<TABLE> <S> <C>

<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF JUNE 30, 1998 AND DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1998 AND
1997 OF PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000016343
<NAME> PATRIOT AMERICAN HOSPITALITY, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998             JUN-30-1997
<CASH>                                          65,550                  20,360
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,982                  14,458
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                      1,242                   1,306
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0
<PP&E>                                       5,171,796               2,083,768
<DEPRECIATION>                                 125,952                  67,501
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,775,479               2,321,105
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                0                       0
<BONDS>                                              0                       0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0                       0
<PREFERRED>                                         48                       0
<COMMON>                                         1,450                     733
<OTHER-SE>                                   2,619,015                 908,294
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 6,775,479               2,321,105
<SALES>                                              0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               253,422                  73,118
<CGS>                                                0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                        0                       0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                               121,425                  30,736
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              85,027                  17,328
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 66,218                  28,147
<INCOME-TAX>                                       406                       0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                  0                       0
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 30,560                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                    27,556                  23,166
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.23                    0.54
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.23                    0.52
        

</TABLE>