Hollywood mogul David Geffen’s divorce from his younger husband Donovan Michaels, also known as David Armstrong, has rapidly escalated into a bitter and highly public dispute. The 82-year-old billionaire, with an estimated net worth nearing £7 billion, filed for divorce in May 2024 after nearly two years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. The couple’s split was complicated by the absence of a prenuptial agreement, which has led to a contentious legal battle focusing on financial and personal grievances.
The origins of their relationship adds even more spice to this unfolding drama. According to a detailed lawsuit filed by Michaels in Los Angeles Superior Court, the couple initially met in 2016 on the controversial dating website SeekingArrangements.com. This platform, which connects wealthy men with younger partners, was described in the complaint as a marketplace where Geffen sought ‘the vulnerable.’ In what the lawsuit terms an initially transactional encounter, Geffen reportedly paid Michaels nearly £7,500 for sex on their first night together. Over time, however, the relationship evolved, at least outwardly, into something resembling commitment—culminating in their private wedding ceremony in May 2023.
Despite this progression, Michaels’ lawsuit paints a picture of exploitation and control rather than mutual partnership. He alleges that Geffen treated him as both a private sexual object and a public prop to enhance the mogul’s image within his powerful social and business circles. Michaels claims to have sacrificed his personal ambitions—including a burgeoning modelling career and his independence—relying heavily on Geffen’s promises of love, financial support, and equal sharing of assets.
The complaint reveals troubling accusations of control over Michaels’ physical appearance, including mandated painful laser hair removal treatments and dental work, with Geffen intolerant of even minor imperfections like ingrown hairs. The lawsuit also alleges that Michaels was pressured into drug use to keep pace with Geffen’s high-profile party lifestyle, ultimately leading Michaels to seek help through a twelve-step recovery program.
Tensions reached a breaking point post-separation, with Michaels accusing Geffen of refusing to negotiate divorce terms unless Michaels dismissed his legal team and dealt solely with Geffen’s handpicked lawyers. Michaels further claims that Geffen forced him out of their shared New York residence, effectively rendering him homeless, and cut off his financial support.
While the lawsuit does not disclose specific financial demands, Michaels is reportedly seeking compensatory damages along with legal fees. Given that their marriage lasted less than two years and took place in California, state law entitles Michaels to one year of spousal support. However, the dispute over community and separate assets appears poised to complicate proceedings, especially since Geffen’s retirement means that most of his wealth comes from stocks and equities considered separate property.
Geffen, who has kept a low profile since retiring 15 years ago, has yet to respond publicly to these allegations. But the intensity of the claims and their graphic nature suggest that this divorce will be a high-profile and acrimonious affair, exposing unsettling dynamics behind the glamorous facade of a billionaire’s personal life.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
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