David Geffen’s Ex-Husband Sues for Breach of Contract, Alleges Exploitation

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30, 2025 - David Geffen, the 82-year-old entertainment mogul and philanthropist, was hit with a lawsuit today by his estranged husband, 32-year-old Donovan Michaels (legal name David Armstrong), who accuses Geffen of exploiting him as part of a calculated “transaction.”

According to court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Michaels alleges that he met Geffen in 2016 on the dating website SeekingArrangement.com, where Geffen targeted him as “a vulnerable, marginalized young gay Black man.” The complaint claims the mogul “masqueraded as a white knight while hiding behind wealth, philanthropy and fame,” and paid Michaels $10,000 for sex on their first encounter.

Michaels married Geffen in 2023 without a prenuptial agreement, only to be abruptly cut off after Geffen filed for divorce in May 2025, citing irreconcilable differences. The plaintiff contends that Geffen promised lifelong financial support but instead “treated me as nothing more than a transaction,” leaving him “near broke and homeless.”

Geffen’s attorney, Laura Wasser, declined to comment on specifics of the case but indicated that the defense will “vigorously contest these unfounded allegations.” Messages to Wasser’s office seeking comment were not immediately returned.

This lawsuit adds to the public scrutiny surrounding Geffen’s personal life, following other high-profile legal disputes over art transactions earlier this year. Geffen, whose net worth is estimated at $9 billion, has been a major benefactor to cultural institutions including Lincoln Center and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.