David Geffen was born in Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York, to Abraham Geffen and his wife Batya. He is the younger brother of Mitchell Geffen. Despite struggling with his schoolwork, David credits his mother with teaching him valuable business skills, particularly after his father's untimely death when David was just 16 years old.
David's early career began in the mail room of CBS, where he eventually launched himself as a manager and agent. He quickly made a name for himself in the music industry, managing the career of singer-songwriter Laura Nyro, among others. David's reputation as a shrewd and savvy businessperson earned him a reputation as the best friend you could have, but also the worst enemy. He was involved in a very public and very nasty feud with super-agent Michael Ovitz and also had a falling out with Laura Nyro.
In 1976, David was misdiagnosed with bladder cancer, but it wasn't until 1980 that he discovered he was actually not afflicted with the disease. This experience led him to become a major contributor to medical charities and foundations, and he has had several buildings named after him, including The Geffen Playhouse and The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
David's entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen led him to branch out into music publishing, record and film production. He eventually sold his company in 1990 for over one billion dollars, making him one of the richest people in the entertainment industry. His net worth is estimated to exceed $2.6 billion. David currently resides in Malibu, California, near Los Angeles.
