The Queen of Versaille: A Review
At the outset, “The Queen of Versailles,” a documentary by Lauren Greenfield, seems like it’s going to be a comeuppance story. Jackie and David Siegel are Orlando billionaires—she was Miss Florida 1993, and he owned the largest timeshare company in the world, Westgate Resorts—who decide that their 26,000 square foot house is bursting at the seams with 8 kids, and 19 staff members.
So they set out to build their dream home, a 90,000 square foot mansion full of kitschy—but expensive—junk, based on a Las Vegas interpretation of Versailles, with details like a viewing balcony to watch the fireworks at Disney World, and a private staircase for the children.
Then, the 2008 financial crisis happens, and the Siegels lose all of their money. The construction of their dream house comes to a screeching halt.
