Billionaire media mogul David Geffen's acrimonious divorce from his much younger ex-husband, David Armstrong, also known as Donovan Michaels, appears to be nearing a conclusion after a protracted and bitter year-long legal fight. According to newly filed court documents obtained by TMZ on Tuesday, the 83-year-old Geffen asserts that a settlement has been reached with Armstrong, aged 32, though the specific terms remain entirely confidential.
Explosive Allegations and Financial Demands
The couple's 2023 marriage, which occurred without a prenuptial agreement despite Geffen's estimated $8.7 billion fortune, quickly unraveled. Geffen filed for divorce in May 2025, citing irreconcilable differences and listing their separation date as February 22, 2025. Armstrong retaliated in July 2025 by filing a civil lawsuit against Geffen, alleging a failure to provide lifelong support.
In his lawsuit, Armstrong made severe accusations, claiming Geffen used a toxic combination of seduction, control, promises of love, and extravagant wealth to trap him in a cycle of dependency, submission, and humiliation. He framed the split not as a personal disagreement but as the systemic exploitation of a vulnerable, marginalized young gay Black man by a wealthy, powerful white gay billionaire who considered himself untouchable.
Shocking Claims and Legal Maneuvers
Armstrong alleged that Geffen evicted him from their New York home and cut off financial support, rendering him unable to secure appropriate housing or meet daily necessities. Among the more startling claims, Armstrong stated Geffen forced him to have all his body hair lasered off and once flew into a rage over an ingrown hair. However, in a surprising move in October, Armstrong, represented by attorney Bryan Freedman, filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice, allowing for potential refiling later.
Much of the divorce battle centered on spousal support. Armstrong claimed to be in dire financial straits, arguing that Geffen's offer of $50,000 per month was insufficient, especially compared to the alleged $3 million monthly living expenses during their relationship. He objected to Geffen's request to limit spousal support to only a few more months.
Geffen's Counterarguments and Financial Disclosures
Geffen, through his legal team led by Laura Wasser, countered these claims. He argued that he had already provided Armstrong with $400,000 since their separation and allowed him to stay rent-free in a $15,000-per-month New York City apartment. Geffen stated he was working diligently to settle the divorce and accused Armstrong of seeking to delay resolution.
In a signed declaration, Geffen expressed frustration, saying, While I have continued to support Donovan and I have made every effort to reach a global settlement in this matter, Donovan and his legal team have not participated in good faith. His attorneys detailed additional support, including at least $500,000 paid to Armstrong post-separation, $50,000 toward legal fees, and $198,450 for a stay at a private ultra-luxury drug rehabilitation center.
Background and Broader Context
Geffen and Armstrong reportedly married quietly in Beverly Hills in 2023, nearly a decade after meeting around 2016. Armstrong's career has involved various odd jobs while socializing in New York City modeling circles. This is not Geffen's first age-gap romance; he previously split from Jeremy Lingvall in 2012 after six years together and dated 20-year-old Jamie Kuntz, at one point filing a restraining order against him.
Geffen's storied career includes founding Asylum Records, signing artists like Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, and later establishing Geffen Records, which released works by Elton John, Cher, and Nirvana. He also co-founded DreamWorks with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg in the 1990s.
As the legal documents indicate a settlement has been reached, the details remain shrouded in secrecy. Representatives for both Geffen and Armstrong have not responded to requests for comment from The Daily Mail, leaving the public to await further developments in this high-profile divorce saga.
