Queen Of Versailles' Jackie Siegel shares rare update on $100 million Florida megamansion 21 YEARS after construction began
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Jackie Siegel, the eponymous star of the popular documentary The Queen Of Versailles, is giving her followers an update on the status of her megamansion over two decades after construction began.
The 58-year-old socialite posted a short clip to her Instagram account on Sunday that showed a massive section of the palatial estate, which has been valued at $100 million.
'You guys! 💋 I know many of you have been curious about Versailles, so here’s a little peek! 🏰 We’re getting closer… ❤️👸💋,' she captioned the post.
The megamansion, which Siegel once said would be completed in 2020, was filled with building supplies, and workers could be heard in the background.
Florida's Versailles, which named after the French palace, features an incredible 14 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms, and it is one of the most expensive homes in the United States.
However, the incredible opulence of the estate — which is shockingly intended only as the primary residence of Siegel, her husband David Siegel and their seven children — has stretched out construction for decades.
Jackie Siegel, the eponymous star of the popular documentary The Queen Of Versailles, is giving her followers an update on the status of her megamansion over two decades after construction began
The 58-year-old socialite posted a short clip to her Instagram account on Sunday that showed a massive section of the palatial estate, which has been valued at $100M. Construction began in 2004; pictured years earlier
'Well, I'm over at Versailles and we're getting closer,' Siegel announced at the start of the video, which she filmed herself.
'We're getting closer to getting done,' she continued, as she pointed the camera out over the balcony to survey the enormous room.
In contrast to the awe-inspiring luxury of the megamansion, Siegel was dressed tastefully in a high-necked scarlet outfit with a dark coat featuring large gold buttons.
It appeared to be a grand ballroom, with golden coffered ceilings and a large round stained glass fixture in the center of the ceiling, from which hung an ornate chandelier.
The rectangular hall was decorated with multiple balconies that would have been ideal for looking down at a party.
The ground floor featured an elegant fanned-out staircase going up to the second floor on either side of the room, though Siegel opted to use an elevator to descend.
She panned her camera side to side, first to the right to highlight the lavish gold moulding on the curving edge of the ceiling, but the view also revealed just how much was left to complete.
There was a small set of scaffolding erected on the balcony for a worker to tinker with the moulding, and the marble staircase appeared to have competed steps, but the railings were still being built.
'Well, I'm over at Versailles and we're getting closer. We're getting closer to getting done,' she said. The view of the grand ballroom showed scaffolding and construction supplies strewn all over the floor
She panned to reveal the railing of the marble staircase was still being built, and more scaffolding for the ceiling moulding was set up
Tarps and painter's tape were laid out over much of the space, though the ornate coffered ceiling appeared to be mostly completed
'It still has a little bit of work,' she said as she turned to leave in her elevator, which still had cosmetic work to be done on it
Down on the floor, long strips of painters trip rain from end to end, and crates, scaffolding and other bits of construction debris were scattered haphazardly.
'It still has a little bit of work,' she said as she turned to leave.
Siegel almost lost control of her video as she thrust an arm out to stop the door of the elevator behind her from closing, and as she stepped inside she revealed that even it had painter's tape along the door edges as workers continued to furnish her family's personal Xanadu.
Siegel and her husband, who founded the Florida-based timeshare resort firm Westgate Resorts Ltd., began constructing Versailles in 2004 in the gated community of Lake Butler Sound in Orange County, Florida.
But work came to a halt in 2009 when it was only a little over half completed due to financial difficulties David encountered with his business due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis.
The megamansion was then put on the market for $65 million, and it became a sensation after the release of the 2012 documentary The Queen Of Versailles.
The film, which was directed by Lauren Greenfield, was a hit with critics, who praised it for balancing its critiques of the Siegels' wealth with sympathetic portrayals of the couple as they struggled to reign in their spending as the economy cratered.
Jackie was again profiled in the followed docuseries Queen Of Versailles Reigns Again, which began airing on Discovery+ in early 2022, before moving to HBO Max later that year.
Construction on Versailles, one of the most expensive private residences in the US, halted in 2009 with over half completed due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis; pictured in 2013
Jackie and husband David starred in the documentary The Queen Of Versailles in 2012, and economic conditions improved by 2013 for construction to resume
The megamansion was said to be approaching completion in 2016, 2020 and 2023, but so far it is still being worked on; pictured in 2012
Siegel's dream home experienced a setback in 2022 when it was severely damaged by Hurricane Ian. She told TMZ that it incurred over $10M in damage
The latest estimated completion date is unknown, but the outrageous touches to the interior may explain some of the delays. In January 2024, Siegel revealed she had a portion of a fake private jet interior built in the megamansion
She joked that it was built so she could dine on caviar and sip champagne in style whenever she wanted. However, after fans slammed the ridiculous display, she claimed it was only installed for a party she hosted to honor her late stepdaughter Victoria, who died in 2015
David's business had stabilized by 2013, and he was able to buy up the property outright and continue work on it.
However, estimated dates of completion have come and gone over the years. In 2013, it was said to be nearing a 2016 completion date, but that was later pushed back to 2020.
Then, in 2022, Versailles was significantly damaged by Hurricane Ian, which Jackie said had caused over $10 million dollars of damage.
She also claimed to TMZ that just before the hurricane whipped through the megamansion, construction was estimated to wrap up in 2023.
It's unclear what the latest estimated date is for construction to be completed, but the outrageous touches to the interior may explain some of the delays.
In January 2024, Siegel revealed that she had had a portion of a fake private jet interior built in the megamansion so that she could dine on caviar and sip champagne in style whenever she wanted.
However, after she was blasted by fans for the over-the-top display, she claimed that the section of airplane interior had only been installed for a party she hosted in honor of her late stepdaughter Victoria, who died in 2015 of a drug overdose.
