• Founder of Westgate Resorts passes away at the age of 89
• David Siegel was a business maverick and humanitarian
• Personal tragedy inspired his lifelong dedication to addiction awareness and charity work

Westgate Resorts founder and timeshare entrepreneur David Siegel has passed away at the age of 89. He passed away at his home on April 5, 2025, aged 89, and was one of the most iconic insiders of the hospitality industry in the United States.

Westgate Resorts founder and visionary passes away

The news was confirmed by Westgate Resorts, which sent a letter notifying its employees about Siegel’s passing on Saturday morning.

In an email, the company said that Siegel was an influential figure throughout not just the company he helped build but also throughout the entire hospitality sector, and emphasized his modesty and down-to-earth character more so than anything else:

"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."

His life has been marked by personal tragedy and the desire to improve. Siegel’s 18-year-old daughter, Victoria, passed from an accidental overdose in 2015, which prompted him and his wife, Jackie, to establish a charity focusing on educating people about the side effects of drug, addiction and raising awareness for prevention, and that works specifically with families and communities that are the most at risk of being affected by such problems.

Westgate Resorts was founded by Siegel in California in 1982 as a privately held and timeshare resort company. Over time, the company grew to employ more than 10,000 people and is considered the largest privately held corporation in Central Florida, according to Wikipedia.

The company also owns the popular Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, which sprawls on 95,000 sq ft of gaming space, bringing visitors table games, slots, and more. The property also hosts the Race & Sports Book, which is touted as the world’s largest.

Lifelong commitment to raising awareness for addiction

While not a casino operator specifically and better known for its timeshare and vacation properties in the United States, Westgate has successfully carved a name for itself in Nevada as well. The company now has 13,500 rooms across 22 resorts in the United States, with further expansions doubling the number of available resorts set to double.

Siegel continued to push for better awareness of gambling addiction, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis officially introduced Victoria’s Law in 2024, instituting June 6 as "Revive Awareness Day" that promotes efforts from the state health department to address issues such as safe opioid counteractives use and the risks of overdoses.

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