Jackie Siegel Faces Back-to-Back Tragedies: Sister Dies of Overdose Just Days After Husband’s Death

Jackie Siegel, known to many as the “Queen of Versailles” from the popular 2012 documentary, is living through a heartbreak few could imagine. In just the span of three days, she lost two of the people closest to her—her beloved husband, David Siegel, and her younger sister, Jessica Mallery. The emotional weight of these sudden and devastating losses is almost too much to bear.

David Siegel: A Life Full of Ambition, Family, and Legacy

On April 5, Jackie’s husband, David Siegel, passed away at the age of 89 after a lengthy battle with cancer. David was not only a successful businessman—he was a man who shaped an entire industry. As the founder and CEO of Westgate Resorts, he transformed a single Orlando timeshare into a national powerhouse, employing thousands and serving millions.

But to Jackie, he was so much more than that. He was her partner in life, her confidant, and the man with whom she dreamed big. Together, they began building one of the largest private homes in America—a massive estate known as Versailles that symbolized their sky-high ambitions. While the documentary captured the lavishness of their life, it also revealed their humanity, their family struggles, and their resilience through financial and emotional turmoil.

In the years after they lost their daughter Victoria to a drug overdose in 2015, David and Jackie threw themselves into a different kind of work: advocacy. They founded Victoria’s Voice Foundation in their daughter’s memory to fight the growing opioid and fentanyl crisis that had taken her life. It became their mission to make sure no other family had to go through the pain they did.

A Second Loss That Cut Just as Deep

As if losing David weren’t enough, Jackie received more devastating news just days later. Her younger sister, Jessica Mallery, was found dead at the age of 43 from a drug overdose. The suspected cause: cocaine laced with fentanyl—a deadly combination that’s becoming tragically common across the United States.

The heartbreak was almost too much to process. Jackie announced the news through the Victoria’s Voice Foundation’s social media accounts, expressing the agony of watching another loved one become a victim of the very crisis she’s spent nearly a decade trying to stop.

“My sister Jessica didn’t deserve this,” Jackie shared in a raw and emotional post. “She was kind, funny, and full of life. And now, like too many others, she’s gone because of fentanyl.”

A Family Haunted by Addiction—And Fighting Back

The Siegels have faced more than their fair share of tragedy. The loss of their daughter Victoria at just 18 years old was the moment everything changed. Since then, Jackie has become a passionate and outspoken advocate for addiction education, harm reduction, and public access to life-saving drugs like naloxone.

Jessica’s death has only strengthened Jackie’s resolve to keep fighting. “This is not just a ‘drug problem.’ This is a national emergency,” she said. “Fentanyl is everywhere—it’s in everything—and it’s killing people who have no idea they’re even taking it.”

Jackie wants people to know that these aren’t isolated stories. These are real people—daughters, sisters, friends—who are being taken far too soon. Through her grief, she’s urging the public and policymakers to take stronger action, spread awareness, and support families affected by substance use disorder.

Asking for Privacy—and Purpose

The Siegel family is now mourning privately, leaning on one another for strength. They’ve asked for space as they navigate this deeply personal loss, but Jackie remains determined that both David and Jessica’s legacies won’t be forgotten.

Rather than flowers, the family is asking supporters to consider donating to the Victoria’s Voice Foundation to help continue the work that meant so much to David—and now, is more personal than ever to Jackie.

In her own words: “I’ve lost my husband. I’ve lost my daughter. And now, I’ve lost my sister. But I will not lose this fight.”