David Geffen has settled his messy divorce.
In May 2025, the billionaire, 83, filed for divorce from his husband Donovan Michaels, 33, after less than two years of marriage. A settlement was reached April 2026.
The DreamWorks co-founder, who had not previously been married, had cited irreconcilable differences when he first filed. Catch up on the divorce, and the net worth that was at stake, and their settlement below.
© Getty ImagesThe divorce
TMZ, who was first to report the news last year, further reported at the time that not only was the former couple's date of separation marked as February 22, 2025, but also, they shockingly did not have a prenup in place.
David was represented by famed divorce attorney Laura Wasser, who has also represented the likes of Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Kim Kardashian, Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani, Kelly Clarkson, and Jennifer Lopez, among others, in their high-profile divorces.
Per the filing, David would be paying his soon-to-be ex-husband's spousal support, as well as his attorney fees.
© GettyThe settlement
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, though terms of the settlement were not disclosed, David marked "uncontested" on the divorce papers, meaning both parties agree on every key issue, including spousal support and property division, without dispute.
Two months after David filed for divorce, his now ex-husband claimed in a lawsuit that David allegedly paid him thousands for sex and groomed him. He further claimed they had a "sexually-open marital lifestyle," all of which David denied.
In October, Donovan withdrew the lawsuit, though he requested that it be dismissed without prejudice so he could re-file the complaint in the future. He subsequently accused his ex of hiding sources of income in an effort to not pay him out.
Who's the ex
Donovan, who also goes by David Armstrong, according to TMZ previously performed as a go-go dancer.
© GettyThough the two, who tied the knot in March 2023, kept their relationship largely private, and it's unclear when they first met, Donovan, who used to work as a model, dancer and fitness instructor, reportedly was a trainer for David.
David shared a rare glimpse into the relationship on Instagram featuring Donovan as far back as December 2021, when he shared since-deleted photos of them aboard his famed $400 million mega-yacht. "Merry Christmas indeed!" he wrote at the time.
© GettyDavid's net worth
David, who is originally from New York, has an eye-watering net worth of $9.3 billion, according to Forbes.
He started his career in 1964 at the mailroom of talent agency William Morris before quickly becoming a talent agent, and in 1971, co-founded Asylum Records, which went on to sign artists such as Joni Mitchell, the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, JD Souther and Warren Zevon. He has since also founded Geffen Records, Geffen Pictures, and most notably, DreamWorks.
He sits on #372 in Forbes list of billionaires for 2026, and per the outlet, he has both an impressive art and property collection, including a $54 million penthouse in the Upper East Side.
