A documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles. During the next two years, their empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and ... Read allA documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles. During the next two years, their empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis.A documentary that follows a billionaire couple as they begin construction on a mansion inspired by Versailles. During the next two years, their empire, fueled by the real estate bubble and cheap money, falters due to the economic crisis.
- Awards
- 8 wins & 27 nominations
- Self
- (as Jackie Siegel)
- Self - Niece
- (as Jonquil)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
- Self
- (archive footage)
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWith the upturn in the economy, the Siegels now completely own the Versailles property. It is now the fourth most expensive house in the United States.
- Quotes
Lauren Greenfield: How are you personally responsible for the re-election of George Bush?
David Siegel: I'd rather not say because it may not necessarily have been legal.
- ConnectionsFeatured in De wereld draait door: Episode #8.55 (2012)
At the beginning of this disturbing documentary, David Siegel owns Westgate Resorts, one of the world's largest timeshare companies. Worth billions, he spends those billions freely, aided by his clueless trophy wife, blonde and buxom beauty-contestant Jackie, who helps him plan the largest single-family home in the USA: 90,000 square feet of Versailles palace imitation—"kitsch" is perhaps the best descriptor.
Slowly director Lauren Greenfield lets the nice David talk about their fortune and the home. At the same time, Jackie has eight children, stating that without nannies she would never have that many. When the market tumbles, the Segals face not finishing their home and severely reducing their lifestyle, but not Jackie's spending or her nannies.
As in any good documentary, the players do all the heavy satirical lifting, in this case Jackie redefines white trash and the much older David clarifies the role men play who indulge their wives as long as they are hot and attentive. "Foolish old man" is an apt cliché for a decent guy who was smart enough to make billions, but not smart enough to avoid cheap money (which his timeshare sales staff sold in abundance itself to reckless, unsophisticated buyers—a sad irony for all involved) and a cheap wife.
As the documentary glides inexorably to its conclusion, we are left with the impression of a decent man who couldn't control his appetites and a Pollyanna wife who couldn't control her spending. Be warned, this is not Inside Job, an insightful documentary about how all of us contributed to the crash; it is rather a depressing insider look at how so many bought into the cheap money trap and could not get out.
My radio co-host and I had to take a half hour to detox from this misery before we could record our show in at least a minimal upbeat manner. The Queen of Versailles is unremittingly gloomy probably because a part of us all is hidden amongst that greed. And yet, it is in the best documentary tradition: truth will out.
- JohnDeSando
- Aug 6, 2012
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Nữ hoàng Versailles
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $1,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,401,999
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $51,326
- Jul 22, 2012
- Gross worldwide
- $2,495,706
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix