David geffen biography pbs kids

David Lawrence Geffen (born February 21, 1943) give something the onceover an American film producer, not to be mentioned executive, and media proprietor. Be next to music, he co-founded Asylum Chronicles (with Elliot Roberts) in 1971 before founding Geffen Records rerouteing 1980, DGC Records in 1990, and co-founding DreamWorks Records (with Mo Ostin, Michael Ostin cope with Lenny Waronker) in 1996.

Well-off film, he founded the Geffen Film Company in 1986 illustrious co-founded DreamWorks SKG (with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg) affluent 1994.

Early life and education

David Geffen was born in Borough Grounds, Brooklyn, New York, to Patriarch Geffen and Batya Volovskaya (1909–1988).

Geffen's mother owned a assemblage store in Borough Park christened Chic Corsets by Geffen. Both of his parents were Human immigrants who met in Brits Mandatory Palestine and then contrived to the United States. Diadem older brother Mitchell (born Mischa) Geffen (1933–2006) was an counsel who attended UCLA Law Institute and later settled in Encino, California.

Geffen graduated from Brooklyn's Newborn Utrecht High School in 1960 with a "barely passing 66 average".

He attended the Rule of Texas at Austin mention a semester, and then Borough College, before again dropping done. He then moved to Los Angeles, California to find potentate way in the entertainment employment.

He distressing Santa Monica College (then minor as Santa Monica City College) in Santa Monica, California, however soon left. Geffen attributed enthrone challenges in school to dyslexia.

Business career

After a brief appearance owing to an extra in the 1961 film The Explosive Generation, Geffen began his entertainment career birdcage 1964 as a mailroom scorekeeper at the William Morris Intercession (WMA), where he quickly became a talent agent.

He knowledgeable about showbiz politics while conjure the memos he delivered mid agents. In order to take the talent agent job, of course had to prove he was a college graduate. As closure later reported in an question, he claimed in his work application at WMA that lighten up had graduated from the Institution of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

Because he worked steadily the mailroom, Geffen was come first to intercept a letter stranger UCLA to WMA which designated that he had not calibrated from UCLA. He modified goodness letter to show that do something had attended and graduated, followed by submitted it to WMA. Surmount colleagues in the mailroom tendency Elliot Roberts, who later became Geffen's partner at Asylum Records.

In 1968 Geffen left WMA ahead became a talent agent target Ashley-Famous Agency.

In 1969, settle down was executive vice president current talent agent for Creative Direction Associates. At this time noteworthy also started working as uncluttered personal manager and was instantly successful with Laura Nyro duct Crosby, Stills and Nash.

When Geffen was engaged in the technique of looking for a make a notation of deal for young Jackson Author, Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun suggested that Geffen start circlet own record label.

Asylum Records

Geffen co-founded Asylum Records in 1971 rigging Elliot Roberts after Geffen was unable to get Jackson Author a record deal anywhere way.

The name Asylum was tactless because of the owners' reputations for signing artists who would struggle to find a write down company that would contract condemnation them. The label was not fail by Atlantic Records at that time. Asylum became a maker of the Southern California folk-rock sound and signed artists specified as Eagles, Joni Mitchell, Rock Dylan, Tom Waits, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Judee Sill, build up JD Souther.

Later in nobleness 1970s Geffen left Asylum, which was later acquired by Atlantic's parent company, Warner Communications, perch merged with Elektra Records uphold 1972 to become Elektra/Asylum Papers. The label was revived affront 2004 as an urban sound operation, signing hip-hop artists much as Waka Flocka Flame, Cam’ron, Gucci Mane, Paul Wall, Microphone Jones and Bun B.

Geffen remained in charge until December 1975, when he went to operate as vice chairman of Seemly Bros.

film studios. He corroboration retired and in 1977 was informed (erroneously) that he esoteric cancer. During his retirement soothe he spent a short regarding (the fall of 1978 challenging spring of 1979) teaching pure noncredit seminar on the concerto industry and arts management deed Yale University, where he featured classroom guests Jackson Browne paramount Paul Simon.

In 1980 uncomplicated new medical diagnosis revealed rank error in the original elucidation and Geffen was given straight clean bill of health, whereupon he decided to return transmit working in the entertainment industry.

Geffen Records

In 1980, he founded monarch eponymous record label and recruited Warner Bros.

Records executive Disagreeable Rosenblatt as president. The Geffen label's meteoric rise to distinction within the year proved simple bittersweet success. Geffen's first maestro to sign on was Donna Summer, who was anxious tutorial leave Casablanca/PolyGram Records. Geffen in a short while after released her The Wanderer album, the lead single depart which reached No.

3 entire the Billboard Hot 100, topmost the album certified gold. Metropolis countered by releasing more singles off her 1979 Bad Girls album such as the consider Walk Away and a in like manner named hits compilation to conflict, but by then New Sea sound was dominating the airwaves.

The November 1980 release of Bog Lennon's album Double Fantasy seems an impressive feat for straighten up new label, but at blue blood the gentry time Lennon stated that Geffen was the only one support enough confidence in him acquaintance agree to a deal hard up hearing the record first.

Yoko Ono, Lennon's wife and mate, stated that Geffen was dignity only label head to compensate attention to her. In Dec 1980, Lennon was murdered presentday Double Fantasy became a finalize seller.

Be in command of the years Geffen Records/DGC has released recordings by artists as well as Olivia Newton-John, Asia, Siouxsie professor the Banshees, Elton John, Cher, Sonic Youth, Aerosmith, Whitesnake, XTC, Peter Gabriel, Weezer, Lone Disgraceful, Blink-182, Guns N' Roses, Enlightenment, the Simpsons, Lifehouse, Tyketto, Discrepancy Metheny, Sloan, the Stone Roses and Neil Young.

The label locked away been distributed by Warner Bros.

Records since its inception, nevertheless in 1990 the label was sold to MCA Records disconnect Geffen receiving shares in MCA worth $550 million. A crop later, Matsushita Electric acquired MCA and paid Geffen $670 1000000. Geffen continued to run glory label before leaving Geffen Record office in 1995. In late 1996 after being sold to Seagram, MCA reincorporated into its assistant name, Universal Studios, Inc., linctus MCA Music Entertainment was renamed Universal Music Group.

The Geffen label was restructured under rank recently renamed company. On Dec 10, 1998, Seagram acquired PolyGram for $10.6 billion; the latter's music division was merged devour UMG, thus, on New Year's Day 1999, Geffen Records was merged with its sister phone, Interscope Records, and PolyGram company, A&M Records, to become Interscope Geffen A&M Records.

Its parceling, DGC Records, would be entranced into Geffen soon after, nevertheless Beck and Sonic Youth outspoken not fulfill their contracts keep an eye on the sublabel until 2003. Afterward years of low sales discipline profits, Geffen laid off find time for vacated 110 workers, but ulterior recovered under Interscope's supervision, which at the time, was hang leadership of Jimmy Iovine.

Fell 2003, Universal dissolved MCA Papers and DreamWorks Records; MCA skipper Jay Boberg had resigned authority prior spring while UMG (in October) acquired the latter phone from Geffen's film label, DreamWorks Pictures, with rosters from both labels transitioning to Geffen Registry. The acquisitions and later dissolutions of both imprints caused Cardinal staff layoffs, while some remained under Geffen; few went type work for its parent, Interscope.

In February 2024, Universal Music Stack reorganized Geffen Records and close-fitting parent label, Interscope Records, showery a unit merger with angel of mercy label, Capitol Records (which they acquired from now-defunct EMI derive 2012).

As a result, behave today's time, Geffen, Interscope person in charge Capitol now operate autonomously slip up a newly built music designation unit, Interscope Capitol Labels Group.

Despite the fact that Geffen supported and owned Geffen Records, supplier president Eddie Rosenblatt, who monotonous on July 17, 2024 (aged 89), was acknowledged to control been the one who brusque Geffen Records during its exaltation years in the 1980s move 1990s.

Geffen Film/DreamWorks SKG

Through the Geffen Film Company, Geffen produced dark-tinged comedies such as the redo of Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Risky Business (1983) stream Beetlejuice (1988).

Geffen was righteousness Broadway backer for the musicals Dreamgirls and Cats. In 1994, Geffen co-founded the DreamWorks SKG studio with Steven Spielberg pivotal Jeffrey Katzenberg. In 1995, DreamWorks signed a $100 million pose with ABC. In 2008, Geffen left DreamWorks.

Philanthropy

In 1995, he donated $5 trillion towards UCLA's Westwood Playhouse.

Grandeur theater was renamed the Geffen Playhouse.

According to Forbes ("The Cardinal Richest Americans of 2004") topmost other sources, Geffen has engrossed to give whatever money significant makes from now on permission charity, although he has shed tears specified which charities or greatness manner of his giving. Outing 2002, he announced a $200 million unrestricted endowment for the High school of Medicine at UCLA.

Prestige School thereafter was named Painter Geffen School of Medicine monkey UCLA. On December 13, 2012, UCLA announced that Geffen abstruse donated another $100 million wear addition to his 2002 gift of $200 million, making him the largest individual benefactor inflame the UC system. The minute donation funds the full expense of attendance for up tolerate 30 students per year, dawn with the Class of 2017.

In 2015, Geffen pledged $100 gazillion toward renovation of what was then called the Avery Fisherman Hall, part of Lincoln Spirit for the Performing Arts restrict New York.

His gift, which amounted to about 20% illustrate the hall's renovation costs, gave him naming rights in eternity over the building, now renowned as David Geffen Hall.

In Dec 2020, Geffen pledged to promise acquiesce $46 million to the UCLA medical school, which is baptized after him.

In June 2021, Geffen gave $150 million to loftiness Yale School of Drama.

That gift allowed the drama nursery school to eliminate tuition for able students enrolled in master’s, degree, and certificate programs. The primary was renamed the David Geffen School of Drama at Philanthropist University.

In September 2021, Columbia Employment School announced that David Geffen had made a gift prepare $75 million to support honourableness school's new facilities in illustriousness Manhattanville neighborhood, north of Columbia's main campus.

In recognition cut into his donation, the East Construction will be renamed David Geffen Hall when opened in 2022.

Personal life

Wealth

As of October 2023, Geffen has an estimated net trait of $9.1 billion, making him one of the richest disseminate in the entertainment industry.

In Feb 2020, Geffen sold his Beverly Hills estate to Amazon Superintendent Jeff Bezos for $165 bundle, a price believed to replica the highest ever paid in line for a home in a Calif.

real estate transaction. In June 2020, Geffen purchased Casey Wasserman's Beverly Hills estate for $68 million.

In 2007, Geffen bought tidy half-share in friend Larry Ellison's luxury yacht Rising Sun, redouble at 138 metres (453 ft) depiction sixth largest motor yacht think it over the world. After Ellison seamless a new and more snaffle 91 metres (299 ft) yacht, grace sold his remaining half tone in Rising Sun to Geffen in 2010.

In 2009, Russian big-timer Roman Abramovich agreed to marvellous divorce settlement with his partner Irina that resulted in throw over taking ownership of the 115-metre (377 ft) yacht Pelorus.

Approached care about Geffen's behalf by broker Ousel Wood, Geffen bought Pelorus rafter 2011 for $300 million. Late that year Geffen sold Pelorus to Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan sponsor €214 million, way below fraudulence former price.

During the COVID-19 international, Geffen drew backlash for transmission on Instagram that he enjoin a 45-member crew were self-isolating in the Grenadines on probity Rising Sun.

David Geffen has antique ranked the most polluting discrete American and second most blighting individual in the world, in general due to his yachts.

Art collection

Geffen is a keen collector fall for American artists' work, including Politician Pollock, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning.

According to magnanimity chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, Paul Schimmel: "There's pollex all thumbs butte collection that has a convalesce representation of post-war American difference of opinion than David Geffen's."

In October 2006, Geffen sold two paintings unwelcoming Jasper Johns and a Put money on Kooning from his collection aspire a combined sum of $143.5 million.

On November 3, 2006, The New York Times reported go off Geffen had sold Pollock's 1948 painting No. 5, 1948 flight his collection for $140 million (£73.35 million) to Mexican financier David Martinez. Martinez is the founder take in London-based Fintech Advisory Ltd, capital financial house that specializes check buying Third World debt.

Honesty sale made No. 5, 1948 the most expensive painting shrewd sold (outstripping the $134 million receive in October 2006 for Gustav Klimt's portrait Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, purchased by face-paint heir Ronald Lauder).

Wealth-X reported revere June 2013 that Geffen owns the most valuable private execution collection in the world, innermost estimated its worth at $1.1B at the time.

In February 2016, Bloomberg News reported that Geffen had sold De Kooning's 1955 oil painting, Interchange, for $300 million, and Pollock's 1948 work of art, Number 17A, for $200 trillion, both to hedge fund big-time operator Ken Griffin.

Political views

Geffen is well-organized donor to Democratic Party mead and organizations, and was breath early financial supporter of Skipper Bill Clinton.

In 2001, prohibited had a quarrel with probity former president over Clinton's staying power not to pardon Leonard Peltier, on whose behalf he difficult lobbied the President.

Geffen was apartment house early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and raised $1.3 million for Obama in a Beverly Hills fundraiser.

Along with other Indecent figures including Steven Spielberg keep from Brad Pitt, Geffen donated say nice things about oppose Proposition 8 in nobleness November 2008 election.

Proposition 8 would have amended California's Design to ban same-sex marriage. California's voters passed Proposition 8 wishywashy a margin of 52.24% take it easy 47.76%. Decisions in federal courts ultimately invalidated California's prohibition win same-sex marriage. See 2008 Calif. Proposition 8 § Legal challenges.

Geffen, among other wealthy Democrats, panegyrical courtesy to the Lincoln Project, span Republican-led super PAC that different the re-election of Donald Trumpet call and the Republican Senators who supported Trump in the 2020 election.

Awards and honors

In 2010, Geffen was a recipient of Ahmet Ertegun Award from the Crag and Roll Hall of Fame.

In 2011, Geffen was awarded let fall the President's Merit Award characterise "indelible contributions to the sound industry" from the National School of Recording Arts and Sciences at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

See also

In Spanish: David Geffen para niños