David Geffen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Geffen
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Geffen in 1973
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David Lawrence Geffen
February 21, 1943 New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Santa Monica College (no degree) |
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| Title | Founder of
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| Spouse(s) | Donovan Michaels (m. 2023) |
David Lawrence Geffen (born February 21, 1943) is an American businessman who has worked in music, film, and media. He is famous for starting several important companies. In music, he helped create Asylum Records in 1971. Later, he started Geffen Records in 1980 and DGC Records in 1990. He also co-founded DreamWorks Records in 1996. In the film world, he started the Geffen Film Company in 1986. In 1994, he teamed up with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg to create the well-known studio DreamWorks SKG.
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Early Life and Education
David Geffen was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York. His parents, Abraham and Batya, were Jewish immigrants who came to the United States. David's mother owned a clothing store.
David finished high school in Brooklyn in 1960. He went to the University of Texas at Austin for a short time, and then Brooklyn College, but he left both. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, hoping to work in the entertainment business. He also attended Santa Monica College briefly. Geffen has said that he found school challenging because he has dyslexia, which makes reading and learning difficult.
Business Career
David Geffen started his career in entertainment in 1964. He worked in the mailroom at the William Morris Agency (WMA), which is a company that represents actors and musicians. He quickly became a talent agent, someone who helps artists find jobs and deals. He learned a lot about the business by reading the important papers he delivered. One of his mailroom co-workers was Elliot Roberts, who later became his partner.
In 1968, Geffen became a talent agent for another company, Ashley-Famous Agency. By 1969, he was a top executive and also started working as a personal manager. This means he helped manage the careers of artists like Laura Nyro and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
A music executive named Ahmet Ertegun suggested that Geffen should start his own record label. This idea led to big things!
Asylum Records
In 1971, David Geffen and Elliot Roberts started Asylum Records. They chose the name "Asylum" because they wanted to sign artists who might have trouble finding a record company. Asylum Records became very important for the "Southern California folk-rock sound." They signed famous artists like the Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Linda Ronstadt.
Geffen left Asylum in 1975. The company later joined with another label, Elektra Records. In 2004, Asylum Records was brought back to focus on urban music, signing hip-hop artists.
After leaving Asylum, Geffen worked for a short time at Warner Bros. film studios. He then took a break because he was told he had cancer (which turned out to be wrong). During this time, he taught a class about the music industry at Yale University. In 1980, he found out he was healthy and decided to return to the entertainment world.
Geffen Records
In 1980, David Geffen started his own record label, Geffen Records. One of the first big artists to sign with Geffen was Donna Summer. Her album The Wanderer was a success.
A very important moment for the new label was the release of John Lennon's album Double Fantasy in November 1980. Lennon said that Geffen was the only one who trusted him enough to sign a deal without hearing the music first. Sadly, Lennon was murdered in December 1980, and Double Fantasy became a huge seller.
Over the years, Geffen Records signed many famous artists, including Olivia Newton-John, Elton John, Cher, Aerosmith, Guns N' Roses, Nirvana, Weezer, and Blink-182. The label became very successful.
In 1990, Geffen sold his label to MCA Records. He continued to run the label until 1995. Later, Geffen Records became part of Universal Music Group and then merged with other labels to form Interscope Geffen A&M Records.
Geffen Film and DreamWorks SKG
Through his company, The Geffen Film Company, David Geffen produced popular movies like Risky Business (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), and Beetlejuice (1988). He also helped fund Broadway musicals like Dreamgirls and Cats.
In 1994, Geffen joined forces with two other famous people, director Steven Spielberg and animation executive Jeffrey Katzenberg. Together, they created the movie studio DreamWorks SKG. DreamWorks became known for making many successful films and animated movies. Geffen left DreamWorks in 2008.
Philanthropy
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David Geffen is also known for his generous donations to different causes, especially in education and the arts.
In 1995, he gave $5 million to UCLA's Westwood Playhouse, which was then renamed the Geffen Playhouse.
In 2002, he gave a huge gift of $200 million to the School of Medicine at UCLA. Because of this amazing donation, the school was renamed the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. In 2012, he gave another $100 million to the same medical school. This donation helps pay for the full cost of attendance for many students, allowing them to study medicine without worrying about tuition.
In 2015, Geffen pledged $100 million to help renovate a concert hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. This hall is now known as David Geffen Hall.
In 2021, he gave $150 million to the Yale School of Drama. This gift made it possible for all students in master's, doctoral, and certificate programs to attend for free. The school was renamed in his honor.
In 2021, he also donated $75 million to the Columbia Business School in New York. One of their new buildings will be named David Geffen Hall.
Personal Life
Wealth
As of October 2023, David Geffen has an estimated net worth of $9.1 billion. This makes him one of the richest people in the entertainment industry.
He has bought and sold some very expensive homes. In 2020, he sold his estate in Beverly Hills, California, for $165 million. He also owns large luxury yachts. He once owned the yacht Rising Sun and later bought Pelorus.
Art Collection
David Geffen is a passionate collector of American art. His collection includes works by famous artists like Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and Willem de Kooning. Experts say his collection is one of the best for post-war American art.
He has sold some of his paintings for very high prices. In 2006, he sold a painting by Jackson Pollock called No. 5, 1948 for $140 million, making it the most expensive painting ever sold at that time. In 2016, he sold De Kooning's Interchange for $300 million and Pollock's Number 17A for $200 million.
Political Views
David Geffen supports the Democratic Party and has donated money to their candidates. He was an early supporter of President Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
He also donated to oppose Proposition 8 in California in 2008. This proposition would have banned same-sex marriage. Geffen, along with other Hollywood figures, supported equal rights for all couples.
Awards and Honors
In 2010, David Geffen received the Ahmet Ertegun Award from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This award honors people who have made a huge impact on the music industry.
In 2011, he was given the President's Merit Award at the 53rd Grammy Awards for his "indelible contributions to the music industry."
Images for kids
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David Geffen in 1973
See also
In Spanish: David Geffen para niños
