David Geffen, one of the founding figures of the modern entertainment industry, finds himself back in headlines, this time not for a reverberating music deal or donation to academia, but due to a turbulent lawsuit filed against him by his former husband, model and dancer Donovan Michaels.
Michaels, 32, claims that Geffen, 82, reneged on promises he had made to him over the years, including a commitment to financially support him and ensure his welfare for life, despite no written agreement being signed between them. According to the lawsuit filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the relationship between the two began in 2016, in a meeting on the dating site SeekingArrangements, a controversial platform for relationships between “sugar daddies” and “sugar babies.”
David Geffen accused of paying thousands for sex, forcing cosmetic procedures on estranged husband in bombshell lawsuit https://t.co/m1ZS7O4zDZ pic.twitter.com/6MNrtFQisZ
— Page Six (@PageSix) July 23, 2025
Michaels claims that already on the night of their first meeting, Geffen paid him $10,000 for sexual relations, and since then, the relationship between the two developed into an institutionalized romantic relationship, initially as an intimate partnership, and later as marriage without a financial agreement.
Without contract and with many expectations
In March 2023, the two married in a civil ceremony, without a prenuptial agreement, which, according to Michaels, strengthened his sense of security and trust toward his billionaire partner. However, shortly afterward, the picture changed. According to the lawsuit, Michaels, who allegedly gave up his modeling career and financial independence, found himself controlled, manipulated, and allegedly humiliated. Geffen demanded that he undergo laser hair removal, painful dental treatments, and even frequently criticized his external appearance.
David Geffen and Donovan Michaels (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The sharper allegations further claim that Geffen turned Michaels into a “display object,” attractive prey for photos with his friends from the upper echelon, while in private treated him as a tool for sexual satisfaction and as a redesign project. According to Michaels’ claim, Geffen even supplied him and himself with various drugs, including cocaine, MDMA, and cannabis, aboard his luxurious yacht, Rising Sun, where he frequently hosted high-level guests.
From promise to love to billion-dollar lawsuit
After Michaels entered rehabilitation treatment in early 2025, he claims he tried to rehabilitate his life and break free from his dependence on Geffen. But according to him, Geffen responded with a drastic step by cutting off financial support, demanding divorce unilaterally, and even demanding that Michaels vacate his New York apartment, which allegedly caused him to become homeless.
The lawsuit claims that the relationship between the two resembled the plot of the movie “Pretty Woman,” but in a dark version involving a young, Black, homosexual, and formerly orphaned man, who was trapped by a white and influential tycoon who “wrapped the exploitation in a cloak of compassion and generosity.” Michaels now seeks financial compensation, residential housing, and ongoing financial support that will allow him to live with dignity.
Publicized legal battle
Geffen’s attorney in the civil lawsuit, Patricia Glaser, completely denied the allegations, declaring, “There was never any contract, written, oral, or implied, between the parties. We will respond to this lawsuit decisively and boldly. This is a pathetic and false lawsuit.”
Geffen, who retired from his businesses and whose wealth is currently estimated at $9 billion, is represented in the divorce proceedings by senior attorney Laura Wasser, known as Hollywood’s “divorce queen,” while attorney Patricia Glaser leads his legal defense in the civil lawsuit. Michaels, for his part, is assisted by attorney Samantha Spector, who has collaborated with Brian Friedman, a prominent attorney specializing in complex celebrity cases.
