Westgate Resorts Founder, Former Cocoa Beach Pier Owner David Siegel Dead at Age 89

Siegel founded Westgate Resorts in 1982

Westgate Resorts founder and former owner of the Cocoa Beach Pier, David Siegel, died Saturday at age 89. A seasoned entrepreneur, Siegel also owned the Orlando Predators arena football team and acquired landmark properties such as the Cocoa Beach Pier and the iconic Las Vegas Hotel.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Westgate Resorts founder and former owner of the Cocoa Beach Pier, David Siegel, died Saturday at age 89.

A seasoned entrepreneur, Siegel was the former owner of the Orlando Predators arena football team and acquired landmark properties such as the Cocoa Beach Pier and the iconic Las Vegas Hotel.

In 1982, Siegel founded Westgate Resorts, driven by a vision to redefine vacation ownership. Shifting from traditional real estate development, he embraced the emerging potential of the timeshare model, laying the foundation for what would become one of the world’s most successful privately-owned hospitality empires.

Over more than four decades, Siegel built Central Florida Investments/Westgate Resorts into the largest privately-owned company in Central Florida.

Under his guidance, Westgate evolved into a diverse portfolio of businesses, including luxury timeshare resorts, hotels, casinos, restaurants, water parks, spas, apartment complexes, travel services, sports betting, citrus and land operations, insurance services, and more.

Today, Westgate Resorts is recognized as the world’s largest privately owned timeshare company, known for its upscale accommodations and groundbreaking marketing strategies. The brand boasts over 15,000 hotel rooms and timeshare villas in top-tier vacation destinations in the United States.

In recognition of his monumental impact on the industry, the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) honored David Siegel with the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award. His visionary leadership and business prowess have left an enduring legacy in timeshare development.

Beyond business, Siegel dedicated himself to a deeply personal cause following the tragic loss of his daughter, Victoria “Rikki” Siegel, to an accidental drug overdose.

He founded the Victoria’s Voice Foundation, a nation’s leading organization focused on drug prevention, access to lifesaving treatments like Naloxone, and youth education. As Chairman of the Board, Siegel became a passionate advocate and public speaker, working tirelessly to prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak.

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