Entertainment

David Geffen’s estranged husband, 32, claims billionaire, 82, is trying to hide his real fortune as divorce war takes ugly twist

By Editor,Marjorie Hernandez

Copyright dailymail

David Geffen's estranged husband, 32, claims billionaire, 82, is trying to hide his real fortune as divorce war takes ugly twist

Billionaire music mogul David Geffen’s estranged husband has demanded the tycoon give him full access to his finances as their contentious divorce turns even nastier.

Donovan Michaels, 32, and Geffen, 82, tied the knot in 2023 without a prenup, and the dancer turned trainer claims his billionaire ex is hiding exactly how much he’s worth, according to court documents obtained by the Daily Mail.

Celebrity attorney Samantha Spector, who is representing Michaels, said Geffen ‘is no different’ from any other litigant going through a divorce and should disclose all of his financial statements and assets as required by law.

Geffen is currently proposing that he pay Michaels $50,000-a-month for 12 months, backdated to May of this year.

‘This is quite literally a case of David and Goliath, whether there is a great socio-economic disparity between the parties,’ Spector wrote in the affidavit filed Thursday.

‘Donovan, who grew up in the foster care system, spent the majority of his adult life under the financial control of David, first in a romantic relationship and then in a marriage.

‘Now Donovan is being unfairly outspent in a divorce against an opponent (to wit, David) who is prepared to win by any means necessary. As is common knowledge, David is one of the world’s richest, most powerful, and influential men who, after making a fortune in the entertainment industry, pivoted full-time to operating The David Geffen Company, Barham Maritime LLC, and his Foundation, all three of which are in the business of leveraging billions of dollars for power, profit, and maximum tax benefit,’ the affidavit reads.

Spector added in the court documents that Geffen has ‘falsely attempted’ to portray himself as an ‘aging retiree’.

Geffen co-founded Asylum Records in 1971, making a fortune from signings including the Eagles, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan.

He went on to found Geffen Records in 1980, whose roster included Elton John, Cher, Aerosmith and Whitesnake.

Geffen also made vast sums of money through his eponymous film company, which made hits including Beetlejuice and Risky Business, before co-founding the iconic DreamWorks movie studio with Steven Spielberg.

Michaels – also known as David Armstrong – reportedly met Geffen when he worked as a personal trainer in 2020.

Spector is asking the judge to dismiss Geffen’s requests to terminate Michaels’ spousal support and to impose a $30,000 sanction against the trainer.

‘Donovan cannot even ascertain David’s income available for spousal support because David is aggressively obstructing discovery and limiting the financial information David deems necessary for Donovan to review,’ Spector said in the October 2 affidavit. ‘But David is not entitled to “pick and choose” which information he is willing to release.’

Geffen has tried to expedite the divorce, which he filed on May 16, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. The mogul is represented by leading divorce attorney Laura Wasser.

He has asked the court to bifurcate the case so he can obtain his single status back, while issues with spousal support continues to be hashed out in court.

In a motion filed on September 18, Geffen’s attorneys said the media mogul has agreed to pay Michaels $50,000 in monthly spousal support but only for a year.

Geffen also wants retroactive credit for the support he claims he has provided Michaels since they separated.

The billionaire claims he already shelled out $200,000 in cash since they split in February and another $200,000 for Michaels’ rehab, according to the mogul’s motion.

Details of that rehab stint have not been forthcoming.

Geffen also claims Michaels still lives in his $15,000-per month Manhattan pad rent-free.

‘While Respondent [Michaels] and his counsel may like to drag this matter on endlessly while Petitioner [Geffen] continues to support Respondent and while they continue with their efforts to frankly extort Petitioner in the civil Court and in the media, this Family Law matter to dissolve a marriage of less than two years needs to come to an end,’ wrote one of Geffen’s attorneys, Parima Pandkhou, in an affidavit.

Spector fired back in the recent court filing and claims Geffen is purposely suppressing details of his income and assets.

Spector said in the filing that there might be ‘community assets’ that her client is entitled to, including various investments and vehicles that Geffen acquired during their marriage.

‘Stunningly, in an effort to suppress relevant evidence regarding their opulent marital lifestyle, his income and cash flow available for support, and the nature and extent of the parties’ community property, David is prematurely and without fulfilling his obligations under the law filing this wholly improper Request for Order to terminate spousal support,’ Spector wrote in the October 2 affidavit.

‘David’s obvious attempt to circumvent and avoid California family law requirements should not be condoned.’

Daily Mail sources claim Michaels worked as a go-go dancer in clubs in Florida before allegedly moving on to webcam shows.

The muscular trainer went by the alias Brandon Foster and reportedly worked as a dancer and a club promoter at Miami gay clubs.

Michaels also filed a separate civil suit against Geffen in July for breach of contract and accused the music mogul of using a ‘toxic mix of seduction, control, promises of love, and lavish displays of wealth to entrap’ him in ‘a cycle of dependency, submission, and humiliation.’

In the 33-page complaint filed in LA Superior Court, Michaels claims their nine-year relationship and two years of marriage mirrored the plot line of the Eddie Murphy movie Trading Places, with a ‘young vulnerable black man, orphaned as a toddler’ drawn into the web of ‘an exploiter, masquerading as a white knight while hiding behind wealth, philanthropy and fame.’

Michaels claimed he met Geffen on a website called SeekingArrangements.com, and the mogul allegedly paid him $10,000 for sex that night, according to his civil case attorney Bryan Freedman.

‘Over time, what began as a paid sexual relationship evolved into a Marvin-type partnership,’ Freedman wrote in the civil complaint. ‘Geffen told Michaels he loved him and the two would treat one another as life partners, share all assets equally, and Geffen would support Michaels financially for life.

‘Michaels gave up his dreams – his modeling career, his independence – to dedicate himself fully to this promise. He traveled the world with Geffen, helped oversee the renovations of his mansions, managed his properties, supported his public persona, and served as his emotional lifeline. He did so with love, loyalty, and the belief that he mattered.’

Geffen’s attorney, Patty Glaser, called Michaels’ civil claims ‘ludicrous and contrived’, and insisted her client never made an agreement to look after the former dancer.

‘There was no contract – express, written, oral, or implied – that has ever existed,’ Glaser told the Daily Mail. ‘We will be vigorously and righteously defending against this false, pathetic lawsuit.’

Geffen came out as gay in 1992 after years of being linked to a string of well-known women, including Cher.

Michaels was not Geffen’s first age gap romance.

In 2012, when he was 69, he split from Jeremy Lingvall, who was 41 at the time, after six years together.

The same year, the music mogul also dated 20-year-old former college football player Jamie Kuntz.