David Geffen seeks to be declared single as divorce from David Armstrong advances, proposing up to $50,000 a month in support

Los Angeles — Billionaire David Geffen, 82, has asked a California court to legally declare him single as his divorce from husband David Armstrong, 32, progresses, according to newly filed documents. In the filings, Geffen says he is willing to provide up to $50,000 a month in spousal support for one year, but only if he receives credit for money he has already spent during the split. He has already paid about $200,000 in cash since the February separation and another $200,000 for rehab, in addition to letting a Manhattan apartment rent-free at roughly $15,000 a month, according to the filings reviewed by TMZ and other outlets.

The couple tied the knot in 2023 without a prenuptial agreement, a notable detail given Geffen’s estimated net worth of about $8.7 billion, per Forbes. Just over a year later, Geffen filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, and the dispute over spousal support, potential asset division, and other terms has grown contentious. In the latest court papers, Geffen’s side emphasizes that there was no community property to divide because he was already 80 and long retired when the marriage began; he asks the judge to legally declare him single as soon as possible.

The filings are being handled by Hollywood’s go-to divorce attorney Laura Wasser. Geffen contends he has bent over backward to settle the spousal support matter, but mediation has stalled, and he accuses Armstrong of attempting to smear him in the media as part of the dispute. TMZ notes that Wasser’s filings reiterate Geffen’s claim that there was no community property built up during the short marriage because he was already in retirement at the time. Geffen also explicitly requests that the court recognize him as single promptly.

Armstrong — who increasingly goes by Donovan Michaels — has a history that the gossip-and-arts press have traced extensively. Public descriptions in the notes paint a portrait of a young man who has moved through social and modeling circles in New York City and Miami, with past work as a dancer and promoter at gay clubs. A friend cited in the coverage said Armstrong was known for maintaining a high-profile, image-forward persona, and that he had changed his name and pursued various personal ventures amid the whirlwind romance with Geffen. In this narrative, Armstrong is described as having access to a reported $5 million stash of art, jewelry, and watches gifted during the relationship.

Geffen’s career stretches back decades beyond his marriage, including the co-founding of DreamWorks in the 1990s with Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg, and the founding of Geffen Records and Asylum Records, which produced or promoted artists such as Elton John, Cher, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, and Nirvana. His influence in entertainment and business has long been a subject of public attention, and the ongoing divorce adds a new chapter to the public-facing narrative of a man whose wealth, history, and personal life remain intertwined with the industries he helped shape. Forbes’ billionaire ranking, which has previously pegged his net worth in the vicinity of several billions, provides a numerical backdrop to the high-stakes financial discussions that are unfolding in court documents.

Geffen’s prior relationships have sparked public interest over the years, including a 2012 breakup with Jeremy Lingvall when Geffen was in his late 60s and Lingvall was 41, as well as other high-profile pairings. While past anecdotes have drawn attention to Geffen’s personal life, the current proceedings center on the terms of the split with Armstrong, the status of spousal support, and whether any marital property or investments should be considered part of the dissolution. The ongoing case underscores the complexities that can accompany high-net-worth marriages that began later in life, especially when prenuptial arrangements are not in place.

As the legal process unfolds, Geffen’s camp has signaled a preference for a prompt resolution that would allow him to move forward as a single individual. The court filings continue to shape the public understanding of the case, even as both sides weigh private settlements and potential public statements. The timeline remains fluid, with the next hearing date and the precise scope of any settlements to be determined by the judge overseeing the dissolution.

The Business & Markets context for this development centers on how high-profile divorces intersect with wealth, branding, and corporate influence. While the Geffen case is a personal matter, the implications extend to perceptions of wealth management, the treatment of spousal support in long-running marriages, and the ongoing ways media coverage can shape public narratives around billionaires and their personal lives. As this case advances, observers will be watching not only for a potential settlement but also for any broader signals it might send about asset valuation, charitable foundations, and the financial strategies of one of entertainment’s most influential figures.