories from the early 2000s, moving beyond common critiques to uncover deeper entrepreneurial themes.
Based on the 2012 documentary, this story centers on David Siegel, founder of Westgate Resorts—the world's largest timeshare company—and his wife Jackie, as they ambitiously build a 90,000-square-foot replica of the Palace of Versailles in Orlando, Florida. While often labeled as a tale of excess and greed, it also highlights resilience, innovation, and community impact.
David's Drive to Save Westgate Resorts
David started his first real estate firm, Central Florida Investments, in his garage in 1970. Spotting an opportunity in the timeshare market, he launched Westgate Vacation Villas in Orlando in 1982. Over decades, it grew into a global empire with 14 resorts, employing over 3,500 people and becoming a key employer in Florida.
In 2008, the financial crisis hit hard: banks called in loans, forcing layoffs and cutbacks. At 73, David refused to give up, selling assets like their private plane and working tirelessly to secure new financing. His efforts paid off, reviving Westgate as the economy recovered—a testament to entrepreneurial perseverance often overlooked in media portrayals.
Jackie's Ventures and the Versailles Project
Jackie, a former Mrs. Florida with a degree in computer engineering from Rochester Institute of Technology and early work at IBM, is more than a shopaholic. She founded Ocoee Thrift Mart, a discount store, the charity Locals Helping Locals, and Victoria's Voice after her daughter's death from a drug overdose, focusing on substance abuse prevention.
Her main endeavor, building Versailles, was an artistic pursuit with meticulous details—from coordinating wallpaper colors with birdcages to selecting gold leaf and paintings. Though criticized, this project could evolve into public use, sharing her vision and investments broadly.
Wealth, Generosity, and Dr. Johnson's Insight
Critics like those in The New York Times frame the Siegels as symbols of materialism, but this ignores their community contributions and the economic benefits of their ventures. Referencing Dr. Samuel Johnson's view that "there are few ways in which a man can be more innocently employed than in getting money," the Siegels' wealth creation supported jobs and local economies without imposing personal values on others.
The musical, starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham with music by Stephen Schwartz, invites audiences to enjoy the story without politicization, celebrating the complexities of ambition and resilience.
Comments