A little-known American manufacturing billionaire has quietly become one of the biggest property owners in one of Florida’s most exclusive coastal towns.
David MacNeil, the founder and sole owner of automotive accessories company WeatherTech, has agreed to buy a $75 million luxury estate in Manalapan, Florida, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal. The property sits on land once owned by music legend Billy Joel and significantly expands MacNeil’s already large real estate footprint in the area.
The ocean-to-Intracoastal estate spans nearly two acres and features a modern, resort-style mansion of more than 16,000 square feet. The home includes a private bowling alley, cinema, spa wing, billiards room, wine cellar, private dock and an underground tunnel connecting the main house to an oceanfront cabana. The fully furnished property was listed earlier this year for nearly $85 million.
The estate was previously developed by retired businessman Frank Mennella, who purchased the land from Billy Joel in 2018 before building the luxury compound. MacNeil is now set to acquire the home at a reported price of about $75 million.
This purchase is not MacNeil’s only investment in Manalapan. Over the past two years, he has quietly spent about $94 million buying two additional nearby waterfront parcels. Combined with the latest acquisition, MacNeil now owns an estimated $170 million worth of real estate in the small but ultra-wealthy town.
Sources say the latest purchase was driven by family reasons. MacNeil’s daughter, who lives in nearby Wellington, is expecting a child, and the ready-to-move-in estate offered an immediate solution compared to building a new home from scratch.
Despite his massive wealth, MacNeil remains largely unknown to the public. He built his fortune through WeatherTech, a company best known for high-end rubber car floor mats. The business began in the early 1990s after MacNeil, then a car salesman, noticed the superior quality of floor mats while renting a car in Europe. He initially imported the product to the United States, running the company from his garage before eventually manufacturing his own designs.
Today, WeatherTech is a highly profitable, privately owned company expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue. Industry estimates place MacNeil’s net worth at more than $2 billion.
While he avoids publicity, there have been occasional glimpses of his wealth. In 2018, MacNeil made headlines after purchasing a rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO for a record-setting $70 million.
