David Geffen’s ex-husband Donovan Michaels files a shocking lawsuit alleging abuse, control, and exploitation during their secretive 9-year relationship.
David Geffen’s once-private romance with model Donovan Michaels has erupted into a very public—and explosive—legal battle.
According to Variety, On July 22, 2025, Michaels (also known as Donovan Armstrong) filed a 33-page lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing the 82-year-old entertainment titan of treating him as “a living social experiment” rather than a genuine partner.
The complaint paints their nine-year relationship, two of which were spent as a married couple, as a real-life riff on Trading Places—with Geffen cast as an exploiter hiding behind philanthropy and fame, and Michaels as a vulnerable young man whose painful past was weaponized for Geffen’s benefit.
According to the suit, the couple met in 2016 on SeekingArrangements.com—a website where wealthy “sugar daddies” supposedly connect with “vulnerable” young adults. Michaels says Geffen paid him $10,000 for sex on their very first night together and then gradually lured him into what he believed was an equal, lifelong partnership.
“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,” the filing asserts. In 2023, the pair married without a prenuptial agreement—reinforcing Michaels’ belief that their bond was real.
Michaels—who grew up in foster care after being orphaned as a toddler—claims that once he gave up his modeling career and personal independence, Geffen’s true intentions surfaced.
The mogul allegedly subjected him to relentless criticism and strict controls over his body: painful laser hair-removal and dental procedures were mandated, and even minor imperfections drew harsh rebukes. Behind the façade of a generous philanthropist—whose name adorns hospital wings and museum galleries—Michaels alleges Geffen wielded his wealth as a tool of dominance.
The breakup in April set the stage for this lawsuit. Michaels says that while Geffen was hosting A-list friends on his superyacht Rising Sun in Venice, he ordered Michaels to vacate his New York home—effectively rendering him homeless—and abruptly cut off his financial support. All the while, Geffen continued to portray himself as a champion of the disadvantaged.
The complaint also delves into allegations of drug-fueled parties on the Rising Sun, claiming Geffen provided cocaine, MDMA, and cannabis, expecting Michaels to partake. Struggling with addiction and left “afraid, isolated, and without meaningful care,” Michaels says he had no choice but to sue.
High-profile attorneys have signed on for both sides. Geffen is represented by divorce specialist Laura Wasser, while Michaels is working with Samantha Spector and litigator Bryan Freedman—who recently won a $1.5 billion settlement for the “South Park” creators. Wasser and Spector notably squared off in headline-grabbing splits like Kardashian-West and Depp-Heard, adding another layer of drama to an already sensational case.
As filings continue, the world is finally seeing behind the curtain of one of Hollywood’s most secretive unions. What began as a private arrangement has spiraled into a courtroom showdown over power, exploitation, and the price of fame—reminding us that even the biggest moguls aren’t immune to very human—and very messy—relationship disputes.
