Jackie Siegel: The Queen of Versailles Talks Love, Loss & Finding Purpose | Tommy Habeeb

Hey everybody, welcome back. I'm so happy to be here for another day, and it's going to be a doozy because we've got somebody special on the couch. We're going to learn some things today. She's reality TV famous, she's a world phenomenon, and she's just really addictive television and a human being. But I want y'all to know some important things about this woman, because a lot of things get glazed over in reality TV, and we really don't look deep enough. Because we're all human beings, we're going to find out some truths about this special lady and what she's doing and what she's going through. And I promise you, if you take some notes, it's going to help you, because we all go through our things in life, right? We do that. You're going to get to experience some of this on our couch today. It's so much fun. But first, I've got to say thank you to our sponsors. If you're a golfer, I'm a golfer. Club Champion, let them golf, let them fit you, because it's a game changer. I promise you, every time. And then also, Texas de Brazil. I love steak. Oh my gosh. Texas de Brazil has 60 locations all over the world, and you can find them. Even if you don't eat steak, their salad bar is like no other. So make sure you guys visit Texas de Brazil. Thank you guys for sponsoring our show and taking care of us. But without further ado, let's welcome somebody very, very special to the couch, and let's get down to some reality and talk about what's happening in her life. You're going to learn a lot. Like I said, Jackie Siegel is on our couch today.

[music] Hey, people also know me as the Queen of Versailles. Actually, more than Jackie Siegel, but yes, you're both good. And I don't know what to call you. Do I call you Tommy or?

Yes. Or Mr. Cheater, or I don't know. Oh my god, you're already going there, aren't you, Jackie? We're going to be in big trouble today.

Oh, watch out. No, you know what? Tommy's perfectly fine. Or hey, guy. Don't ask me that question.

Okay. So you are something else. Really? No. You know, because you're living a life that is just so extraordinary that people can't get their head wrapped around it.

I can't get my head wrapped around it. Yes. No. It's crazy. So let's go back for a second. Where are you from?

I'm from Binghamton, New York. Well, actually, Endicott, New York. Yes. Which is a suburb of Binghamton.

It was a town of about 10 to 20,000 people. That's it. Upstate New York, not New York City.

Oh my gosh. So do you have siblings? I have three siblings. Okay. Well, a sister and a brother, two sisters.

Well, I had a sister. She unfortunately passed. Oh, I'm sorry. The same day that my husband passed.

What? Yeah. Literally the same day. Yes. My husband... well, now we're getting deep into it.

Well, I mean, we should have stayed lighthearted. No, no, we're not. Let's go, because this is real life, right?

Yeah. Well, can we go there? We can. Or do you want to do the more fun stuff first?

No, no, no. What the hell? Let's cry a little bit. Let's dig right in.

Yeah. Well, a lot of people in my world know that my daughter died of a drug overdose at 18 years old. I had seven children. She was the oldest of seven.

I don't even know how you come out of that. It was a lot, but I had my husband there. And we've done a lot in Washington, DC, under both administrations, under Biden and Trump,

both. I mean, we're neutral. This is a bipartisan subject that we're on: saving lives. So I find that through our Victorious Voice Foundation, it's a way to unite people, because as adults, it's one subject.

We all care about our next generation and saving our children's lives from this drug epidemic.

She was only 18 years old. Yeah. And then my husband and I went on a 10-year campaign getting Narcan into the hands of many colleges. We got it done.

It's a lifesaver in the hands of every police officer. The police officers want it.

Most police departments do. So we've been very instrumental in saving lives as far as that. And then, I don't know, we were on the subject, and I have so much to talk

about. It's so crazy. I do. And I was just... I don't know if I want to jump ahead 10 years yet.

Yeah. I thought it was so important, though, and we'll talk about your sister in a little while, but I just want to talk about your family early on. Jackie, as a young lady, a little girl.

A little girl in New York. Yes. You know, did you tell me about your parents? Were they independently wealthy? Did they have... Oh my god.

Were they working folks? Yes. My dad worked for IBM, and in our hometown, IBM was the place to work. If you worked at IBM, you'd arrived.

Yes. Otherwise, you're going to be more like servers or farmers, which is fine, we know. But that was the elite.

I got you. And my mom worked for a TV station. Actually, she was Miss Wiz TV.

What? Yeah. Okay. But this was back when houses were like $20,000. Yeah, but they were both working parents, and we had a one-bedroom house. They made a living, but we certainly had no life of luxury. I didn't even know

what luxury was back then. Yes. And we were raised to work hard. As a child, I would clean apartments for a dollar a day sometimes.

Oh my gosh. You know, just to make extra money, or babysit, and do garage sales. I would do all kinds of things just to make my own money and save up for a bike.

So how old were you when this was going on? You just wanted a bicycle.

Actually, I wanted a Peugeot bicycle. It was kind of an expensive...

See, you went right for the great stuff back then, didn't you? [laughter] Yeah. But it was more because I wanted to do long rides. I wanted to use it as my transportation, because I knew I was turning 14 and I was going to be able to get my papers for volunteering at the hospital, as a candy

striper. It was 10 miles from the house, and I wanted a lightweight bike, something very efficient to get me back and forth.

Those are like road bikes. Race bikes. Yeah. They're lightweight, and I could carry it upstairs and put it in the storage at the hospital when I got there.

Wow. Yeah. So I saved up, I think it was about $500 back then. It was crazy.

Did you get the bike? I got the bike, and I started working. So your big ambition was to be a candy striper at the hospital.

Yes. And you were 14. And then when I got old enough to work, at 16 years old, I got hired at the nursing home as a nurse's aide, because I had those two years of experience as a

candy striper. Yes. They hired me on the spot. Wow. So I was building my resume back then.

And you didn't even realize it. No. Well, I realized it. It was all pre-planned.

Oh, okay. [laughter] So you had a plan. Yeah. So you're 14 years old. What was your goal when you said, "Okay, this is what I really want to do in life"? Well, it's not what I wanted to do in

life. It was a way of making money to save for college. Okay. So my goal in life, in my world, seeing my father, a draftsman at IBM, that was it. I didn't know

there was a world beyond Endicott, New York. We couldn't really afford to travel.

I never saw a palm tree. I mean, here I am, Mrs. Florida. I'm surrounded by palm trees now, but I had never seen a palm tree except on Palm Sunday, when we would get palms and make crosses. Aren't you Catholic?

Um, well, isn't that a

candy striper. Yes. I got like they hired me on the spot. Wow. So I was building my resume back then.

And you didn't even realize it. No. Well, no, I realized it. It was all pre-planned.

Oh, okay. [laughter] So you had a plan. Yeah. And so you're 14 years old. Kind of what was your goal when you said, "Okay, this is what this is what I really want to do in life." Well, it's not what I wanted to do in

life. It was a way of making money to save for college. Okay. So, so my goal in life, in my world, seeing my father, he was a like a draftsman in in IBM, that that was it. Like I didn't know

there was a world beyond Andy, New York. But we couldn't really afford to travel.

I never saw a palm tree. I mean here I'm Mrs. Florida. I mean I'm surrounded by palm trees, but I had never seen a palm tree except like on Palm Sunday we would get palms and make Catholic, aren't you?

Um well, isn't that a Catholic thing? Well, um I'm Catholic Protestant and I married two Jews. So go figure, [laughter] you know. So I'm a little bit of like all all. I just believe in in God.

Yes. And um um so I was raised like exposed to all but it's all the same for me.

It's all the same God. Of course. Of course. And um and I forgot what I was talking about.

Well, really what you're what you were dreaming about wanting to do. Oh, yes. You know, you didn't you saw your dad as a draftsman. you wanted to find out. I I don't know what what did you in your

heart you're going I want to be Miss Florida or what? No, I didn't even think I would ever see Florida.

So, in any case, um I realized the there there were some nice homes up on the hill, like some $100,000 homes.

Mhm. And I thought that would that would be nice if someday I could afford that. But in any case, I wanted my goal was to have like a three-bedroom house, maybe, you know, average two kids if I could

afford the kids. No, never heard of a nanny. And maybe like a boat on a trailer and two cars, like a boat that on the weekends. That's all I wanted. I wanted to be able to afford it and count on myself.

And um and so I realized that in our town in I would I would have to be an engineer.

And I wanted to make my parents proud of me. So I was saving up to go to engineering school.

Wow. And I I got accepted into RIT. I went to community college first because I didn't have the money to go to um the university.

Yes. Yet. So I I did that and I worked while I was in the technology or working towards my technology degree.

Sure. And while I was there, I I was asked by the photo department to be a model for for the for the photography students.

Yeah. And and I did and it kind of opened up another little world for me.

This is fun. Yeah. and and they actually had a trip um to Daytona where none of us had money so it was like in a van and the teacher said we're going to stay in tents on the beach in Daytona and you're going to be

the model and we've got the photographers so I said I'm in and I saw my first palm tree on a free trip just because I was being a model and I thought well this modeling stuff is kind of fun.

Do you still have those photos? No. A photo? Uh, I have some photos, but not from this particular trip.

All right, anybody that's watching this, if you have a photo from that trip, we got to get a copy of this.

Oh my god, you're so funny. So, so I did get to explore a little bit of the world there and I was in awe of palm trees. Oh my god, it was so amazing. So, but I went down and then I got my, you know,

head focused and I went to RIIT. What's RIT? Rochester Institute of Technology. Oh, okay. Gotcha.

And I ended up being only one of um three women in the curriculum for computer computer engineering technology because it was just so hard. Oh my god.

And um apparently you're pretty smart. I had no social life at all. I worked when I wasn't studying and in school. I was working as um a cocktail waitress and I was also um an aerobic instructor.

That's back when the aerobics were in with Jane Fonda and all that, you know.

Yeah. So, I used to do all that for just for the to get myself through school.

And so, I I um got my engineering degree and I worked for IBM. Oh, let me back up. But while I was in RIT, they also had a photography department. So again, ah they I was walking on campus and they um

the professor, one of the from the lead professors there um from the photography department asked me if I would model for them. So then I would do modeling and and I didn't get paid, but I would get photos.

Yes. building a portfolio of those photos and it's like wow this is kind of fun you know I mean versus like wire wrapping building a computer by yourself for hours on end or sitting in a cubicle well so I I graduated

I got a job at IBM as anticipated and predicted and I'm sitting in this cubicle in um Oiggo New York and just commuting back and forth day after day sitting in this cubicle.

Oh my gosh. Just like programming on this computer and and during breaks people would say, "Oh, you know, we're going to go bowling on Thursday." You know, then like everything was just like so boring.

Yes. And then I'm thinking um and actually in the documentary that's when my I came in early that one day and my boss I heard him over um I talking about how he was doing this program and I said

well what what program is is it? And he said that's the I was working down the the years days um down to the second and I said for what? And he said, "Because that's when I'm going to start living my

life." And that's when like all of a sudden the Lord said a big bingo in my my head like the light bulb went off.

And all I was going through is the motions and being in this program of to work and be a minion instead of doing something out there in this world for a greater thing, whatever my purpose is supposed to be. That's like the

nightmare that we think about is you're in this cubicle and and everything's gray around you and the fluorescent lights flickering.

Yes. And oh my god, that would be a nightmare. So, I had $1,000 saved. I had a a beat up like Buick and and I just put in my resignation right there and I said it was nice knowing

you. [laughter] He said, "What does that mean?" I says, "I'm leaving." And so I um packed everything up. I went down to New York City. I had my portfolio. I I thought I want to do something that I

enjoy. Sure. Not just a paycheck, but something I have a passion for. And one thing I I learned is I enjoyed being in front of the camera. I mean, I sometimes I get a little nervous, but I'm, you know, once in a while. But, um,

but I like being in front of the camera. I like um being able to communicate with people, getting out there. And I did try out for Broadway while I was there. And I did make money. I I ended up on every

billboard in every subway station and all the buses for the Paleo VJO and Don Q rum campaign. They were did a huge campaign because it was a huge launch.

So I ended up like on everything like So you started modeling there. Yes. And and I was making like more in one day than I would in two weeks or a month.

Yes. Engineering. I said, "Wow, I'm doing something I like and I'm getting paid for it." It's crazy. And it took these these professors and photography students to just build this up and to get you to where you I think like God put in place to with

these both schools between the both schools I was in that they happened to have photography departments. I wasn't even looking to be a model, but they were asking me like they and they built my portfolio for free. So I had that

when I went down to New York City. So, we're going to have to see some photos.

You got to have photos. I do. I mean, I I have some. Good. Okay. You're going to send them to me because everybody's going to be going, I got to see these photos.

I've done a lot of moves along the way. [laughter] But, um, yeah. So, it and it was just so wonderful to be be able to do something that I enjoy. And I want to encourage people that if you pursuit, if you do

something you enjoy Yes. It's not work. That's right. And even if it you get you make less money doing it, like some people are happy just being a gardener and they sell their herbs and they live do a

comfortable living. But you never know if you pay attention to um like your your intuition and maybe you'll end up with your own like herb company or something, you know.

Yeah. And No, it's true. And and so but tell me about uh you you started modeling in New York City.

Yes. Uh give me where did you go from there? Okay. So I so in New York City um I was actually living in Bronxville because that's all I could afford. But it was actually a little sanctuary in the Bronx

that um it's a really nice it was a safe town. I felt safe and it was a single girl and um Oh, but you know I was also I should say working at city bank at the same time.

Okay. Yeah. City corp headquarters. You had establish a regular income. Yeah. With Yeah. Ju just in case because the modeling was like here and there of course.

And so I did I wanted something solid. And what did your parents think when you quit your job and you packed your bag and said, "Listen, I worked all so hard to get this engineering degree and now I don't want

to do this." Like all parents going, "Have you lost your mind?" Yes. um because they actually um paid for every other semester for me.

And now I I finally get to where the plan was. And I But you know what I realized is I was aiming to really please my parents, pleasing other people.

What did they say to you though when you came home for the first time and said, "I'm done." Um I think it was some profanity came out of your pop's mouth. I mean I I don't think I talked

to my father for a little while you know I think you know but what I found is if you have belief in yourself and you make yourself happy that the other people around you will be happy and now my parents are so proud of

me. So it was a it was a rocky road there you know disappointing the parents your parents are my parents are still with me. Oh, good.

But but I tell you, um life is not a smooth road because like my parents probably wanted to disown me to a certain degree like like they just like I was their star child, the one that went to university and now I'm running

to New York City, you know. So, at what point um how long have you been who were you married?

Well, I've been married like well between two husbands 40 years of my life. Oh, okay.

That's a long time. [laughter] 40 years of doing anything is a long time. Oh my god.

But, you know, that's that's part of life. And and did you get married in New York? What was that next transition like?

Yes. So, while I was working my day job at City Corp headquarters um and then doing the part-time modeling, I was very lonely.

Of course, New York can be a lonely place. I had no friends. I mean, I when I say I picked up and I moved, I I went by myself. Not even a girlfriend and that was before cell phones. I had a

phone service that I could check in from a pay phone. I like I didn't couldn't even a really pay for a landline.

And um and I thought, you know what? Here I am in Bronxville right next to the train station. It was like two blocks to walk to the train station. And I said to myself instead of pitying myself, where in the world are there

more upand cominging successful eligible bachelors that are young entrepreneurs than anywhere in the world that is like my type?

I thought Wall Street. I was like, so I jumped I called in sick. I jumped on the train and and took it straight to Wall Street.

On the way up the stairs, I got invited to dinner before I even went up the stairs. And then then and then when I walked um on the street um I of another Wall Street the like a senior vice president

of Payne Weber invited me to dinner. I says, "No, I I I just got invited to dinner. I I I can't." He says, "How about lunch?" I said, "Okay, I can go to lunch." So I already Daughters do not listen to this. A bit

of it. do not follow this path. I'm just kidding. No, but so I ended up with these two.

I love that. Two guys. Yeah. And so finally um I was trying to juggle dating both of or not I don't know if it was dating just going out.

Yes. And it was like um for a couple of weeks and then they finally you know got upset about each other like just breaking hearts. So I got two proposals.

Uhhuh. Cuz because they were like they knew about each other. I wasn't like like no secret, you know, we weren't like an item or anything.

And um and then so I ended up so the one was the senior vice president of Payne Weber and the other one owned his own firm on Wall Street.

Two good guys to meet. Yeah. So and he was like Prince Charming. He would write me like write poems for me and all this stuff. So I thought, well, you know, um I like that he has, you know, neither of them were

billionaires or anything by any means, but Oh, trade them in then for God's sakes.

No, but they were young, right? [laughter] and and the then I so I I picked the one that owned his own company and put my faith in him and and my modeling career was like taking off a little bit more

and and he finally he made me u he proposed to me. Wow. And he planned the wedding and he says you have to convert to to be a hetic Jew.

Um, I like how you said that. So, what's that? When you put the sheets between each other, [laughter] but he wasn't like really religious. It just um his rabbi was religious.

Okay. But um but like we So, y'all got married? So, we ended up getting married and he moved me, but it was also like not like that type of relationship. So, there's a reason like like he says, "This is your

side of the bed. That's mine." It wasn't like cuz I later found out that that he was um didn't he wasn't into women. Let's just put it that way.

Wow. Mhm. It was a marriage of convenience. I know. So, he moved me to the Everglades.

What? Out of New York. All of this opportunity. And um he wanted an inheritance that the only way he could get the inheritance is is if he was married cuz they put that like in the in the um

thing. And there's a there's a movie here, Jackie. [laughter] Well, there's a Broadway show.

Yeah, it's in the Broadway show. Wow. Um Well, there was a Broadway show, but it it aired last fall. the kind of Did Did they Did they cover that in the Broadway show?

A little bit. A little bit. Yes. Yeah. And I mean, there's nothing wrong with being gay, don't get me wrong.

No, no, no. But it was fine. But like that. I was also a young woman.

And you didn't know any better. He he gets you to marry him out of false pretenses. You know, be just be honest.

like on our wedding night. Um he like because we were engaged for six months and he said you know we're going to wait for our wedding like to be close intimate and it's like okay you know that's fine

with me you know like it gives us something to look forward to and make it be special and sure and then on our wedding night he says I think of you as an angel up here you're up on a pedestal you're

beautiful and I want to keep you in your glory and he says if I will and this was in like a hotel room at the Holiday Inn And and he says, "If we sleep together, I'm going to think of you as a

and I and I will never think of you the same way again, and I don't want that image of you." What? [laughter] Jackie.

Oh my god. So, so my mom was there and she was crying. So, I I Your mom was there?

So, my my mom in the room when you said this? Yeah. So, we So, we he got us a room at the holiday end. So, on my wedding night, I slept with my mom downstairs and he had a private party. I'm going to

cry. Jackie, go. He had a private party upstairs. Men only on the penthouse of the Holiday Inn.

For the love of God, cuz the Holiday Inn was like the the best hotel in um Bingmpington, New York.

Wow. Mhm. We just got a zinger here. I [laughter] know. That is the wildest thing. You must have been devastated though because you love this man. you were planning your life thinking was there any inclination that there was like that he wasn't into

women. Um you know it's just we we just he was saying wait for our wedding for our wedding.

Yeah. Yeah. Wow. That's so rude and cruel. I don't want to say rude, just cruel to do that to someone. And when you have your hanging your hopes, you know, you wanted kids and you wanted Well, I I did not want to be um so

hanging out with alligators in the Everglades. I knew that and that's where I I got put.

Um so tell god that moment when he and I made light of it. I'm very sorry. I shouldn't.

No, no, it's fine. Tell me about my god. You know, tell me when your mom life is a journey. I mean, thank God when your mom's crying and he's going, you know, here's how I feel.

I know. What was that like getting hit by a bus? Um, tell me what you were feeling.

Yeah. I I I felt like I was ashamed that I didn't back out like a couple hours before.

Yeah. You know, you know, before we signed all those contracts. But um but in any case um uh it just um life is a journey and sometimes you have to take a a left hook or a door has to close that you think is

the worst thing that that interview you didn't get that interview or whatever. Um but there's something better. So it happened that in this journey with and I ended up in the Everglades. There was a move a little classified ad

in the um um Miami Herald and it said enter Mrs. Florida. That's the Mrs. Mrs.

Florida America pageant married women and you know I thought that's right Florence Henderson. So she that's that's how I know Florence Henderson through Mrs. America.

Yeah. And I'm still part of the Mrs. America pageant system since 1992. So, what is that like 30 something years?

I'm trying to remember his name. Bill. Was it Bill that owned it? Ran it.

Uh, no. Oh my gosh. Marl David Marl. David Marl. Yes. So, okay. That's where I'm going to going to go from here. So, so I entered the pageant.

Now, were you still married? You didn't divorce this fellow? No, because he ended up being very abusive and I was like I ended up being a like in the Everglaze a financial prisoner and then also it ended up being

verbal and then when I really was leaving then it got physical and I ended up in the hospital and then that's when it's like I just flee.

But so in any case, so I I entered the Mrs. Florida pageant and I won.

Okay. So, I went to Mrs. America, met David and Ela Marl, Florence Henderson, and it was like so I went to nationals and it was so amazing and and then um my pageant director, God rest his soul, um died

and they asked me if I wanted to become a producer for the Mrs. Florida pageant and I said, I don't know how to do a pageant, but it can't be that hard. I mean, I know a lot of

sure, you know, beautiful women and stuff and and so I became a producer of the beauty pageant. I'm still doing it today.

Wow. In 2026 and I'm going to do it again. Um, and we just hosted Mrs. America last week.

Is David Marma, is he still live? No. No. Um, so he passed away um about five years ago.

Okay. But his wife is alive, Elaine Marmemell, and I'm very close with her. I wanted to buy that franchise.

You've got some competition here. Oh, you do, too. Okay. No, no, let's do it together.

No. Um, well, I went to buy it 10 years ago. No, no. I mean, you could still buy it.

I mean, I mean, it doesn't really matter. I'm I'm still a part of it. I'm a sponsor.

of of the pageant. But um you should own it because that was the case.

I know. So they I want to carry on the um the love of the married woman. I have the Mrs.

America, all of the contestants nationwide speaking out on beauty for good, the be on behalf of because they're all mothers or going to be mothers or aspire to be mothers and they we care about the next generation. So they all speak about with

through our foundation, Victoria's Voice, we give them the brochures and and the materials and the books to um to save lives across the country. So it's it's just by this thing being in this marriage has got me to this other level.

I mean can you believe I I hosted and the Mrs. Worlds too. I host um we sponsored that our Las Vegas Westgate Las Vegas the convention hotel that we bought from the Hiltons and we've got the Elvis Presley penthouse and I and I

sp you know sponsored the event for all of them there. We've got the huge stage where Elvis Presley sang and I wouldn't if my journey hadn't been Yes.

that way. But through the Mrs. America is how I met my my husband of 30 years.

Yeah. The first one was nine, but then we had the the divorce thing going on. And then then me and my husband, we had um children together. Big family.

Big family. Mhm. I mean, well, he he had some from before. Oh, he did? Okay.

So, we ended up with like 14, but yeah. How many children do you have of your own?

I gave birth to seven. And um and then you're a good Catholic Christian mom. Of course, you're going to have a lot of children.

Well, um like I I go with the flow. I I kind of change my religions with the husbands. No, I'm just kidding.

[laughter] as long as they pray to God. So, so, uh, you met your That was a joke. Well, I mean, I don't know. Maybe not, but No, but as long as they're like, "Believe in God." How did you, uh, how did you meet your

husband? Um, of 30 years. I met him through the Mrs. Florida pageant. My winner of Mrs. Florida, one of my winners, was trying to date my husband.

Oh. Yeah, she because she was trying to get out of her marriage and and then she had a birthday party at her house in Orlando, Florida. And then she wasn't his type. She was too I don't know strong of a woman for him, I guess. Like

um he liked more soft like blonde blonde hair, blue eyes. And y'all were married for 30 years.

Yeah. So, I met him at this birthday party and um All right. Yeah. And it was like that. It's like he I was I said, "But I'm" And I had a baby in my arms at this birthday party.

Wow. And And he was like, I guess he saw a damsel in distress and wanted to rescue me.

That's amazing. Yeah. [laughter] I wasn't even looking because like my friend says, "Well, he he didn't want me." That this is David Seagull, the time share king. He didn't want me. But I think you're more his type and you

should Well, she didn't even tell me. Was he in time shares back then? Yeah, but he had just lost like all of his money, like $200 million in a divorce. So, Oh, lordy.

Yeah. So, he he only had like three resorts back then. And my friend told me that there is a guy that she wants me to introduce me to in Orlando that she was after, but he she wasn't his type, but

they were friends. Yeah. And and he saw my picture in the brochure. I says, "I want to meet her." And and I told my friend, I said, "I'm going through a divorce. I I've never had time to myself. I don't want to meet

anyone." Like I I like in this mental state. I said, "I'm a single mom with a baby and trying to figure my life out if if you're going to introduce me to someone that you think is nice. Wait

till I get through this. I don't want to meet anyone while I'm going through this." And she says, "Well, it's my husband's birthday. Come on. Come on.

Come on." And so she made me drive up from Orlando with the baby. And and I said, "Well, who is this guy?" She said, "Oh, he does real estate." Like, she didn't even tell me. I didn't even know

who he was. Yeah. And and I said, "Well, how old is he?" Because I I pictured my I was 32 that I I would like someone about 42.

Sure. 42 45 like some like 10 years older. And um and she said, "Oh, yeah. He's like in that age range." And then so like it's a 4-hour drive from Fort Lauderdale or five hours to Fort Lauderdale up to um

Orlando. And so then, you know, she calls me back and and I said, "So, how old is this guy?" And she, "Oh, you know, he might be like around 50." And then [laughter] and like every hour, um, oh, he might be

like, um, maybe he's 55. And [laughter] then so I get all the way up there and and next thing I know, he might be like 60. It's like, [laughter] what? We drive all this away. And and then um finally so um I'm at the party.

I'm staying at her house. I'm holding the baby. He walks through the door and he was a very very good-looking 63 year old man.

Ah very handsome. And I was like well maybe I could do 60s. [laughter] Now I'm now I'm in my 60s and 60s isn't all that bad. You know, 60s is the new 50.

It is. Or the new 40, of course. I'm trying to make it the new like 35 hopefully. But it's got to be the new 35.

We'll see. Um Yeah. And then um he just Yep. swept you off your feet.

He sure did. So, you know, um that relationship, how was that relationship really? Now, people saw with the cameras on, but with the cameras off, tell me about him and that relationship with you and him because I it's

seemed really strong. Well, what happened is Okay. Well, you know, he was a a wonderful wonderful man, very very businessoriented and like he always wanted me to to travel with him and be by his side and and um and

but then I started having a lot of kids and and then um when he he started making a lot of money and um he got to the point where uh he built the Planet Hollywood partnership in Westgate in Las Vegas, the high-rise

and and and with we had a Gulf Stream and like we had like 30 hotels. I mean, he just grew so fast exponentially.

Mhm. And but it was like filled with like art like parties and show girls and all these girls were like hitting on them and here I'm having the babies and it's like this is a hard lifestyle to keep up

with. And um and then we had the crash of 2008. And that's when he finally realized that who some of his real friends were and weren't because you get a lot of friends when you have a private jet.

Oh yeah. And you have pen houses and all that good stuff and parties and when that stops, you know. Mhm.

So we had the crash of 2008 and then we were filming actually the documentary. We were filming the documentary at the time.

So when did the Versailles start? 2021 22 right around to build a house. Mhm.

Not till 2122 but Oh no no no 2001 or two. Okay. 2002. Yeah. So, um, so why why why such a extreme home?

This was his dream, not mine. I mean, I just went on a honeymoon with him.

[laughter] Yeah. I went on a honeymoon and and we were went to Paris and we we saw Versailles and on the way back from the honeymoon on the on a plane he had he pulled out a napkin and he says I where

my business is is growing and we're having more children and he says I don't have a lot of time to waste so you got to make them quick so we're going to fill up fill up a house and and He drew

a picture like the shape of the house and and he said this is like how I want the house to look and he says what should I did you like Versailles? I said yeah I like Versailles and he says how

about if I build Versailles in America for you for you? I said oh so you're going to name the house Versailles. I said who names that house? I said, "If you want to name a house Versailles, you want to give it a name."

I mean, some people name their Well, they name their boat the name of their car. Sure.

You know, I know someone that calls their car candy apple, you know. It's like, "Yeah, fine. Name it what you want." So, I I let them have it, but I didn't I had no idea of the the grand

that of this house. No idea. I thought it was going to be like a 10,000 square foot house.

Yes. How How big is it? It's almost a hundred now. Oh my gosh. Yeah. So that's but we're almost done with that. But um so this house has been going on for 20 year over 20 years.

Like 25 years almost or almost. Yeah. Oh my gosh. And we're almost there. So um I Why did it take so long from 2001 to then 2008 the crash? Was there financial issues?

Yes. So So during the the the crash because Okay. Can I back up a little bit with the documentary please to 2008? So I got invited to go to the opening of the Versace um store on Beverly Hills on Rodeo

Drive. Yeah. Okay. Um I I don't know why I was invited, but I was and I was on like the triple A list. I mean there was like every all the movie stars, everyone. you probably had a [clears throat] lot of Versace

clothes and stuff. I bet that's how you got there. So, so I got invited, but I always at that point because I had like um eight kids and I I travel with my um Christmas card because I I miss them when I'm away

from them. Sure. So, they only had got me the invitation. So, I'm I'm in the the Versace party. I mean like they have like the triple A, the A, the B.

Absolutely. Triple B and C and then like you the D is like maybe you're on the street looking at trying to look in the you know the people standing in line. Okay.

So So I was like on triple A. So I'm great. I mean I like Brook Shields was there. I mean all these like movie stars. It was so amazing. And I get this photographer that comes up to me and she

says who are you? I mean, she's like looking at me and like, "How did you get invited?" And I said, "I don't know, but they paid for my plane ticket and the limousine." And I said, "I must be a

good customer." And she says, "What do you do?" And I said, "Well, I I I'm building a big house and I have a lot of children." And I pulled out my Christmas card and I said, "Here's my children." And it's all it's me and my

husband in front of the Gulf Stream with all of the children sitting on the wing.

Oh, I love that. So I I So finally we exchanged numbers and she says, "Would you mind if I come and f photograph you in Orlando?" I said, "Fine. Yeah, this is great. You know, I I'd love it. Get

back in front of the camera." And when she came to Orlando and then saw the construction at Versailles, she decided, this is Lauren Greenfield, by the way, for the Queen of Versailles documentary.

She wanted to film the resurrection of the one the largest home in America. and and I and I talked to my husband and he said fine. But then when we had the crash of 2008, they realized they actually had a real

documentary story about the attempt to build the largest home in America and suffering through the crash and losing the verge of losing all of that money, which we did lose a lot. Um, but so did the rest of the world.

Oh, yeah. I mean, it was tough. and people lost jobs. I mean, it's not just us. And the movie did showcase that the the the how it affected us like the a very wealthy businessman to the limousine driver who was like a $5

million business owner um middle class down to like the the nanny which is a minimum wage. So they showcased how that affected all three groups of people and it's actually the Queen of Versail documentary is shown um I believe like well a lot of these Ivy

League schools in the fight financial um classes how they analyze that. I mean it's like a a mustwatch. And so the the reason he comes across so bad, this is your original question from like 10 minutes ago that that is that was that a

true portrayal of him in the movie? Well, no man wants to be filmed while his company's falling under.

That's a tough place to be. Especially when you're sitting in your underpants and and all of a sudden the door opens and a camera crew is coming in sneaking up on you.

Yeah. Think of how you would feel. Problem. Yeah. So, I mean, they would like sometimes try to come in to the bedroom like I mean it was just they were going un no boundaries.

Well, so we did finally um put boundaries. I said he's just not going to let you come anymore. I mean, if you want to finish this, Yes.

you know, you got to just focus on me. Yeah. Yeah. Leave Leave him alone.

Yes, I understand. Yeah. So, um what a tough place to be. How were those times for you, though, when it was that rough of difficult times. He's Well, I'm I'm a woman that's a standby your man. And I met him when he only had

like when he didn't have much and just went through a horrible divorce. And I've been up and down my whole life.

So to have financial challenges like that, I mean, I wasn't going to leave the the the you know, my husband um because he's going through a tough time.

Yeah. You know, and um and then you had cameras in y'all's face at the same damn time.

But not all the time. It wasn't all the time. Um but the thing is then I think he even grew like more fond of me because people used to try to brainwash him that oh she married you for the

money and this and that like but I opened up a thrift mart taking advantage of the tough times.

Yes. Where people couldn't afford like even Thanksgiving so I opened up that and I had a flea market where people could sell their clothes and they could keep or or whatever from their house that they I gave them all booths to make

their own money. no money to me. Wow. And they could use that so that they could have a holiday season for their family.

Your heart's in an amazing place. You know, you were you were thinking about everybody else even when y'all were going through a tough time.

Well, it it's just it's just so sad because he had to lay off so many people, but the banks forced him to.

So, how did that recovery happen? And did y'all get back on top again? Okay. What what's that saying? Okay. Say you give Okay. A say a a very sharp like businessman a penny and you give someone who's a

very lazy sits like that has no ambition a million dollars. Yeah. See another man come back a year later.

The one with the million dollars that's lazy with no ambition is gonna not even have a penny. The one with the with the penny is going to have the million dollars.

Yeah. And that's who my husband was. Yeah. So he rebuilt it all. Oh, yeah.

And even bigger. Mhm. So when y'all when Yeah. Then we ended up buying the Las Vegas Hilton.

Oh, really? And that's like where we host the the beauty pageantss now. Yeah. and turned into the Westgate.

Why the name The Westgate? Because um my husband when he lived in Miami and one thing he didn't know how to do is sales. So he heard that he liked Disneyland because he went to Disneyland when he was trying

to be a also an actor. Oh, really? So So he did like the camera as well. He says he doesn't. But as soon as like the camera comes, he would always hog the camera from me.

Yeah. And except when he was in his underwear, he didn't like that. That's funny, you know. So, um, so he bought a bunch of swamp land next to where the Disney property was, but it was on the West

Gate side of Disney, the the Disney's West Gate. So, interesting. So, he built two units there and um in the back of this orange grove and thinking if if it doesn't work out, you know, he'll just keep, you know, so what? So

he he had the name, but then it ended up into like 4,000 units. Wow. Apartments or something?

Time share. Time share. Okay. Yeah, that's right. What am I thinking? He's the king of time share.

Yeah. Um so when at the end of the day um a year and a half ago, how were y'all sitting financially?

A year and a half ago. Yes. Did he build back the empire? Oh my god. Yes. Yes, he built his empire. And now I don't even know how many resorts we have, but we're expanded into Mexico, Hawaii. Yeah.

And And so when did you start construction back on the Versailles? So Versailles, did y'all just keep going?

No. Well, so around um oh god, I think around 2014 we started construction. David's business was growing back then and that's when we ended up buying the Hilton and um and then by 2015 that's when our 18-year-old daughter died.

Oh god. And then he didn't care about Versailles anymore. Lisa is all this money in the the world and I can't bring my daughter back to life. Yeah.

So that's when we for formed the foundation and that's when it was a wakeup call for both of us in all honesty. Um it actually brought me closer to God because um we were going down a path that we could have,

you know, just gone like just in in like um a world like a life with no no real purpose like like full of like parties and show girls and you know all like that type of world where now

we were in a in a life of making a difference in this world like yes um um helping with like um policy change and going out there and giving speeches and now giving my Mrs. America contestants a platform to work on

and and it's been really um wonderful and we went through this 10-year journey together with this um passion with um saving lives from the drug epidemic.

See, he got to experience that in a big way for 10 years. Okay. And then last year in 200 or last year um we're 20 yeah 25 April I was in the hospital with him and um he he had cancer.

We had I had called the ambulance. He was um not feeling well. We went there and um and well there's something else I wanted to say before this but um it's okay but we went through a little struggle

like with battling the cancer when he was in the hospital. I was in the hospital. I slept on the bed and we I had a full-time nurse that would sleep on the chair. So we went through um five

years and I kind of disappeared from society in general. So I have like this void in my life of socializing with the outside world, you know, like and tell me about those moments in the hospital with him and what did y'all

talk about? Yeah. What was most important? Well, there was one time where we almost um No, give me a second. What was most important to you too?

To not miss a moment with him. Yeah. To not be there. I was afraid to go down to the cafeteria.

did y'all talk about in those times? Well, he was getting to the point where he wasn't like so much verbal.

Um, but he he was um most important for him was he always would say to when the attorneys came, make sure Jackie and the kids are taken care of, you know.

And um yeah, but one time in the hospital, so we we made it to I said, "Honey," cuz he would say, "I just want to give up." And I said, "Well, our 20 year anniversary is coming or 25 year

anniversary." Yeah. You know, and so so we would give him like a carrot to give him strength and and so he um was in the emergency room and the stroke of midnight. I said, "We got a kiss for our anniversary." So I I kissed

him and and because he always said I because he always like on the major anniversaries he'd always do give me something special for my anniversary like whether it's a piece of jewelry or another baby or whatever. So so so we

kiss but obviously he's in in you know in the emergency room and then the the nurse come like they did a swab on him and they came back in five minutes later and they said oh he's got COVID. I said,

"Well, you always said you give me something to remember and special by for our anniversary." You just kissed me and you got co Thank God I didn't get it. But um okay, moving forward um it this the struggle just got

too hard because the body can only fight so long of course and and it finally so we were in the emergency room and over the years um like you know it's tell him to you know accept Jesus, you know, pray to God and and he was

always a little you know stubborn about that. Mhm. I I don't know if he was a little bit of an atheist or or what. And when it was getting close to um him dying in the hospital, he closed his eyes

and like David, I'm like blowing his face and he and he opened his eyes and he says, "I just saw the Messiah." Oh gosh.

He said, "I want to go with him." He said, "It feels so good." Wow.

And it gave me chills. And that's when I realized that I was being selfish by prolonging pushing him because he wasn't going to get any better. I mean, he he was on a feeding tube. I had tubes like both arms like

every every or like just tubes everywhere. And and um that's when we finally had comfort. Um so um and he he passed around 6:30 in the morning.

Uh and and and and then so I started making the phone calls to the family. We were in the hospital.

I wasn't alone. He he had, you know, me and the the nurse who we loved with them.

And then we were going to have a regrouping. I had called all the kids.

Oh, the kids had actually talked to him the night before, so they all had their alone time. So he said their last words within their privacy.

So we everyone had closure. That's good. And it was just so amazing how like it all just happened like that.

Thank God they all had closure with him and then so I think that's what he was able to let go.

Yes. and um and and go um and uh so my plan was to get together for the in the afternoon with all the family and talk about and hug each other, you know, support each other and and um

and so my mom I said, "Okay, mom, you you know, you you bring dad and my sister and then I've got the kids are going to already at the house already.

And and and then so I'm planning dinner, an early dinner, and and then my mom called me and and she says, "Jesse just passed. She went to pick her up. She didn't answer her phone." And my mom went in there. She

was keeled over. She had taken a shower and she had had was doing a line of what she thought was cocaine that she bought from a neighbor and she died of fentanyl poisoning.

Jesus Christ. Yeah. So my mom called the ambulance and they gave her seven doses of Narcan but the blood supply to the brain was the the back of the the stems of the the brain stem swelled too much.

But they were a able to take her and they did put her on like this life support machine and they kept doing brain scans for like 3 days and but to lose both of them in the same day was

just oh my god awful. Yeah. But um the one it's like now we got to do a double funeral. Well I'm going to have him do his respectful one and then my sister. But we did the good news was

when my sister we donated all of her organs. Oh, good. Because there was still enough oxygen by the time they got her to the hospital to save them to save many other lives.

Yes. So, I might do something in that field, too. Do a fundraiser for organ donors, of course. Because what um people don't realize of of anyone that is an organ donor, only 3% when when they pass are able to

they're able to use their organs because most people they're they're dead too long and and and the organs are already oxygen depleted. But of that 3% like not all of them um the families don't want to or whatever. So it was like a very small

percent that actually donate the organs. So we were saves people. We were proud to do the heroes walk with with her. It was very so good.

Very sad. But um yeah, I mean I hope to meet some of those organ donors someday. I mean not the receivers, the recipients.

That would be wonderful. Well, I'm I'm proud of you for the work you're doing and um Well, I want to do more.

No, for sure. For sure. and and um there's a lot of need out there, right?

Well, I think I feel there's a lot of people that are kind of searching like we're in a very crazy world out there right now. It's great.

Yeah. Sometimes I don't even watch the news because I like to kind of detox. I don't know even with these pod like or not I'm talking about podcast. You're a podcaster.

Thanks a [laughter] whole lot, Jackie. I know I'm kidding. No, no, but the AI stuff that you see on the internet, like sometimes you can't tell what's real and what's not. That's right.

And and I just feel like um that we all need to um stick together as far as being nice to people like um we're all human.

Spreading love and the humanity of life is so important. Yeah. And and I don't know. I know there's a reason why I've gone through everything I have between having the Broadway show. I mean, the largest home in America. I mean, just like I didn't

ask for any of that. I I didn't I wasn't even trying to be the queen of the queen of her side. No, it was all by accident. Everything was placed to me and by accident.

Can we I mean we you can see because who you are as a person. So, and and um people care about you.

Well, I care about them. You know, it's so important to know that. So, what you're doing is is good.

I want to do more though. And I feel that like with um whatever fame I have, I mean, I'm not like a superstar by any means, but that because I prayed to God and I said, you know, God, why why

there's got to be a reason why all this is placed in my life. And I I feel that it's to give back.

We just keep doing that and I'm going to So from the television side, let's re let's go back for a second. Um you've been reworking on Versailles and it's coming along.

Yes. 100,000 square feet of it. I know. I know. And I can't go anywhere in the world where like I can be in Japan for example or in Indonesia and and I'll always get someone that what's happening to the the big house the big

house. What you know and and so are you going to live in it? You think maybe?

Yes. Um well I did kind of stop like construction like I didn't stop construction. I just didn't go over to Versailles.

Yeah. Um the workers were still there like after my husband passed because it's we tried to get him in for his birthday last year and he just passed like a month and a half before his birthday. we had it almost done ready

for like the co and um I wanted to be there with him as a family and we almost made it and then after he didn't make it it's like my passion for living there all that um it's it's not and and Versail is a

big undertaking I didn't realize how much that cuz he always like handled all of that stuff and uh you're thrown into this whirlwind. I'm sure he's set up like all the companies, right?

Mhm. And do you have your fingerprints on that? Are you do you have to Is there a great team running all of that?

You mean our our hotels? Hotels and Yes. Yeah, we have a good team. And our family, we all have board seats.

Okay. So, yeah. Yeah. You know, we have a board of directors and so so that's good.

Wow. Very good. Yeah. Thank God. Because that's overwhelming. And because from the business side, do you find yourself seeing that as an opportunity or are you going, "Okay, I'm I'm overwhelmed. I just want to focus on humanity and

helping people." Well, I want to focus on humanity and helping people. But that also Are you involved in the business? Do you want to be more involved in the business?

I'm more community outreach. Yes. And the wife of the the founder. Um and um handling like char charitable because there's a big opportunity, you know, being on the board and and and helping guide some of some policy at a company,

you know, because that's one of the things that is so important. And I try to talk to CEOs and and company owners about, you know, uh, building mission-based companies and how you can change the direction of a company.

Well, being missionbased. Yeah. Right now we have um, uh, CEOs and COO that are non-family members, but my boys um, well, my our family, we're going to get it to be we're gearing them all up. So, in a couple of

years, it's back to a a family run company. Oh, good. But right now, you can't just throw a 26-y old kid into a CEO position. You know what I mean? So, but they're quick learners and I'm so proud of them.

And um so I've got the kids. I've got one that's in accounting. I've got um uh one in marketing. We need marketing.

Marketing everything. And then two two of the boys are new development. They have their own construction company. Oh, nice.

So, it's actually worked out great. And then I have uh my stepson Richard Seagull who's in charge of all the sales. So, it's with such a big family, everyone's got their own niche.

I love and I love like the the PR community outreach and also like I am involved with the board. So in any major decisions like I don't need to do the the dayto-day stuff or if if someone brings something to me

we bring it to the board. So you know America and the world needs to know these things right they don't they just saw one side from years ago. So uh thank you for sharing so much of that.

Are you happy? Are you okay? Tell me about you. Yeah I'm doing good. Um um it's it's like kind of like I've got like amazing things happening in my life and then like amazing good and then amazing bad

like losing all so many of my loved ones and then Yes. I I mean it's like and maybe like I I was talking to you earlier. I'm I'm I I have people reaching out to me that wants to do another show about finishing

Versailles and I feel that I in my heart I really want to um share and and I actually have a lot of footage that I filmed over the years just to have archived that I would like to share

with the rest of the world to give them some entertainment and um the rest of the world wants to see it. I want to show them and I also want to do things with Versailles. I mean whether it's corporate like retreats or um maybe

amazing wedding or um maybe we'll do like um talks like I don't know. I think there's just so much cuz so many people want to see it but I know it's there for the greater good. Like I don't feel like

it's my house. I feel like it's really God's house is how I feel. I think that's I think that's where we should end this.

Thank you. Thank you, Jackie, so much for sharing so much of your life and giving uh a different perspective on what so many people have just watched in a documentary. It means a lot. I appreciate it.

Thank you so much. Thanks so much. You too.