<!-- There is a talk page discussion about changing the type of infobox used in this article. Please do not change the infobox until consensus has been reached-->
Sean Combs (born November 4, 1969), also known professionally as Diddy (formerly Puff Daddy and P. Diddy), is an American former rapper, record producer, record executive, and actor. He is credited with the discovery and development of musical artists such as the Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, and Usher, among others.
Born in Harlem, Combs worked as a talent director at Uptown Records before founding his own record label, Bad Boy Records, in 1993. Combs's debut studio album, No Way Out (1997), peaked atop the Billboard 200 and sold over 7 million copies in the US. Two of its singles, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" and "I'll Be Missing You", topped the Billboard Hot 100—the latter was the first hip-hop song to debut atop the chart. With his guest appearance on "Mo Money Mo Problems", Combs became the first solo artist to replace himself atop the chart. His second and third albums, Forever (1999) and The Saga Continues... (2001), both peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The collaborative singles "Bump, Bump, Bump" (2002) and "Shake Ya Tailfeather" (2003) made him the first rapper with five US number-one singles. Following the release of his US chart-topping fourth album Press Play (2006), Combs formed the musical trio Diddy – Dirty Money with R&B singers Kalenna Harper and Dawn Richard to release the collaborative album Last Train to Paris (2010). His fifth album, The Love Album: Off the Grid (2023), was his first to be self-released.
One of the world's wealthiest musical artists, Combs topped Forbes annual hip-hop rich list in 2014 and 2017. His accolades include three Grammy Awards, three BET Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards. He has worked as a producer for other media, including the reality television series Making the Band, and he starred in the films Made, Monster's Ball (both 2001) and Get Him to the Greek (2010). Combs founded the clothing retailer Sean John in 1998, for which he won Menswear Designer of the Year from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2004, having previously been nominated in 2000. He served as brand ambassador for the liquor brand Cîroc from 2007 to 2023, and co-founded the digital television network Revolt in 2013. In 2008, Combs became the first male rapper to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In late 2023, Combs settled a high-profile sexual assault and abuse lawsuit filed by his former partner Cassie Ventura. Numerous lawsuits regarding sexual misconduct were filed in the following months, with several claimants alleging sexual assault and abuse by Combs between 1991 and 2009. In March 2024, several of Combs's properties were raided by the Department of Homeland Security, and that September he was charged with federal sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering. He pled not guilty and was denied bail three times. His trial began on May 5, 2025; on July 2, he was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution, but not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. , he is incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix. On October 3, 2025, Combs was sentenced to 50 months in prison with credit for 12 months time served.
Early life
Sean John Combs was born on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York City. His mother Janice Combs (née Smalls) worked as a model who organized fashion shows, and as a teacher's assistant. According to a 2010 account by Vibe magazine, Melvin Combs was killed by Walter Grant, a fellow affiliate of mafia-supplied heroin dealer Willie Abraham; "Grant was convinced that Melvin had either ratted out his crew after his arrest—or planned to", although Lucas himself doubted that Combs had, in fact, revealed any information to law enforcement. Sean Combs was two years and two months old when his father died. Janice Combs and her children stayed in Upper Manhattan for "several years" after Melvin's death, before moving to Mount Vernon, which is an inner suburb of New York City, located just north of the Bronx.
Career
1990–1996: Career beginnings
Combs became an intern at New York's Uptown Records in 1990. While working as a talent director at Uptown, under the guidance of label founder Andre Harrell, he helped develop Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. In 1991, Combs promoted an AIDS fundraiser with Heavy D held at the City College of New York (CCNY) gymnasium, following a charity basketball game. The event was oversold, and a stampede occurred in which nine people died.
Shortly after being fired from Uptown in 1993, Combs established his own label Bad Boy Records, which entered a joint venture deal with Arista Records. Combs brought Uptown signee Christopher Wallace (better known as the Notorious B.I.G.) along with him to the newly established label. His debut single, "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down", spent 28 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at number one. through Bad Boy Records. Originally titled Hell up in Harlem, the album underwent several changes after the Notorious B.I.G. was killed on March 9, 1997. Also in 1997, Neil Strauss of The New York Times called Combs the "king of sampled hits".
1999–2000: Forever
thumb|upright=.85|Combs at the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000]]
In April 1999, Combs was charged with assaulting Steve Stoute of Interscope Records. Stoute was the manager for Nas, with whom Combs had filmed a video earlier that year for the song "Hate Me Now". Combs was concerned that the video, which featured a shot of Nas and Combs being crucified, was blasphemous.
He asked for his scenes on the cross to be pulled, but after the video aired unedited on MTV on April 15, Combs visited Stoute's offices and injured Stoute.
Forever, Combs's second solo studio album, was released by Bad Boy Records on August 24, 1999, in North America, and in the UK on the following day. It reached number two on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,
Combs began working with a series of atypical (for him) artists. For a short period of time, he was the manager of Kelis; they have a collaboration titled "Let's Get Ill". and was eventually certified Platinum. It is the only studio album under the P. Diddy name, and the first album by Sean Combs not to feature any guest appearances by Jay-Z or Lil' Kim. Combs was executive producer of the reality TV show, Making the Band, which appeared on MTV from 2002 to 2009.
The show involves interviewing candidates and creating musical acts that would then enter the music business. Acts who got their start this way include Da Band,
Combs released his first album in four years, Press Play, on October 17, 2006, on the Bad Boy Records label.
In 2019, Combs announced on Twitter that Making the Band would return to MTV in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it failed to do so; it was delayed once more for a release in 2021 before its complete cancellation. Combs executive-produced Nigerian singer Burna Boy's album, Twice as Tall, which was released on August 14, 2020.
Combs hosted the 2022 Billboard Music Awards. In May 2022, he announced the startup of a new record label, Love Records as part of a recording contract with Motown. Along with Combs himself, the label's inaugural artist was singer Jozzy, who signed to the label that same month.
In June 2022, he released the single "Gotta Move On", which features singer Bryson Tiller and marked his first entry—at number 79—on the Billboard Hot 100 since "Coming Home". It was promoted as the lead single for the album, although it was only included on its expanded edition. On August 22, 2023, Combs released a teaser trailer on social media for his fifth studio album, The Love Album: Off the Grid, which was released on September 15, 2023.
Coinciding with its release was the lead single "Another One of Me" (with the Weeknd, French Montana and 21 Savage). The song peaked at number 87 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200. Critical responses to both the song and album were mixed to average. Despite Combs's signing with Motown, the album was released independently, with the label's name only present on promotional materials. During an interview with Billboard, Combs stated that:
The Love Album: Off the Grid received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, which commenced on February 4, 2024; Combs did not attend the ceremony, due to sexual misconduct allegations levied against him.
Business career
Fortune magazine listed Combs at number 12 on their top 40 of entrepreneurs under 40 in 2002. and 2017. He is one of the wealthiest musical artists, with an estimated net worth of US$1 billion by 2022.
Sean John
thumb|A billboard of Sean John is in the distance on [[Broadway (Manhattan)|Broadway, 2011.]]
In 1998, Combs started a clothing line, Sean John. It was nominated for the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) award for Menswear Designer of the Year in 2000,
Combs acquired the Enyce clothing line from Liz Claiborne for $20 million on October 21, 2008. The company was also backed by Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin.
Personal life
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Family and relationships
thumb|right|Combs with his sons Christian and Justin at the [[Spider-Man 3 premiere, 2007]]
Combs is a father to seven children. His first biological child, Justin, was born in 1993 to fashion designer and stylist Misa Hylton. Justin attended UCLA on a football scholarship and graduated in 2016. Combs had an on-again, off-again relationship with Kimberly Porter from 1994 to 2007. Her mother is Dana Tran.
In November 2022, Combs and his second-eldest son became the first father–son duo to have simultaneous No. 1 hits. Combs reached the top of the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart with "Gotta Move On", while his son Christian, under his stage name King Combs, topped Mediabase's US Urban Radio chart with "Can't Stop Won't Stop", featuring Kodak Black.
Combs owns a home in Alpine, New Jersey, which he purchased for $7million.
Religious views
In 2008, Combs told The Daily Telegraph that he does not belong to any specific religious denomination. He said, "I just follow right from wrong, so I could pray in a synagogue or a mosque or a church. I believe that there is only one God."
Charity work and honors
thumb|Combs's star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]]
In 1995, Combs founded Daddy's House Social Programs, an organization to help inner-city youth. Programs include tutoring, life skills classes, and an annual summer camp. Along with Jay-Z, he pledged $1 million to help support victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and donated clothing from his Sean John line to victims. He has donated computers and books to New York schools.
In 1998, Combs received a Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley named October 13, 2006, "Diddy Day" in honor of Combs's charity work. In 2008, Combs was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,
In 2014, Combs received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Howard University and gave the commencement speech for its 146th commencement ceremony. In his speech, Combs said his experiences as a Howard student positively influenced his life. On June 7, 2024, Howard University announced that it was revoking Combs's honorary doctorate. It also returned his $1 million donation and terminated his pledge agreement.
White Parties
Combs held a series of parties known as White Parties between 1998 and 2009. The parties had a strict all-white dress code. According to a 2024 New York Times article, in the 2000s "few events held the [parties'] cultural cachet". CNN wrote, "there was a time when one of the hottest summer tickets belonged to anyone who was able to score an invite to party" with Combs and that the parties "marked the peak of his cultural influence".
Legal issues
In 1997, Combs was sued for landlord negligence by ; Combs denied the charges. Stoute sued Combs in June 1999, resulting in Combs paying him an out-of-court settlement of $500,000. Originally charged with assault for the event, Combs pleaded guilty on September 8, 1999, to a charge of harassment, and was sentenced to spend one day in an anger management class.
On December 27, 1999, Combs, his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, and his protégé rapper Shyne were at Club New York in Times Square in Manhattan when gunfire occurred. A prosecutor said that the incident was sparked by an argument at the club between Combs and another patron.
Rechnitzer claimed he was attacked after he approached Combs while the rap mogul was talking to his girlfriend.
In 2008, journalist Chuck Philips of the Los Angeles Times claimed that the Notorious B.I.G. and Combs orchestrated the 1994 robbery and shooting of Tupac, substantiating the claim with supposed FBI documents. The newspaper later retracted the story, acknowledging that the documents had been fabricated, and parted ways with Philips a few months later. On July 2, 2015, the assault charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.
In 2021, Combs filed a $60 million lawsuit against the new owners of Sean John, claiming the firm used his likeness without his permission and fabricated quotes endorsing their new product line. In 2023, Combs filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against Diageo, claiming that the spirits company deliberately "knee-capped" the marketing and sales of his Cîroc vodka and DeLéon tequila labels. In January 2024, Combs voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit with prejudice, and also severed the business relationship.
On March 4, 2024, music producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who was already suing Combs for sexual assault, filed a lawsuit against Combs and his son Justin, alleging that they engaged in a "massive" cover-up of their involvement in the shooting of a 30-year-old man at a "writers and producers camp" that was held at Combs's Chalice Recording Studio in Los Angeles in September 2022.
On March 25, 2024, former Syracuse University basketball player and Combs associate Brendan Paul was arrested at the Opa Locka Airport in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on two charges of cocaine and controlled substance possession; he was released the next day after posting a $2,500 bond.
Lawsuits
In May 2017, Cindy Rueda, who previously had served as Combs's personal chef, filed a lawsuit against Combs in the Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming, among other things, sexual harassment and retaliation. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount in February 2019.
Cassie Ventura, with whom Combs had a long-term relationship, filed a lawsuit against him on November 16, 2023, accusing him of rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse. The lawsuit also suggested that Combs was responsible for blowing up Ventura's then-boyfriend Kid Cudi's car. Combs and Ventura reached an undisclosed settlement the following day, and the lawsuit was dismissed.
Two further lawsuits were filed against Combs by two additional complainants, alleging sexual assault and revenge porn, on November 23, 2023. One of the lawsuits claimed that in 1990 or 1991, Combs and Aaron Hall had sexually abused a woman, with Combs recording the incident.
On May 17, 2024, CNN released surveillance footage of Combs physically assaulting Ventura at the InterContinental hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, on March 5, 2016. This incident was among the allegations made in the lawsuit. On May 19, 2024, Combs issued a video apology on Instagram and Facebook, stating he was "truly sorry" and that his actions were "inexcusable". Combs's assault of Ventura was stopped by hotel staff, after which Combs allegedly tried to bribe the staff, according to a federal indictment in September 2024.
On October 1, 2024, The Washington Post reported that a team of lawyers will be filing as many as 120 more lawsuits, covering assaults that took place during the 2000s and 2010s. Plaintiffs, 25 of whom are minors, are both male and female. Tony Buzbee, one of the attorneys on the team, said most of the alleged assaults took place in New York State. Half of the alleged victims say they reported the assault to police, to a doctor, or to the FBI. Some claim to have been drugged or offered hush money. Additional potential defendants other than Combs are also to be named in the lawsuits: "The names that we're going to name, assuming our investigators confirm and corroborate what we've been told, are names that will shock you", Buzbee commented at a press conference in Houston. "I'm talking here about not just the cowardly but complicit bystanders, that is those people that we know watched this behavior occur and did nothing. I'm talking about the people that participated, encouraged it, egged it on. They know who they are." Buzbee filed the first six of these lawsuits in New York federal court on October 13, 2024. Andrew Van Arsdale of the AVA Law Group, which is working with Buzbee, said they have heard abuse allegations against Combs from some three thousand people, and their team is currently actively examining another hundred potential cases. Erica Wolff, a member of Combs's legal team, told the BBC that Combs "looks forward to proving his innocence and vindicating himself in court, where the truth will be established based on evidence, not speculation".
In 2025, Peacock released the documentary movie Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy about Combs's life and current legal issues, and Investigation Discovery released a four-part docuseries Fall of Diddy. On February 12, 2025, Combs's representatives filed a defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal, Peacock, and Ample Entertainment alleging Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy contains defamatory statements.
Arrest, trial, and sentence
Combs was arrested and indicted in the Southern District of New York on September 16, 2024, on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He is held in federal custody at the Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix. During a court appearance on October 10, 2024, Judge Arun Subramanian set Combs's trial start date as May 5, 2025. On November 27, 2024, a judge denied bail for a third time. On April 18, 2025, a request by Combs's lawyers to postpone the trial for two months was denied.
The trial began on May 5, 2025, with jury selection, while opening statements and witness testimony began on May 12. The prosecution and defense concluded their cases on June 24, 2025. Closing arguments began on June 26.
On July 2, 2025, after three days of deliberation, the jury found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation for the purposes of prostitution involving Ventura, another former girlfriend, and male sex workers, but not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Later that day, Combs was denied bail and ordered to remain in custody pending sentencing, which was scheduled on October 3. In August 2025, Combs's legal team said that they had reached out to President Donald Trump regarding a possible presidential pardon.
On October 3, 2025, Combs was sentenced to four years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. With the 12 months already spent in holding, Combs is expected to be released in May 2028.
Due to his convictions and the allegations against him, his associations with numerous celebrities, including Donald Trump, have attracted controversy.
Discography
Solo studio albums
- No Way Out (1997)
- Forever (1999)
- The Saga Continues... (2001)
- Press Play (2006)
- The Love Album: Off the Grid (2023)
Collaborative studio albums
- Last Train to Paris with Dirty Money (2010)
- 11 11 with Guy Gerber (2014)
Filmography
Film
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|rowspan=2| 2001
| Made
| Ruiz
|
|-
| Monster's Ball
| Lawrence Musgrove
|
|-
| 2003
| Death of a Dynasty
| Himself
|
|-
| 2005
| Carlito's Way: Rise to Power
| Hollywood Nicky
|
|-
| 2009
| Notorious
|
| Executive producer
|-
|rowspan=2| 2010
| Get Him to the Greek
| Sergio
|
|-
| I'm Still Here
| rowspan="2" | Himself
|
|-
|rowspan=2| 2014
| Muppets Most Wanted
|
|-
| Draft Day
| Chris Crawford
|
|-
| 2017
| Girls Trip
| Himself
|
|}
Television
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin-right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1992
| In Living Color
| rowspan="7" | Himself
| Episode: "Episode #3.27"
|-
| 1997
| The Steve Harvey Show
| Episode: "I Do, I Don't"
|-
| 1997–2001
| Showtime at the Apollo
| Recurring Guest
|-
|rowspan=2| 1999
| Videotech
| Episode: "Episode #1.136"
|-
| The Priory
| Episode: "Episode #1.3"
|-
| 1999–2001
| Behind the Music
| Recurring Guest
|-
|rowspan=2| 2000
| Top of the Pops
| Episode: "Episode #37.11"
|-
| Who Wants to Be a Millionaire
| Himself/Contestant
| Episode: "Episode #1.172" & "#1.174"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2001
| Say It Loud: A Celebration of Black Music in America
| rowspan="6" | Himself
| Episode: "Express Yourself"
|-
| Jackass
| Episode: "Beard of Leeches"
|-
| Journeys in Black
| Episode: "Johnnie Cochran"
|-
|rowspan=5| 2002
| All That
| Episode: "P. Diddy"
|-
| Anatomy of a Scene
| Episode: "Monster's Ball"
|-
| The Nick Cannon Show
| Episode: "Nick Takes Over Style"
|-
| MTV Europe Music Awards
| Himself/Host
| Main Host
|-
| Top Ten
| rowspan="3" | Himself
| Episode: "Camp Pop"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2004
| The Ashlee Simpson Show
| Episode: "Ashlee Goes Platinum"
|-
| Style Star
| Episode: "Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs"
|-
| 2005
| MTV Video Music Awards
| Himself/Host
| Main Host
|-
|rowspan=3| 2006
| Diary
| rowspan="3" | Himself
| Episode: "Diddy"
|-
| E! True Hollywood Story
| Episode: "Sean 'Diddy' Combs"
|-
| Access Granted
| Episode: "We Fly High Remix"
|-
| 2008
| A Raisin in the Sun
| Walter Lee Younger
| TV movie
|-
| 2009
| CSI: Miami
| Derek Powell
| Episode: "Presumed Guilty" & "Sink or Swim"
|-
| 2010
| Entourage
| Himself
| Episode: "Tequila and Coke"
|-
| 2011
| Hawaii Five-0
| Reggie Cole
| Episode: "Hoʻopaʻi"
|-
| 2012
| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
| Dr. Jinx
| Episode: "Charlie's Mom Has Cancer"
|-
| 2015
| Black-ish
| Elroy Savoy
| Episode: "Pops' Pops' Pops"
|-
|rowspan=4| 2016
| Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood
| rowspan="2" | Himself
| Episode: "L.A., The Stevie J Way"
|-
| Finding Your Roots
| Episode: "Family Reunions"
|-
| The Voice
| Himself/Advisor
| Recurring Advisor: Season 10
|-
| Inside the Label
| rowspan="2" | Himself
| Episode: "Uptown Records, Part I & II"
|-
| 2017
| The Defiant Ones
| Main Guest
|-
| 2018
| The Four: Battle for Stardom
| Himself/Judge
| Main Judge
|-
|rowspan=2| 2022
| Hip-Hop Evolution
| Himself
| Guest Cast: Season 2–3
|-
| Billboard Music Awards
| Himself/Host
| Main Host
|}
Documentary
{| class="wikitable"
! Year
! Title
|-
| 1995
| The Show
|-
| 1998
| Where It's At: The Rolling Stone State of the Union
|-
| 2002
| Street Dreams
|-
| 2004
| Fade to Black
|-
| 2005
| Seamless
|-
| 2016
| The Art of Organized Noize
|-
|rowspan=4| 2017
| Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
|-
| House of Z
|-
| Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story
|-
| The Defiant Ones
|-
| 2019
| The Black Godfather
|-
| 2021
| Mary J. Blige's My Life
|-
| 2024
| The French Montana Story: For Khadija
|}
Tours
- No Way Out Tour (1997–1998)
- Forever Tour (2000)
- The Heavyweights of Hip-Hop (with Snoop Dogg) (2007)
- Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour (2016) In 2021, Combs was among the inaugural inductees into the Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame. In June 2022, Combs received the BET Lifetime Achievement Award. In September 2023, Combs was awarded the key to New York City by Mayor Eric Adams.
He received an MTV VMA Global Icon Award in 2023.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|+ Awards and nominations received by Sean Combs
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Nominated work
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" |
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="9" | BET Awards
| rowspan="2" | 2002 || "Bad Boy for Life"<br /> || rowspan="2" | Video of the Year ||
|-
| "Pass the Courvoisier, Part II"<br /> ||
|-
| 2003 || "Bump, Bump, Bump" || Coca-Cola Viewer's Choice Award ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2007
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="11" | MTV Europe Music Awards
| rowspan="4" | 1997 || rowspan="2" | "I'll Be Missing You" || MTV Select ||
|-
| Best Song ||
|-
| rowspan="8" | Sean Combs || Best New Act ||
|-
| Best Hip-Hop ||
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1998 || Best Male ||
|-
| rowspan="5" | Best Hip-Hop ||
|-
| 1999 ||
|-
| 2001 ||
|-
| 2002 ||
|-
| 2006 ||
|-
| 2011 || Diddy – Dirty Money || Best World Stage Performance ||
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="1" | MTV Movie & TV Awards
| 2018 || Can't Stop, Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story || Best Music Documentary ||
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="6" | MTV Video Music Awards
| rowspan="2" | || rowspan="2" | "I'll Be Missing You" || Best R&B Video ||
|-
| Viewer's Choice ||
|-
| rowspan="3" | || rowspan="2" | "It's All About the Benjamins" (Rock Remix) || Video of the Year ||
|-
| Viewer's Choice ||
|-
| "Come with Me" || Best Video from a Film ||
|-
| || "Bad Boy for Life" || Best Rap Video ||
|-
! scope="row" rowspan="2" | NAACP Image Awards
| 2009
| A Raisin in the Sun
| Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie,<br />Mini-Series or Dramatic Special
|
|-
| 2011
| Diddy – Dirty Money
| Outstanding Duo or Group
|
|}
References
</references>