TL;DR

• Gay billionaire David Geffen denies estranged husband Donovan Michaels’ claims of financial abuse and exploitation.
• Michaels accuses Geffen of coercion, forced cosmetic procedures, and sexual demands.
• Geffen fires back, alleging Michaels squandered his money on OnlyFans, escorts, and drugs.
• The messy divorce exposes issues of power dynamics and exploitation in queer relationships.

The Battle of the Billionaire Divorce

When billionaires split, the drama is never small—and David Geffen’s ugly divorce from estranged husband Donovan Michaels is serving up more scandal than a late-night soap. The openly gay entertainment mogul, 82, has gone on the offensive, denying accusations that he financially abused and “exploited” his 32-year-old soon-to-be ex.

In new court filings, Geffen insists he never promised Michaels a lifetime of luxury, despite his husband’s claims. The younger man painted a portrait of a relationship poisoned by control: forced drugs, coerced cosmetic procedures, and constant critiques of his looks. According to Michaels, Geffen would hurl “back-handed insults” about his background and force him into painful treatments—all while demanding “sexual access at will.”

But Geffen is calling BS. The mogul says Michaels voluntarily went under the knife, picked up his own habits, and concealed a ketamine and cocaine addiction from him. Geffen even says he offered to pay for rehab, only to be brushed aside. Instead, Geffen portrays himself as the one exploited, claiming Michaels bled him dry with luxury trips, designer clothes, and even hundreds of thousands of dollars on OnlyFans subscriptions and escorts.

Power, Money, and a Messy Gay Divorce

Geffen and Michaels tied the knot in 2023 without a prenup—bold move for an 82-year-old billionaire marrying a man half a century his junior. By April 2025, Geffen filed for divorce, citing “irreconcilable differences.” Michaels countered, demanding spousal support before filing a July lawsuit that accused Geffen of breaking an oral agreement to provide lifelong financial backing.

Geffen’s camp says not only is that a lie, but Michaels isn’t exactly struggling—he’s still living in one of Geffen’s New York apartments rent-free while collecting monthly payments. Hardly the image of a man “rendered homeless,” as his lawsuit claims.

Still, the most salacious allegations are impossible to ignore. From whispered drug-fueled coercion to degrading sexual demands, Michaels’ lawsuit has peeled back the velvet curtain on their union. And Geffen’s fiery denials ensure this battle will keep lawyers, gossip columns, and brunch tables buzzing for months.

What It Means for the LGBTQ Community

Beyond the tabloid sparkle, this case is a grim reminder of the unique vulnerabilities within queer relationships—especially when age, money, and power intersect. The LGBTQ community has fought hard for the right to marry, but with that equality comes the same messy entanglements of wealth, exploitation, and abuse claims seen in straight divorces.

When an iconic gay figure like Geffen faces allegations of control, coercion, and exploitation, it shines a harsh spotlight on toxic power dynamics that can exist in queer relationships too. While the courts will ultimately decide whose story holds, the case is already a cultural cautionary tale: money can’t buy happiness, and marrying without a prenup might just cost more than anyone bargained for.

For LGBTQ people watching this unfold, it’s not just salacious gossip—it’s a lesson in protecting oneself legally and emotionally, even when romance feels like a fairy tale. Because as this divorce saga proves, fairy tales can turn into courtroom nightmares real quick.