David Geffen is one of the most powerful and successful people in the entertainment industry. He is an American music mogul, film producer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Geffen started out as an ambitious teenager in Brooklyn, New York, and made a name for himself as an agent and then as a successful record label executive. His influence in the music industry has been immense, and he is also well-known for producing some of the most successful films of the past few decades.

Geffen is a generous philanthropist, having donated to a wide variety of causes, such as medical research, the arts, education, and environmental initiatives. He has also set up several philanthropic foundations and has made his mark on the world through his business and personal endeavors.

Early Life and Music Career

Born in 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, David Geffen was the son of a Jewish family. Growing up, he was heavily influenced by his grandmother, who was a successful fashion designer and philanthropist. Geffen attended college at the University of Texas but left after one semester, preferring to blaze his own path.

Geffen first entered the music industry as an agent in the late 1960s. He and business partner Elliot Roberts quickly became known as powerful deal-makers and industry visionary. During this time Geffen and Roberts represented some of the biggest names in rock ‘n’ roll, such as David Crosby and Joni Mitchell.

Geffen’s most significant business venture was founding Asylum Records in 1971. He quickly signed major artists like the Eagles, Jackson Browne, and Linda Ronstadt, and the label became one of the most successful in the music industry within a few years.

Films

David Geffen began his foray into film in the early 1980s, and has become one of Hollywood’s most successful producers, having produced several Academy Award-winning films as well as hits like Little Fockers, Jerry Maguire, and Dreamgirls. He formed his own production company in 1986 and has served as executive producer on dozens of films.

Geffen has also produced several Broadway shows. He was an early investor and is one of the producers of the Broadway show “It’s Only a Play,” and he was a producer of the Pulitzer Prize-winning show “Angels in America.”

Philanthropic Pursuits

David Geffen is well-known as a philanthropist and has donated to many causes throughout his life. He has been involved in a variety of initiatives aimed at supporting medical research, the arts, and education.

He has been a financial supporter of the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles and established the Geffen Academy at UCLA which allows students from low-income families to attend the prestigious university for free. He is also a longtime supporter and board member of the Motion Picture and Television Fund.

Geffen has given more than $500 million dollars to various philanthropic causes and was one of the first signers of The Giving Pledge, an organization dedicated to encouraging people to give back to their communities.

David Geffen is a legendary figure in the entertainment industry and his influence is still felt today. His intense focus on quality and innovation shaped the music industry, and his film productions have won numerous awards and set box office records. His generosity has made a profound impact on both the arts and the sciences and his legacy is sure to live on.