A CEO worth $305 million killed in an ATV accident at his newly purchased dream farmhouse had multiple past brushes with the law and a scandalous love life.
Doug Lebda, who ran online marketplace LendingTree, died at his riverfront farm in Polk County, North Carolina, on October 12.
A wave of tributes poured in for the 55-year-old millionaire, who also had mansions in the state and Nantucket, as well as a superyacht.
Now public records obtained by the Daily Mail show that Lebda had at least 11 criminal filings to his name, caused by an array of speeding and reckless driving offenses.
The executive also endured a split from first wife Tara Garrity, 53, that was so nasty Garrity now touts the experience in her role as a ‘high-conflict divorce consultant.’
The mother of Lebda’s three children says her background enables her to help other women ‘regain their power’ after a marriage implodes.
Divorce records show that the exes separated in June 2011 – a year after Lebda’s second wife, Megan Greuling, 37, joined LendingTree as a marketing coordinator.
Lebda got engaged to Greuling in 2015 and the couple wed in a lavish ceremony in 2016, the year before she was named as Director of PR and Communications at his company.
Following the CEO’s sudden death, she paid tribute to her beau as a ‘magnetic’ leader who was ‘compassionate, generous, and endlessly curious about the world.’
LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda, 55, seen with his second wife Megan, 37, endured a litany of reckless driving offenses and a bitter divorce before he was tragically killed in a freak ATV accident on his sprawling North Carolina estate over the weekend
Lebda enjoyed a life of luxury which included a $10.6 million mansion on North Carolina’s Wrightsville Beach (pictured), a sprawling 277-acre farm, a Nantucket hideaway, and a yacht
The executive endured a turbulent divorce with his first wife Tara Garrity (pictured) who is a divorce consultant that touts her personal experience to ‘help women regain their power’
Lebda’s death was announced by his company in a statement on Monday, and a police report said he was found dead in a wooded area on his newly purchased farm at around 7.30pm the day before.
Greuling was listed as a ‘witness’ on the report, but investigators said Lebda was driving his Honda ATV alone at the time of his fatal accident.
According to public records seen by the Daily Mail, Lebda had a long history of driving infractions, speeding and reckless driving arrests dating back to 2004.
His first arrest came in North Carolina that year, when he was caught speeding at 75mph in a 55mph zone, resulting in him being handed a $150 fine.
This arrest was followed by another $120 speeding ticket two years later, and in 2009 he was again charged with speeding after driving 75mph in a 55mph zone and not having a proper speedometer. The ordeal set him back $221.
In March 2010, Lebda was again hit with a $155 fine for speeding at 71mph in a 50mph zone. Two weeks later, he was also caught speeding at 75mph in a 55mph zone, and was fined $155. Two months after that case, he was caught speeding at 78mph in a 60mph zone.
Over the next two-and-a-half years, Lebda was arrested three more times, including for reckless endangerment, speeding at 88mph in a 55mph zone, and speeding in a school zone.
The bulk of Lebda’s arrests came soon after his contentious divorce from his first wife Garrity, when their 14-year marriage came to an end.
Lebda was found dead on his sprawling North Carolina estate (pictured) that he bought for $2.75 million two months before. His family said he always dreamed of owning his own farm
Lebda was described by his wife Megan Greuling (seen together) as ‘an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met’
Lebda tied the knot with Megan in a lavish ceremony (pictured) in 2016, the year before she was named as Director of PR and Communications at Lebda’s company
It is unclear what triggered the split.
Court records seen by the Daily Mail show the pair fought over custody of their youngest daughter for years after their separation, including a filing from the CEO against his ex-wife earlier this year.
In January, Lebda attempted to hold his ex-wife in contempt of court in a criminal filing, alleging that she violated their custody agreement not to slander each other in front of their children.
In his filing, which Lebda went on to later rescind, he claimed that their youngest daughter spent Christmas Day in 2024 at his home, before leaving to spend the evening with her mother.
Once his daughter got to her mother’s home, he claimed that she told him that she did not want to go on vacation with him to the Bahamas at the end of their winter break, much to his dismay.
He said that Garrity had a ‘long history of disparaging’ him in front of their daughter, violating their agreement to be civil after their divorce.
Lebda boasted a net worth of over $305 million, and he owned part of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers. He was also a major sponsor of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, and is pictured with minority owner Fred Whitfield
Tributes poured in for Lebda following his death, including his interior designer who said he was ‘forever grateful’ to have worked on his multi-million dollar properties in Charlotte, Nantucket and his yacht
Tributes poured in for Lebda following his death.
His interior designer J Layton shared glossy snaps of projects he’d completed for Lebda in Charlotte, Nantucket and on the superyacht.
‘I am in tears as I write this,’ Layton said.
‘Yesterday was a very hard day. I learned my dear client and friend Doug Lebda tragically died in an accident. ‘
‘I have been so shaken by this news. I literally cannot believe it. This man and his beautiful wife Megan have meant the world to me.
‘I was blessed to have worked with them on their house in Charlotte, their yacht and then finally their amazing property in Nantucket.
‘They are wonderful people who put their trust in me and my work and I will forever be grateful. Their home in Charlotte was my first project to be published nationally. I have shared a few images and a video.’
Lebda was remembered by many as a visionary businessman who built his fortune from scratch in 1996 after being frustrated by his attempts to secure his first mortgage.
He said he came to believe the system was stacked against people like him at the time, and he launched LendingTree to make it easier for everyday people to navigate the financial world.
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.
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.
The founder was remembered by many as a visionary businessman who built his fortune from scratch in the early days of the internet
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.
In Greuling’s statement announcing his death, she wrote that 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,’ she continued.
‘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 went on.
‘He took care of everyone he loved — family, friends, colleagues, and strangers. He always made sure everyone knew how deeply he cared.’
‘Our hearts are broken, but we are also deeply grateful for the love and support that has poured in from across the world,’ she concluded.
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