11 September 2016 Karlie is at the US Open with sketchy wealthy and elite people:
The Who’s Who of Who’s That
David Geffen
In her own words:
For his part, Geffen’s lawyer says Geffen has "never used an offshore account for business or commercial purposes or has any kind of tax haven." Geffen told me, “A witness dropped my name. I know nothing about these people or this event.”
Known for:
Founder of record labels Asylum Records
- From initial clients such as the Association and Joni Mitchell, he came to represent many of the stars who would define a generation of music: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Janis Joplin, James Taylor, Bob Dylan.
- Geffen: Completely. When I look back on that period, from 1965 to 1975, I was working with the people I mentioned, plus Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, the Eagles, Laura Nyro, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Janis Joplin, James Taylor—so many. It was very exciting. I couldn’t believe the life I had. I couldn’t believe the people I was talking with on the telephone. I can remember when I had Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Miles and Stephen Stills in my apartment in the Sixties. In my apartment. I couldn’t believe it. Another time Jackson Browne, Jimmy Webb, Laura Nyro and Joni Mitchell were in my living room. The day Martin Luther King was killed, I was in a limousine with Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell and Laura Nyro, going to Joni’s concert at Bryn Mawr.
Asylum was later acquired by Atlantic’s parent company, Warner Communications,
Geffen: I was managing Jackson Browne and couldn’t get anyone to sign him; nobody thought he could sing. [Atlantic Records chief] Ahmet Ertegun suggested that if I really believed in Jackson as much as I said I did, I should start a record company and record him myself.
And merged with Elektra Records in 1972 to become Elektra/Asylum Records.
Dating Cher
- Geffen: In 1973 Lou Adler and I started the Roxy. It was opening night for my client Neil Young. I was sitting at a table with Bob Dylan when Lou came over and asked, “Is it all right if Cher sits with you?” He had a torrid romance with Cher—which began while she was still doing “The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour… The newest issue of Esquire appeared with Cher on the cover. The cover line was, “Who’s Man Enough for This Woman?” The story was about my relationship with Cher, but it was over! Who is man enough for this woman? Clearly I wasn’t. It was the most embarrassing, humiliating thing that could possibly happen to anybody, right? I was crazy, nauseated! I moved into Warren Beatty’s house. He helped me get through that period. It was the worst decline of my life. DS: We don’t think of Warren Beatty as the most sensitive guy to hang out with after a devastating breakup. Geffen: Warren was incredibly kind and supportive. We’ve been close friends for more than 25 years.
He also founded Geffen Records and UMG/DGC Records
So I started the label. DS: Who were your first acts on Geffen Records? The first three acts I signed were Donna Summer, John Lennon and Elton John. Aerosmith. And within a short time I’d also signed Joni Mitchell, the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, J.D. Souther, Ned Doheny and Judy Sill. It became successful almost immediately. With an artist roster that includes Guns n’ Roses, Nirvana, Don Henley, Peter Gabriel and Aerosmith, Geffen Records had sales last year of $400 million. More Geffen records were coming from such heavyweights as Nirvana, the reunited Eagles and Peter Gabriel.
Through the Geffen Film Company, Geffen produced such films as “The Last Boy Scout,” “Defending Your Life,” “After Hours,” “Lost in America,” and “Personal Best.” The plays he has helped produce include “Cats,” “Dreamgirls,” “Miss Saigon” and “M. Butterfly,” which was also made into a Geffen film.
In 1994, Geffen co-founded the DreamWorks SKG studio with Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
In 1995 DreamWorks signed a $100 million deal with ABC.[7]
In 2008, Geffen left DreamWorks.[25]
- Meanwhile, had announced ‘Beavis & Butt-head’ and ‘Barney’ movies. It had begun ‘Interview With the Vampire,’ directed by Neil Jordan. Fans of Anne Rice’s novels were protesting the choice of Tom Cruise to play the main character, the vampire Lestat. And the death of River Phoenix had caused a last-minute cast change, with Christian Slater taking over Phoenix’s role as the interviewer.
Assets:
Geffen: In just five years I’d gone from making $55 a week in the mailroom to making $2 million. It was a quick ride. It gave me a lot of confidence and it gave me what people refer to as “fuck you” money. It wasn’t as if I’d never have to work again, but I felt sure I would never be poor again. I could do what I wanted, and I could genuinely be fearless about the future. That’s when I started Asylum Records. I sold Asylum in 1972 for $7 million. Seven million plus the money I had in the bank gave me $10 million. I thought I would be secure forever. Selling it was a stupid mistake, by the way—a mind-boggling, idiotic decision.
DS: Why?
Geffen: Because a year later, it was worth $50 million.
When MCA was acquired by Matsushita, Geffen’s stock was suddenly worth more than $700 million. Geffen:
I’d made $2 million. As Laura Nyro’s manager, I owned half of her publishing rights and I sold her catalog
for $4 million, which gave me $2 million. He still serves as his company’s chairman and earns a salary of
$600,000 a year, which he donates to his foundation, a charitable organization that gives away millions
annually.
He purchased, for $47.5 million, the Beverly Hills Georgian mansion that once belonged to Jack Warner of Warner Bros.
Forbes lists the 75-year-old as number 190 on their 2018 billionaires list
He flies around the world in a $20 million Gulfstream IV jet that is decked out like a hotel suite.
The Gulfstream G650 is the ultimate status symbol for someone who values speed and convenience.
He owns a beach house in Malibu
David Geffen's $100 million home is a masterpiece of modern design overlooking the pristine shores of Carbon Beach, Malibu. The sleek, contemporary residence features floor-to-ceiling windows, offering panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, multiple guest rooms, and a beachfront swimming pool and spa. The Malibu home's sophisticated style and prime location is a stunning example of coastal luxury.
- An apartment in New York.
David Geffen's $54 million penthouse is perched atop a prestigious Manhattan building at 785 Fifth Avenue, right next to Central Park, which offers breathtaking city skyline views.
The expansive residence features lavish interiors, including a grand living room, a gourmet kitchen, a movie projector, a recording room, and a private terrace. With its prime location and opulent design, the penthouse truly reflects Geffen's luxurious lifestyle.
David Geffen's $70 million estate is nestled in the picturesque town of East Hampton in Tony Lily Pond Lane and offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The sprawling property features lush gardens, a private beach, a tennis court, a kidney-shaped lily pond, a 3-bedroom guesthouse, and a stunning primary residence. With its idyllic setting and elegant design, the East Hampton home is a tranquil haven for the entertainment mogul.
Geffen's $92.5 million mansion stands as a symbol of Hollywood luxury in the heart of Beverly Hills.
Geffen initially purchased the mansion for $47.5 Million and spent an astounding $45 Million in interior and exterior renovations, as reported by Vocal Media.
The palatial estate boasts a grand entrance, a luxurious pool, and a state-of-the-art home theater. With its impressive architecture and lavish amenities, the Beverly Hills mansion is a fitting residence for a man who has made his fortune in the entertainment industry.
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The Rising Sun yacht is one of David Geffen's most expensive assets.
The Rising Sun is a $400 million superyacht built by Luerssen in Bremen, Germany, and launched in June 2004 as per Yacht Bible. The superyacht measures 453 feet in length and is currently the 6th largest yacht in the world.
It features a basketball court, a wine cellar, and a private cinema. With its opulent design and state-of-the-art amenities, the Rising Sun is a literal floating palace.
He also has a museum-worthy collection of paintings by such artists as David Hockney, Willem de Kooning, Jasper Johns, Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. David Geffen's art collection is a testament to his refined taste and appreciation for the finer things in life.
His collection is valued at $2.3 billion and boasts works by renowned artists such as Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning, and Mark Rothko.
Some of the paintings are worth up to a staggering $300 Million.
Experts often label Geffen's billion-dollar art collection as the Most Valuable Art Collection Owned by a Single Person.
The music and movie mogul boasts an estimated net worth of US$8 billion thanks to a series of clever business moves
Rub Elbows with:
He has a literal Who’s Who of connections in his network!
JJ Abrams, Lou Adler, Aerosmith, Princess Beatrice, Warren Beatty, Jeff Bezos, Leon Black, Derek Blasberg, Scooter Braun, Jackson Browne, Mariah Carey, Cher, Leonard Cohen, Crosby, Wendy Deng, Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Clinton, Barry Diller, Ned Doheny, Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Ahmet Ertegun, Carrie Fisher, Peter Gabriel, Sandy Gallin, Guns n’ Roses, Tom Hanks, Peter Harrington-Cressman, Jimi Hendrix, Don Henley, John B. Hess, Michael (Mikey) Hess, Anjelica Huston, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Janis Joplin, Kris Kardashian, Gayle King, Calvin Klein, Karlie Kloss, Michael Kives, Jared Kushner, Josh Kushner, Jimmy Lovine, John Lennon, Liberace, Keith Lieberthal, Madonna, Julianna Margulies, Steve Martin, Sir Paul McCartney, Jen Meyer, Donovan Michaels, Buddy Miles, Liza Minelli, Joni Mitchell, Nash, Jack Nicholson, Nirvana, Misha Nonoo, Laura Nyro, Barack Obama, Mo Ostin, James Packer, Katy Perry, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Linda Ronstadt, Steve Ross, Lauren Sanchez, Diane Sawyer, Ben Schwerin, Nancy Shevell, Martin Short, Maria Shriver, Judy Sill, Ashlee Simpson, J.D. Souther, Steven Spielberg, Bruce Springsteen, Stephen Stills, Donna Summer, Elizabeth Taylor, James Taylor, Marlo Thomas, Ivanka Trump, Diana von Furstenberg, Jimmy Webb, Weezer, Harvey Weinstein, Rita Wilson, Oprah Winfrey, Neil Young, Dasha Zhukova
Troubles/(Alleged) Crimes:
Lying on a job application-
DS: Is the story that you lied on your application to William Morris true?
Geffen: Yeah. Thirty-one years ago I lied. I said I had graduated from UCLA, because a college degree was a requirement for the job. I’d been there a week and was excited about the possibilities for my life for the first time, and another guy in the mailroom was fired. When I asked him what happened, he said that he had lied on his application about going to college. I got sick to my stomach. From that day on, I got in early every morning and went through every single piece of mail that came into the agency, looking for the letter from UCLA saying they had never heard of me. I told that story to The New York Times for the 87th time, and all these people wrote letters to the editor that said my career is based on a fraud. Some people just don’t get it. If a lie alone would make a career, everyone would do it.
Promoting Homophobic/Racism in Music-
DS: How do you feel about some of their controversial lyrics, particularly the homophobic lyrics in One in a Million?
…Police and niggers, that's right/Get outta my way/Don't need to buy none of your/Gold chains today/Now don't need no bracelets/Clamped in front of my back/Just need my ticket, 'til then/Won't you cut me some slack/…Immigrants and faggots/They make no sense to me/They come to our country/And think they'll do as they please/Like start some mini-Iran/Or spread some fucking disease/And they talk so many goddamn ways/It's all Greek to me…
Geffen: I spoke with Axl Rose about the song before he put the record out. I told him I thought it would cause him a lot of trouble, but he wanted it released. It ended up getting a lot of negative reaction, which was certainly deserved.
DS: Does the fact that the song is homophobic bother you?
Geffen: I don’t believe Axl Rose is homophobic. I know him.
DS: But he has said that he was homophobic. He attributed it to abuse when he was a child.
Geffen: But he wasn’t when he made the record. He was writing about an experience early in his life.
DS: Some Guns n’ Roses songs are misogynistic. Don’t you consider that objectionable?
Geffen: Yes, of course I find misogyny objectionable.
Producing a serial killer’s music-
DS: It was reported that you were shocked when you heard that Axl Rose put a Charles Manson song [In 1993, Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose famously, and controversially covered 'Look at Your Game, Girl' by cult leader Charles Manson] on the latest Guns n’ Roses LP. Didn’t you know about it in advance?
Geffen: No. I heard about it when I was on vacation in Barbados. I was watching CNN with the TV on mute. I saw a picture of Charles Manson on the screen, and then I saw these lyrics. Under them it said, “From Geffen Records.” I went crazy.
DS: Did you consider removing the song from future copies of the album?
Geffen: We don’t have the right to remove it. The band has, among the many rights in the members’ contracts, complete control of its material.
Denying Public Beach Access-
In 1972, Californians passed a voter initiative to regulate the development of the state’s coasts and preserve public access. By 1976, the state created the Coastal Commission to support these initiatives. Although Californians have legally had access to all beaches in the state since 1976, locals are still fighting for their rights to access Carbon Beach, also known as Billionaire’s Beach, in Malibu.
In 1983 David Geffen made a legal promise to open a public pathway across his property in exchange for permits from the Coastal Commission to begin building his Cape Cod-style compound across multiple lots on Carbon Beach. Geffen built the paved walk but then refused to unlock its gates, arguing that the beach lacked necessary parking, lifeguards or restrooms to accommodate the public. He and the city of Malibu sued the state Coastal Commission in 2002 over its alleged failure to conduct a proper environmental analysis. Mark Myerhoff, the media information officer for the city, responded with the following statement: “The City of Malibu fully supports public access to beaches in Malibu, which is protected under state law, as it is for the entire coast of California.”
A gate was installed which opened a public accessway next to music producer David Geffen's beach house, on April 18, 2005 in Malibu, California. The gate was found re-locked later that afternoon. In April, however, Geffen turned over the gate keys to the group Access for All. He also agreed to reimburse California and the nonprofit group $300,000 in legal fees. Twenty-two years after mogul David Geffen promised to let the public onto the beach near his mansion, a walkway was opened and activists savored their victory under the watchful eye of security cameras and a guard–The DreamWorks co-founder, did not attend the ceremony. In giving up the gate key, the music mogul also stops daily fines of $1,000 a day from accumulating.
Sodomy of Cory Haim (and other underage children)-
Geffen is not on trial, nor charged with any crime. But the sordid allegations have raised eyebrows with less tolerant members of the Lincoln Center board.
Teen idol Corey Haim (“Lucas”, “The Lost Boys”) was a superstar. However, in the set of Lucas “Haim, innocent and ambitious as he was, allowed himself to be sodomized” by a Hollywood mogul. Corey Haim was 14 years old and the man who sodomized him was 42. The list of possible suspects for the perpetrator is pretty short:
Charlie Sheen
David Nicksay, 42 at the time and a producer on Lucas. But he had a wife at the time, and his daughter was born in 1988.
David Seltzer, director of Lucas, but he was not 42 at the time.
David Geffen, was 42 at the time, and gay. Bue he was not affiliated with Lucas AFAIK. Nor is he rumored to be a pedophile or abuser of any kind.
Geffen was named in a Los Angeles courtroom by porn star Justin Griggs, a witness in the extortion trial of fellow gay porn performer Teofil Brank. Griggs had fled the country shortly after the scandal broke. Referring to a meeting in early July with FBI agents, Brank’s lawyer said, “You mentioned you didn’t want to give details about an individual, because he was very powerful and you feared for your safety if you disclose information. Who were you talking about there?” “David Geffen,” said Griggs. Other testimonies poked several holes in that claim.
Donald Burns, paid Griggs and several other men for sex, Griggs testified. “It was really just hanging out, surfing, grilling out, going to dinner and then we would have sex, group sex,” Griggs told the jurors. Prosecutors claim Brank threatened to go public about the $2,500 sex sessions unless Burns paid up. Brank was found guilty Thursday of extorting more than $500,000 from telecommunications tycoon, Burns.
Sexual Harassment at Geffen Records-
A second sexual harassment case has been filed against Geffen Records and its subsidiaries, alleging that the company did not act on complaints that female employees were being abused by former DGC Records exec Marko Babineau and other company officials. Cynthia Anthony, 44, a promotions director for Geffen from 1984 to 1990, filed suit yesterday in Los Angeles Superior Court against various Geffen corporate entities and company chairman David Geffen, former DGC Records general manager Babineau, Geffen Records president Ed Rosenblatt, David Geffen Co. chief financial officer Jim Walker, former Geffen/DGC general manager Al Coury, David Geffen Co. president Eric Eisner and various John Does. Anthony’s claims mirrored those of former Geffen secretary Penny Muck, who filed a sexual harassment suit last year against the company (Daily Variety, Nov. 15, 1991).
Anthony’s complaint said that Babineau began harassing her almost immediately after her employment began, but that she refrained from saying anything for fear of losing her job. Muck, who also worked as a secretary in the Geffen promotion department, alleged that DGC Records department head Babineau had repeatedly fondled her and subjected her to other forms of physical and verbal harassment. The lurid details contained in the suit were Topic A across the entertainment industry for months after the suit was filed. Muck had claimed Geffen officials, who were advised of the harassment against her, did not inform her that other women in the company had complained about Babineau.
The suit also alleges that another promotion department employee, Peter Napoliello, participated with Babineau in harassing a department staffer, Bridgette Brookman. The complaint alleges that Walker, Rosenblatt and Coury did not respond to Anthony’s complaints about the harassment and that Babineau threatened to fire her for bringing the complaints.
The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that Geffen Records has quietly settled the suit by agreeing to pay Muck $ 500,000. According to the Times, Geffen Records admitted no guilt nor acknowledged any criminal wrongdoing in settling the matter.
Demanding Naming Rights-
I’ll tell you something “shameful”—effectively reducing a charitable donation by $15 million solely because you wanted to put your own fucking name on a building and you had to buy off the family of the last guy with his name on a building.
The Panama Papers leak-
In 2016, Geffen was named in the Panama Papers leak as someone holding money in foreign countries for likely illegal reasons, according to Consequence of Sound. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists made waves on Sunday when they published a massive leak of confidential documents dubbed the Panama Papers. The documents allegedly detail the offshore bank accounts of some of the world’s richest and most powerful individuals, many of whom have been accused of using tax havens to hide their assets. Geffen's name appears in the documents as the director of a Delaware company called Barham Maritime LLC, which sold shares of a Cayman Islands company created to hold title to Pelorus, a yacht Geffen purchased from Roman Abramovich's ex-wife, Irina, in 2011 for an estimated $300 million. Geffen subsequently sold Pelorus to a Panama offshore company called Marfleet Limited S.A.; the Papers indicate that the actual owner is Royal Group Companies Management, a company with ties to the United Arab Emirates focusing on real estate, tourism and international trade and development.
Wage theft-
Dreamworks animation was one of several animation companies forced to pay their artists higher wages in 2017 after being found guilty in a wage-fixing scandal to cut corporate costs, according to cartoonbrew.com. Collectively, artists from several companies were compensated 100 million dollars, which is one third the price of Geffen’s yacht, according to superyachtfan.com.
Insider trading-
The Wall Street Journal reports that Barry Diller, Alexander von Furstenberg, and David Geffen invested around $108 million in Activision Blizzard just days before Microsoft acquired the company and shares went up in value. January 18, 2022, Microsoft announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. Their investment has climbed to $168 million and could be worth upwards of $200 million if they keep their shares until the Microsoft deal closes later this year.
Insider trading, illegal in the U.S., is the buying and selling of stocks with confidential or non-public information, usually with the intention to make as much money as possible. Diller has described himself as a "long term friend" of Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick and served on Coca-Cola's board of directors with him. Von Furstenberg is the stepson of Diller and Geffen is another longtime friend.
Diller told The Wall Street Journal that none of the men had insider information about Microsoft's impending acquisition of Activision Blizzard and said it was just a coincidence and a "lucky bet". They’re reportedly now under investigation by the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
No insider trading has been proven.
Amerlierations:
Dropping Def American Records-
On the other hand, I dropped Def American Records, a label we distributed, because it was consistently putting out records I found offensive, such as Andrew Dice Clay, Slayer and the Geto Boys. It reached a point where I could not continue to put out offensive material that was recorded by artists we hadn’t even signed, and so I dropped the label. I’m not interested in making records about murdering women and fucking their dead bodies, cutting off their breasts—shit like that. That was actually on a Geto Boys record. So even though dropping the label meant losing artists I didn’t want to lose, like the Black Crowes, it was a choice I had to make.
I’ve read interviews with Rick Rubin, who runs Def American, in which he talks about how he left Geffen Records. He didn’t leave, I threw him out. I couldn’t stand being associated with a lot of the records he was putting out.
Not Producing Rap-
DS: How do you feel about the violence in rap music?
Geffen: We don’t put out rap records. Look—you can make money all kinds of ways. Some people make money selling drugs. I find some rap records extraordinarily offensive, and I don’t want to profit from them.
Donations-
According to Forbes ("The 400 Richest Americans of 2004") and other sources, Geffen has pledged to give whatever money he makes from now on to charity, although he has not specified which charities or the manner of his giving.
- Contributed $2700 to Hillary Clinton’s campaign via staying in the Lincoln bedroom.
- Donated $10,000 to the Clinton Legal Expense Trust in 1998.
- David Geffen, who has donated $50,000 to the group Californians Against Eliminating Basic Rights, the campaign to defeat Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that would ban same-sex marriage in the state.
Should proposition 8 fail, it would mean the same-sex marriages that started in June after a state Supreme Court ruling could continue.
Should prop 8 pass, it would add to the state constitution language making marriage legal only between a man and a woman.
- It wasn’t certain if same-sex couples who married that year would be grandfathered in should a ban be put in place.
David Geffen gave $100,000 to The Lincoln Project, a prominent anti-Trump super PAC run by Republican operatives.
DreamWorks founder David Geffen — [was] a million-dollar donor to Democratic super PACs in 2018
Geffen is known to be a tough but generous boss. A loyal secretary retired and reportedly received a check for $5 million.
Geffen was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and raised $1.3 million for Obama in a Beverly Hills fundraiser.[46]
Because of iThe Last Boy Scoutt, I was able to give away about $2 million to charities, which is probably the best thing about that movie.
the Contemporary was Geffen’s most affordable gift: it cost him $5 million dollars.
The Geffen Playhouse thanks to Geffen’s $10 million dollar backing in the mid-’90s.
Geffen is putting $25 million into making the long-proposed Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences museum on Wilshire a reality.
- In December 2020, Geffen pledged to donate $46 million to the UCLA medical school
- which was named after him.[41]
- In September 2021, Columbia Business School announced that David Geffen had made a gift of $75 million to support the school's new facilities in the Manhattanville neighborhood, north of Columbia's main campus.
- In recognition of his donation, the East Building will be renamed David Geffen Hall when opened in 2022.[43][44]
- In 2015, Geffen pledged $100 million toward renovation of what was then called the Avery Fisher Hall, part of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York. His gift, amounted to about 20% of the hall's renovation costs.
- The donation gave him naming rights in perpetuity over the building, now known as David Geffen Hall.[40]
- A “renovation of the New York Philharmonic’s Home, David Geffen Hall, a project to which he had donated $100 million.”
- In June 2021, Geffen gave $150 million to the Yale School of Drama. This gift allowed the drama school to eliminate tuition for all students enrolled in master’s, doctoral, and certificate programs.
- The school was renamed the David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University.[42]
- His passion for art has made him donate millions of dollars to art organizations, including a whopping $150 Million donation to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, as reported by Widewalls.
- In 2002, he announced a $200 million unrestricted endowment for the School of Medicine at UCLA.
- The School thereafter was named David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
- On December 13, 2012, UCLA announced that Geffen had donated another $100 million in addition to his 2002 donation of $200 million.
sources:
https://www.davidsheff.com/david-geffen
https://www.therichest.com/rich-powerful/these-are-the-most-expensive-things-owned-by-billionaire-david-geffen/
https://itsgoingdown.org/making-monsters-david-geffen/
https://pagesix.com/2015/07/10/david-geffen-caught-up-in-sorid-sextortion-trial/
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