Editing David Geffen (section)

== Controversy ==
=== Coastal access ===
Until 2017, Geffen owned a [[Malibu, California|Malibu]] compound on [[Carbon Beach]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=David |first=Mark |date=2017-05-03 |title=David Geffen Sells Oceanfront Malibu Compound for Record Price |url=https://variety.com/2017/dirt/real-estalker/david-geffen-malibu-compound-1202408411/ |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1983, Geffen received permits from the [[California Coastal Commission]] to build a [[Cape Cod (house)|Cape Cod-style]] compound over multiple beachfront lots in exchange for creating a public pathway to the beach. He failed to build that pathway, and in 2002, filed a lawsuit to block public access altogether.<ref>{{Cite news |last=WEISS |first=KENNETH R. |date=2002-07-12 |title=Not All Quiet on the Beachfront |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-12-me-beach12-story.html |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=ROUG |first=GINA PICCALO AND LOUISE |date=2002-07-09 |title=The Pathos and the Pain |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jul-09-lv-angles9-story.html |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref> After a protracted three-year legal battle, Geffen reached a settlement with the Coastal Commission, granting the public a nine-foot-wide easement to the beach and reimbursing the state and non-profit groups $300,000 in legal fees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weiss |first=Kenneth R. |date=2005-04-16 |title=Geffen to Reimburse $300,000 |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-16-me-geffen16-story.html |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |issn=0458-3035}}</ref> The pathway was opened on May 30, 2005, to national and international media coverage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Paul |date=2005-04-17 |title=Hollywood boss loses fight to keep a beach to himself |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/apr/17/film.usa |access-date=2018-03-06 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Navarro |first=Mireya |date=2005-06-05 |title=In Malibu, the Water's Fine (So Don't Come In!) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/05/fashion/sundaystyles/in-malibu-the-waters-fine-so-dont-come-in.html |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Beach access next to Geffen's home opened |url=https://malibutimes.com/news/article_68d596e6-5ad2-51bf-9b24-c2264996f48b.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814191928/http://www.malibutimes.com/news/article_68d596e6-5ad2-51bf-9b24-c2264996f48b.html |archive-date=August 14, 2018 |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=Malibu Times |language=en}}</ref> The controversy has been called the "most famous Malibu battle" for beach access.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Beach Closed, Keep Out: Billionaire Tries to Block Surfers |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/investigations/beach-closed-keep-out-billionaire-tries-block-surfers-n191441 |access-date=2018-03-06 |work=NBC News |language=en}}</ref> The Coastal Commission later contacted the state transportation department without receiving a response to ask if the curb cuts that prevented public parking were valid, amid rumors that Geffen had installed four fake garage doors.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abcarian |first=Robin |date=June 24, 2014 |title=Long overdue: Malibu elitists who impede public access now face fines |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-ra-malibu-public-access-fines-20140623-column.html |access-date=2018-03-06 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Groves |first=Martha |date=May 27, 2013 |title=Malibu beach guide helps sort out parking, access, all in an app |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-malibu-beach-app-20130526-dto-htmlstory.html |access-date=2018-03-06 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> The house was later sold to [[Mark Walter]] the principal owner of the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] for $85 million.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://la.curbed.com/2017/6/5/15743132/david-geffen-malibu-beach-dodgers-owner-record-sale | title=The buyer of David Geffen's lavish Malibu beach spread? The owner of the Dodgers | date=June 5, 2017 }}</ref>

=== Accusations of insider trading ===
On March 9, 2022, ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported that Geffen, [[Barry Diller]] and Diller's stepson, [[Prince Alexander von Fürstenberg|Alex Von Furstenberg]], were being investigated by the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|Securities and Exchange Commission]] and the [[United States Department of Justice]] for [[insider trading]] of options on [[Activision Blizzard]] just three days before Microsoft's announced acquisition. Diller denied the allegations and claimed it was "simply a lucky bet".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mangan |first1=Dan |last2=Boorstin |first2=Julia |date=2022-03-09 |title=Barry Diller denies insider trading on Microsoft, Activision deal amid DOJ and SEC investigations |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/09/barry-diller-denies-insider-trading-on-microsoft-activision-deal.html |access-date=2022-03-09 |work=[[CNBC]]}}</ref>