David Lawrence Geffen, born on February 21, 1943, is an American entrepreneur, film producer, record executive, and media proprietor. Geffen's career began in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency, eventually leading him to become a talent agent and manager. He is known for co-founding Asylum Records in 1971 and later, Geffen Records in 1980, DGC Records in 1990, and co-founding DreamWorks Records in 1996. In film, he founded the Geffen Film Company in 1982 and co-founded DreamWorks SKG in 1994 with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg. Geffen's eye for talent helped establish the careers of artists such as Joni Mitchell, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Eagles, and Guns N' Roses.
Geffen's entrepreneurial ventures have made him one of the wealthiest individuals in the entertainment industry. Forbes estimated his net worth at $9 billion as of 2024. He is also a well-known philanthropist, with significant contributions to medical research, the arts, and Democratic political causes. His donations include a $200 million endowment to the School of Medicine at UCLA, which was subsequently named the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In July 2025, Geffen faced a lawsuit from his estranged husband, Donovan Michaels, alleging breach of contract and abuse, claims Geffen has refuted, calling the lawsuit a "work of fiction". As of November 2025, a termination date was set for Geffen's marriage to David Armstrong.
