LendingTree Founder Doug Lebda Fatally Crashed Quad Bike While Intoxicated
A new medical examiner's report has revealed that LendingTree founder Doug Lebda was intoxicated with alcohol and THC when he fatally crashed a quad bike at his remote country estate last year. The 55-year-old multi-millionaire was found dead at his newly purchased farmhouse in Polk County, North Carolina, on October 12, 2025.
Medical Examiner's Findings
The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that Lebda had a blood alcohol level of 0.14% at the time of his death, nearly twice the state's legal limit of 0.08% for impaired driving. The report also confirmed the presence of delta-9 THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in his system.
According to investigators, Lebda was not wearing a helmet or seatbelt when he crashed the Honda ATV during what appeared to be a joyride around his sprawling property. The autopsy concluded his death was accidental, caused by blunt-force injuries to his head and abdomen.
Timeline of Events
The medical examiner's report lists Lebda's time of death as 8:26 PM. Property camera footage showed him calling for his dog around 3:00 PM before driving into the woods on his estate. His second wife, Megan Greuling, 37, discovered his body later that evening.
Although Greuling was listed as a witness on the police report, investigators confirmed Lebda was driving the ATV alone at the time of the fatal accident. Authorities have not announced any criminal charges related to the incident.
History of Driving Infractions
The Daily Mail previously reported that Lebda had over a dozen brushes with the law related to driving infractions, speeding, or reckless driving arrests. Many of these incidents occurred following his contentious divorce from his first wife, Tara Garrity, in 2011.
Garrity, now 53, has since leveraged her experience to become a "high-conflict divorce consultant," helping other women "regain their power" after marriage breakdowns. The couple separated in June 2011, though the specific trigger for their split remains unclear.
Business Legacy and Personal Life
Doug Lebda built LendingTree from scratch in 1996 after becoming frustrated with the mortgage application process. He believed the system was stacked against ordinary people and created the platform to make financial services more accessible. The company grew into one of America's most prominent price-comparison sites, with expected revenue exceeding $1 billion this year.
Lebda amassed a net worth exceeding $305 million and owned significant properties, including the North Carolina estate he purchased for $2.75 million just two months before his death. He also owned part of the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and was a major sponsor of the NBA's Charlotte Hornets.
Philanthropy and Community Involvement
Beyond business, Lebda was known for his philanthropy in Charlotte, including donating over $1 million to help the city through the pandemic and supporting The Foundation for the Carolinas. He served as co-chairman of the 2020 Republican National Convention in Charlotte.
Tributes and Remembrances
Following his death, tributes poured in from across the business world, describing Lebda as a "magnetic leader" who revolutionized online marketplaces. His obituary highlighted his belief that financial services should be readily available and understandable to everyone.
Megan Greuling, who joined LendingTree as a marketing coordinator in 2010, became engaged to Lebda in 2015 and married him in a lavish ceremony in 2016. She was later named Director of PR and Communications at the company in 2017.
In a heartfelt statement, Greuling paid tribute to her husband as "an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met." She described him as compassionate, generous, endlessly curious, and someone who took great joy in seeing others succeed.
"Doug’s greatest joy was seeing others succeed," Greuling wrote. "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."
The medical examiner emphasized that while Lebda's toxicology results showed significant impairment, his death was directly caused by the blunt-force injuries sustained in the crash, not the intoxication levels themselves.
