The well-worn "irreconcilable differences" has once again been the excuse for one of the most significant divorces in recent years in Hollywood. The billionaire David Geffen (82) filed for divorce from his spouse, dancer David Armstrong, known professionally as Donovan Michaels (32), on May 16th in a Los Angeles court.
Before getting married in March 2023, and despite the circumstances where one of the spouses has a very high social status, the couple did not sign any prenuptial agreement. While it is not expected to be a fierce battle for a share of the fortune, it is known that the situation is currently calm.
Forbes magazine estimates the music and film producer's net worth at $8.7 billion. As a significant portion of Geffen's income is in stocks and investments, under California law, dividends are kept separate. The law also requires spousal support to be paid for half the duration of the marriage. Armstrong has also demanded that his ex-husband cover legal fees and expenses.
Geffen is represented by Laura Wasser, one of the most renowned attorneys known for meeting the needs of clients like Jennifer Lopez, Liam Hemsworth, Kim Kardashian, and Johnny Depp.
However, Page Six has reported that David Armstrong has commissioned an investigation to assess the exact wealth of the man who produced records for John Lennon, Donna Summer, or Bob Dylan after founding Asylum Records and Geffen Records. Despite Geffen being retired for fifteen years, there are certain discrepancies that concern the young dancer. "The exact nature and extent of separate assets and liabilities are unknown at this time," states the American media outlet, citing court documents.
The former couple met when David was working as a personal trainer at Geffen's residence in 2020. What started as a professional relationship evolved into friendship and later into love. According to Page Six, an ex-girlfriend of the dancer, who was known for dating women, stated that he "got what he wanted" by marrying a wealthy man.
The New York businessman is single again. He is currently the richest man in Hollywood, with part of his fortune coming from being one of the three founders of Dreamworks. In other rankings, he is listed as the wealthiest homosexual on the planet.
In the seventies, Geffen had a romantic relationship with Cher, and a decade later, rumors circulated that he had secretly married Keanu Reeves. This unverified information circulated for years until the parties involved had to deny it.