David Geffen Denies Promising Lifetime Support to Estranged Husband: Docs Call It a Shakedown
Riley Carter here. Okay, but like, why is billionaires’ divorce drama still dominating timelines? Let’s unpack this without trying too hard.
David Geffen has officially pushed back against his estranged husband David Andrew Armstrong’s claim that Geffen promised uninterrupted, lifelong financial support. In court papers filed in response to a civil lawsuit Armstrong brought in July, Geffen’s legal team flatly denies any such assurances and calls the allegations a calculated attempt to extract money and public humiliation.
Geffen’s response, signed by attorney Patty Glaser and filed after Geffen’s high‑profile divorce petition in May, makes a few points loud and clear. Geffen acknowledges he was generous during the relationship, housing Armstrong in a New York apartment and providing what he describes as “nearly unlimited spending money.” But Geffen says that generosity never amounted to a legal or verbal commitment to share ownership of assets or offer lifelong support if the marriage ended. According to the documents, Geffen’s written estate plan reflects his intent that assets acquired before the marriage remain his separate property.
Armstrong, who has used the professional name Donovan Michaels, alleged in his July filing that Geffen promised they would divide earnings and accumulated property equally and that Geffen guaranteed support for life. Geffen’s filing rejects those claims as “ludicrous” and paints a picture of what his team calls opportunistic behavior: Armstrong enjoyed designer shopping sprees, cosmetic procedures, luxury trips, and substantial discretionary spending allegedly on Geffen’s dime.
The response doesn’t stop at lavish spending. Geffen alleges Armstrong spent hundreds of thousands on OnlyFans subscriptions and male escorts near the end of the marriage and concealed regular illicit drug use, including ketamine and cocaine, despite Geffen funding treatment. The documents argue Armstrong maintained a performative “facade” of devotion while allegedly pursuing a lifestyle that included other people and heavy personal spending.
Geffen filed for divorce in May after less than two years of marriage and, notably, without a prenuptial agreement. Forbes estimates Geffen’s net worth around $8.8 billion, though sources note Geffen retired about 15 years ago and mainly lives off investments, property sales, and dividends tied to assets he mostly accumulated prior to meeting Armstrong. That distinction is central to Geffen’s legal position: assets owned before the marriage should be treated as separate property.
Geffen’s team also says Armstrong continues to reside rent‑free in one of Geffen’s New York properties and accept monthly payments, while simultaneously turning the split into a “public spectacle.” The response frames Armstrong’s civil suit as a strategic, public attempt to secure a large payout rather than a claim based on enforceable promises. Geffen insists his written estate documents and his lack of any legal promise contradict Armstrong’s assertions.
This is documentation‑heavy theater with obvious stakes: public reputation and multi‑million dollar—or potentially billion‑dollar—property and asset divisions. With no prenup and both high emotion and high net worth involved, the coming litigation could involve deep dives into financial records, communications, and the exact language of Geffen’s estate plan.
Keep an eye on filings and any depositions that might reveal more about what was said, in writing or otherwise, between the two men. Lawsuits like this often hinge on small details turned legal linchpins.
Okay cool, so like, yeah, that happened.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ, Forbes
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
