Doug Lebda was the founder and CEO of LendingTree, an online lending marketplace he created after experiencing frustrations with his own mortgage in 1996.
On October 13, the company announced that Lebda, 55, had died in an ATV accident, according to a news release. "The LendingTree family is absolutely heartbroken," the company wrote, adding that the CEO "passed away unexpectedly yesterday in an all-terrain vehicle accident."
He died on the family's farm in North Carolina, according to The New York Times. The Times noted that Lebda "was also a minority owner of his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers."
Lead Independent Director, Steve Ozonian, has been appointed to replace him, the company wrote.
Lebda's wife, Megan Lebda, has now released a statement.
"It is impossible to capture the depth of who Doug was and what he meant to all of us," Megan said on October 13, according to People, which noted that he is also survived by his three daughters.
The Times named them as Rachel, Abby and Sophia.
"He was an amazing man with a heart so big it seemed to have room for everyone he met. Doug was compassionate, generous, and endlessly curious about the world and the people around him," Megan added. "He made friends everywhere he went. His energy was magnetic, his smile contagious, and his presence was a source of comfort and inspiration."
Megan continued: "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."
Doug's LinkedIn page explains the "spark" that led him to create LendingTree.
He wrote that after struggling to get his first mortgage, he wondered, “Why not create a way for banks to compete for their customers' business instead of customers having to do all the legwork to find the best deals?” That idea became LendingTree in 1996 — an online loan marketplace where consumers can compare multiple offers from a national network of lenders.
Before founding the company, he worked as an auditor and consultant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers after earning his bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University.
The financial media company Benziga estimated Doug's net worth in 2025 at more than $300 million.