CEO, 55, worth $305m bought dream farm just two months before he died in ATV accident
LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda was living his dream on a brand-new country estate when a freak ATV crash turned it into a nightmare, killing the millionaire CEO during a solo ride.
The 55-year-old, who had boasted a net worth of over $305 million through founding the online lending marketplace, was killed on his sprawling North Carolina estate on Sunday, October 12.
Just two months before tragedy struck, Lebda had purchased the sprawling 227-acre riverfront farm for $2.75 million — a dream he had long cherished, according to his family’s tribute in his online obituary.
His loved ones said he often spent his downtime gardening, fishing and focusing on regenerative farming, ‘an expression of his enduring desire to build, nurture and give back in every aspect of his life,’ the obituary read.
Lebda was found dead in a wooded area on the family farm at around 7:30pm, and a new incident report about his death said he was alone at the time.
Although investigators said Lebda was by himself when he was killed by his Honda all-terrain vehicle, his 37-year-old wife, Megan, is listed on the new report as a ‘witness.’
According to the Charlotte Observer, a 54-year-old man was listed as ‘others involved’ in the accident, and a report from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office redacted information about the ordeal.
The sheriff’s office added that an investigator at the scene ‘determined that there were no indications of foul play.’
LendingTree CEO and founder Doug Lebda was enjoying a solo day on his newly-bought dream farm when he was killed in a freak ATV accident
Lebda was found dead on his sprawling North Carolina farm (pictured) that he bought for $2.75 million two months prior to the tragedy
Authorities said Lebda was last known to be alive around 3pm, but his body was not found until over four hours later.
Police have not offered any more details about how Lebda was killed by his ATV.
The sprawling estate where he had died was purchased under Lebda Land Holdings LLC with LendingTree’s address, and included a number of plush amenities for the millionaire, his wife and his three daughters from a previous marriage.
The property featured a three-bedroom ‘barndominium,’ a 5.5 acre pond, forests, over 1.5 miles of private land on the Green River, and open fields for fishing, hiking, hunting and kayaking.
The CEO’s death has prompted a wave of heartfelt tributes from loved ones, former co-workers and friends, who said that he had built the company entirely from scratch.
Lebda, a Pennsylvania native, launched LendingTree in 1996 due to frustrations over securing his first mortgage, and he came to believe the system was stacked against aspiring homebuyers.
His obituary said that ‘whether it was to buy a home, consolidate debt, plan for the future, or simply to enjoy life, Doug believed that financial services should be readily available and understandable to everyone.’
The businessman built his platform in the early years of the internet, and was seen as a pioneer of price comparison sites.
Lebda was found in a wooded area on his estate around four hours after he was last seen alive. Pictured is a promotional video shot of woodland on his farm
The property included a number of plush amenities for the millionaire, including a three-bedroom ‘barndominium’, a 5.5 acre pond, forests, over 1.5 miles of private land on the Green River
Lebda was described by his wife, Megan (seen together) as ‘an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met’
In 2003, he sold the company to IAC/InterActiveCorp, and from 2005 to 2008, Lebda served as IAC’s president and COO.
He went on to form Tree.com, which was later rebranded to LendingTree, and branched it off from IAC as a separate company, the Observer said.
The firm grew into one of the most prominent price comparison sites in the US, and had reported an expected revenue of upwards of $1 billion this year.
Lebda was also known for his philanthropy in Charlotte, including donating more than $1 million to help the city through the pandemic and supporting The Foundation for the Carolinas.
He also served as co-chairman of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte and owned part of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
His wife, Megan Lebda, 37, announced the loss of her husband in a statement.
‘It is impossible to capture the depth of who Doug was and what he meant to all of us. He was an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met,’ Megan, the director of PR and communications at LendingTree, said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail.
Lebda (pictured with Fred Whitfield, president of the Charlotte Hornets, in 2017) founded the company in 1996 after having a bad experience with trying to obtain a mortgage
‘Doug was compassionate, generous, and endlessly curious about the world and the people around him. He made friends everywhere he went. His energy was magnetic, his smile contagious, and his presence was a source of comfort and inspiration.’
‘Doug’s greatest joy was seeing others succeed. His generosity knew no limits, and his kindness touched every single person who crossed his path. He lifted people up, believed in their potential, and celebrated their wins as if they were his own,’ she continued.
‘He took care of everyone he loved — family, friends, colleagues, and strangers. He always made sure everyone knew how deeply he cared,’ Megan went on.
‘Our hearts are broken, but we are also deeply grateful for the love and support that has poured in from across the world.’