Jackie Siegel, the woman famously known as the 'Queen of Versailles', has finally offered an exclusive first glimpse inside her colossal 90,000 square-foot Florida mansion, a project that has been under construction for more than two decades.
A Palace Two Decades in the Making
The construction of the Siegel residence, one of the largest single-family homes in the United States, began in 2004. Jackie and her late husband, Westgate timeshare tycoon David Siegel, embarked on the ambitious project, modelling their home after France's Palace of Versailles and the upper levels of the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas.
Their journey was famously documented in the 2012 film, The Queen of Versailles, which captured the couple's financial struggles during the 2008 stock market crash, forcing a temporary halt to construction. Work resumed in 2013 after they had rebuilt their fortune, with their lives later featured in the 2022 reality series, Queen of Versailles Reigns Again.
Speaking with The Independent following the debut of a Broadway musical about her life, Siegel decided to break her silence on the home's progress. "I really haven't been allowed to show anyone," she confessed, suggesting PR reasons for the secrecy before the grand reveal. "But I will show you a little sneak peek."
An Exclusive Sneak Peek Inside Versailles
The exclusive photo reveals the mansion's vast living room, showcasing a floor plan of immense scale. The opulent design features ceilings with intricate gold detailing that matches the trim on the walls and grand staircases.
Floor-to-ceiling windows, some still protected by coverings, line the upper floor. Two separate staircases, currently covered in paper to protect the delicate finishes, converge in the middle to descend into the living room. At the centre of the room, underneath a lavish chandelier, Siegel and her dog, Mochi, can be seen from a vantage point at the top of the steps.
A key element is still missing, however. "I don't have the railings yet because my railings are in China and the taxes are so high right now," Siegel explained. She anticipates paying "two or three times the amount" and has temporary 'fake railings' in place for now.
The Legacy of a Magnate's Dream
The home, rumoured to have a completion cost of around $100 million, is a testament to her late husband's vision. David Siegel, who passed away in April at 89, was the mastermind behind the entire project.
The saga of the mansion is deeply intertwined with David's past. After building a 67,000 square-foot home on the same lake with his previous wife, he was reportedly offered $100 million for the property by Michael Jackson. The refusal to sell was a point of contention, and Siegel recounted that David believed building that first mansion ultimately ended his previous marriage.
"He said, 'This house is getting out of control. Prove to me that you love me and stop construction on the house,'" Siegel recalled. "And she looks at him and she says, 'I can't.'" Determined not to let history repeat itself, Jackie and David took their time. "We just never finished construction," she said, noting David's competitive desire to ultimately own the larger house.
Now, with the palace nearing completion, Jackie sees it as his legacy. "This was his baby," she reflected. "Now, well, he's here as my guardian angel."
The finished property will be a monument to excess, boasting 14 bedrooms, 30 bathrooms, five kitchens, a 150-person event hall, a 35-car garage, and a British-style pub among its many extravagant amenities.
