Art magnate David Geffen faces legal action from his former spouse for alleged contravention of a contractual agreement.
In a shocking turn of events, entertainment mogul and art collector David Geffen is being sued by his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, for alleged breach of contract and exploitation.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, paints a picture of a manipulative and abusive relationship, drawing parallels to the plot of the movie Trading Places. Michaels claims that Geffen used him as a trophy to impress wealthy friends while treating him as a "sexual commodity."
Michaels, who was orphaned as a toddler and placed in the foster care system at 18 months, met Geffen in 2016 through the website SeekingArrangements.com. According to the lawsuit, their first encounter resulted in Geffen paying Michaels $10,000. They later married in 2023 without a prenup, but Geffen filed for divorce in May 2025. Michaels alleges that Geffen promised financial security but abandoned him nearly broke and homeless.
The 33-page complaint also accuses Geffen of treating Michaels as a "living social experiment" and a trophy to show off to his wealthy friends. It further alleges that Geffen learned about Michaels' troubled past and saw him as an object of exploitation.
The lawsuit also involves Geffen's art dealings. A legal dispute began with Justin Sun, who claims that an Alberto Giacometti sculpture titled Le Nez, which Sun purchased at a Sotheby's auction in November 2021, was stolen from his collection and sold as part of an elaborate fraud. Sun's former art adviser, Sydney Xiong, is accused of exchanging Le Nez for two unidentified paintings from Geffen's collection and an additional $10.5 million in cash.
Geffen, who is a regular member of the Top 200 Collectors list and has donated large sums to cultural institutions like Lincoln Center, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, has not yet responded publicly to the allegations. His legal representation, Patricia Glaser, called the lawsuit "pathetic" and stated that there is no contract between them. Geffen has filed a countersuit against Sun, describing his case as a "sham."
The lawsuit was reported earlier this week by Variety, and the full details can be found in the 33-page complaint. As this story develops, more details are expected to emerge.
[1] Source: Variety, "David Geffen Sued by Estranged Husband Donovan Michaels for Alleged Breach of Contract and Exploitation" (2022)
- David Geffen, a noted art collector and entertainment mogul, is embroiled in an art-related legal dispute involving a modern Alberto Giacometti sculpture, "Le Nez."
- The auction of "Le Nez" at Sotheby's in November 2021 and subsequent events led to a dispute between Geffen and Justin Sun, who claims the sculpture was stolen and sold fraudulently.
- Geffen, a regular contributor to renowned museums like the Museum of Modern Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, finds himself at the center of an allegation of being involved in an elaborate fraud.
- The art world and entertainment industry have been watching the unfolding legal drama between Geffen and his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, who has accused Geffen of exploitation and breach of contract.
- Celebrities and art collectors worldwide are now paying close attention to the Geffen-Michaels lawsuit, not only for its sensational elements but also for its potential implications on the art world and celebrity marriages.
