David Geffen, the 82-year-old billionaire film mogul, is facing a lawsuit from his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, aged 32. Filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, the lawsuit accuses Geffen of treating Michaels like a “living social experiment” during their two-year marriage, claiming breach of contract among other serious allegations.
The lawsuit outlines several grievances, including an accusation that Geffen evicted Michaels from their New York home while attending the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to Lauren Sanchez in Venice, Italy, last month. Michaels asserts that Geffen reneged on a promise to provide lifelong financial support, which he contends was a fundamental aspect of their relationship.
Geffen, who co-founded DreamWorks and is estimated to have a net worth of $8.8 billion, is described in the lawsuit as having fostered a “toxic mix of seduction, control, promises of love and lavish displays of wealth” to manipulate Michaels into a state of dependency and humiliation.
Details of the Allegations
Michaels claims that their relationship began on the dating site SeekingArrangements.com in 2016, where Geffen allegedly paid him $10,000 for sex. The couple married in a private ceremony in Beverly Hills in March 2023, with no prenuptial agreement signed. Geffen filed for divorce in May, citing irreconcilable differences, but the details of their separation remained private until Michaels initiated the lawsuit.
In the complaint, Michaels, whose birth name is David Armstrong, describes himself as a “vulnerable young gay black man” who was exploited by a “wealthy, powerful white gay billionaire.” He alleges that Geffen subjected him to criticism regarding his appearance and hygiene, which required painful treatments. Michaels claims he endured “back-handed insults and put-downs” about his past, likening their dynamic to the plot of the film Trading Places.
Michaels states that Geffen professed love and they agreed to share assets equally, with Geffen pledging financial support for life. According to the lawsuit, Michaels sacrificed his modeling career and independence to fulfill this promise.
Legal Responses and Public Perception
Geffen’s legal representation, led by attorney Patty Glaser, has strongly denied the allegations, asserting that no binding contract existed between the two. Glaser stated, “We will be vigorously and righteously defending against this false, pathetic lawsuit.”
The lawsuit also claims that Geffen ordered Michaels to leave their New York home while he celebrated aboard his $400 million superyacht, Rising Sun, just before the Bezos wedding. Michaels alleges that during this time, he was left without accommodation as Geffen enjoyed lavish festivities with what he describes as the “0.0001 percent of the wealthiest people on the planet.”
The complaint further highlights a stark contrast between Geffen’s public image as a philanthropist and the private actions he allegedly took against Michaels. It states, “While Geffen holds himself out to the public as an extraordinarily charitable man whose foundation gives millions and millions of dollars to advocacy and support groups for the homeless and disadvantaged populations, he is simultaneously endeavouring to render Michaels impoverished and homeless.”
As the lawsuit unfolds, the implications for both parties could be significant, with attention focused on the dynamics of wealth, power, and personal relationships in high-profile cases.
