David Geffen has lived a lot of life in his 82 years. He’s a self-made billionaire, he dated Cher, he’s given away hundreds of millions of dollars to charities, colleges and museums. He also married a much-younger man in 2023. The man has two names – his birth name is apparently David Armstrong, but he also goes by Donovan Michaels. Weird! Well, Geffen is now divorcing his 32-year-old husband and there’s not a prenup! Oh no.
Billionaire David Geffen has filed for divorce from his husband David Armstrong after less than two years of marriage. According to the divorce filing, which was obtained by PEOPLE, the 82-year-old music mogul and the 32-year-old dancer (who also goes by Donovan Michaels) did not sign a prenup before marrying in March 2023.
In the petition, filed in Los Angeles on Friday, May 16, Geffen cites “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for their split. The couple’s date of separation is marked as Feb. 22, 2025, and celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser is representing Geffen.
In 1971, Geffen co-founded Asylum Records and he later founded Geffen Records in 1980 and DGC Records in 1990. The mogul also co-founded DreamWorks Records in 1996. He is now retired, and Forbes has reported that his net worth may be around $8.7 billion.
Much of Geffen’s income consists of stocks and equities in property, and California law states that dividends from stocks remain separate, probably leaving Armstrong without much cash in the split, according to TMZ. However, California law also requires divorce petitioners to pay spousal support for half the length of the marriage, meaning that Armstrong would receive payments for one year. Geffen will also pay his now-estranged husband’s spousal support and attorney’s fees, per the filing.
Maybe I’m wrong about how this will play out, but I would assume that Geffen isn’t interested in some long, drawn-out fight. He’s being represented by Laura Wasser, who will probably encourage him to simply give David/Donovan a nice settlement and call it a day. I assume “nice settlement” would be something in the $20 million area, which David/Donovan should just accept and move along with his life. I didn’t even know that Geffen was married, and I would imagine it’s probably a surprise to most people in his circle too. I mean… Geffen is fifty years older than this guy. It was not built to last.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid, Getty.
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- Los Angeles, CA – Billionaire, David Geffen is very casual as he arrives with his partner Donovan Michaels at the Lakers game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Pictured: David Geffen, Donovan Michaels BACKGRID USA 24 APRIL 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: BLW Clips / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – David Geffen arriving to Lakers Playoff Game at the Lakers game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Pictured: David Geffen BACKGRID USA 24 APRIL 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Los Angeles, CA – David Geffen arriving to Lakers Playoff Game at the Lakers game at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Pictured: David Geffen BACKGRID USA 24 APRIL 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
That’s what David Geffen gets for marrying a man old enough to be his grandson. A house and some cash would do nicely.
What exactly do you think Geffen deserves to ‘get’? His husband was 30 years old when they married. I continue to be baffled by people who take glee when May/December romances don’t work out for the older partner.
But you think they’d have so much to talk about. I loved my grandparents stories.
An horny old fool and their money are soon parted. He and Bill Belecheck should start a support group…..
No fool like an old fool. Bill Belecik should take notice.
Was thinking the same thing.
No pre-nup? Married two years? I think the billionaire might pay out a lot more I’m going to follow this.
Apparently Geffen’s wealth is structured in a way that puts the vast majority out of the reach of alimony.
Even without a prenup California law allows for 50% of what was earned during the marriage only. Which I imagine is still considerable but not nearly close to his total fortune. I don’t think he even needs to offer $20 million though he may do something sizeable with an nda. Unless geffen actually earned $40 million in the last two years.