Sean “Diddy” Combs is an American rapper, producer, and entrepreneur born November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York City. He founded Bad Boy Records in 1993, launched the Notorious B.I.G., and built a business empire on Cîroc, Sean John, and Revolt TV. In July 2025 he was convicted on two federal prostitution-related counts and is serving a 50-month sentence.
Quick facts
- Full name: Sean John Combs
- Born: November 4, 1969, Harlem, New York City, USA
- Nationality: American
- Occupations: Rapper, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur
- Known for: Founding Bad Boy Records; launching the Notorious B.I.G.; Cîroc, Sean John, Revolt TV
- Partners (public): Kimberly Porter (1994–2007), Jennifer Lopez (1999–2001), Cassie Ventura (2007–2018), Yung Miami (2021–2024)
- Children: 7, including Christian “King” Combs
- Education: Mount Saint Michael Academy (graduated 1987); Howard University business major, left after his sophomore year; honorary doctorate from Howard in 2014
Early life
Sean John Combs was born on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York City. His father, Melvin Earl Combs, was shot and killed when Sean was 2 — Melvin was 33. Raised by his mother Janice in Mount Vernon, New York, he graduated from Mount Saint Michael Academy in 1987, enrolled at Howard University as a business major, and left after his sophomore year for the music business.
Career: the rise of a mogul
Combs started as an intern at Uptown Records in 1990 under Andre Harrell, rising to talent director and helping develop Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Fired from Uptown in 1993, he founded Bad Boy Records as an Arista joint venture, bringing the Notorious B.I.G. with him; early signings Craig Mack, Faith Evans, 112, Total, Mase, and the Lox made Bad Boy the dominant sound of mid-’90s hip-hop and R&B. Recording as Puff Daddy, his 1997 debut No Way Out hit Billboard 200 #1 and went 7× platinum, with “I’ll Be Missing You” the first hip-hop song to debut at #1. He won the 1998 Grammy for Best Rap Album plus Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, on the way to three career Grammys; Forever (1999) and The Saga Continues… (2001) both peaked at #2, and two 2002–2003 features made him the first rapper with five US #1 singles; Press Play (2006) hit #1.
He built a parallel empire: Sean John clothing (1998), an equal Diageo partnership on Cîroc vodka (2007) worth reportedly ~$60 million a year at peak, Revolt TV (2013), a $7.5 million Sean John buyback (2021), and The Love Album: Off the Grid (2023).
The empire then unraveled. The Diageo partnership ended in a January 2024 split and Combs was arrested in September 2024. The July 2, 2025 verdict found him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution (the Mann Act) — and acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. On October 3, 2025, Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced him to 50 months in federal prison, a $500,000 fine, and five years of supervised release; he is now at FCI Fort Dix, New Jersey. His appeal was heard by the Second Circuit on April 9, 2026 (ruling pending). On October 10, 2026, around 1 AM, he was taken from FCI Fort Dix by ambulance with a non-life-threatening head injury; conscious and back in custody by the morning of October 11. The cause has not been publicly established, and his team is investigating. His projected release date is March 2, 2028 (pushed back from January 21, 2028).
Major achievements
- Founded Bad Boy Records (1993), the defining label of ’90s hip-hop and R&B
- No Way Out (1997): Billboard 200 #1, 7× platinum US; “I’ll Be Missing You” was the first hip-hop song to debut at #1
- Three career Grammys (1998 Best Rap Album); first rapper with five US #1 singles
- Built the Cîroc and Sean John brands; honorary doctorate, Howard (2014)
Personal life
Combs’ relationships have been in the public eye for decades: Kimberly Porter (1994–2007; d. 2018), Jennifer Lopez (1999–2001), Cassie Ventura (2007–2018), and Yung Miami (2021–2024). He is the father of seven children, including Christian “King” Combs. We report only publicly documented relationships and family facts.
Net worth snapshot
Forbes last audited Diddy’s fortune in June 2024 at approximately $400 million — down from $825 million (2018) and $740 million (2019). No newer Forbes estimate exists. For the full breakdown and methodology, read Diddy’s net worth.
FAQ
What is Diddy’s real name?
Sean John Combs — also known as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Diddy, Puffy, Love, and Brother Love.
How old is Diddy and when was he born?
November 4, 1969 in Harlem, New York City — 56 as of October 2026.
How did Diddy get famous?
Uptown Records talent director → founded Bad Boy Records (1993), launched the Notorious B.I.G., then went solo with the 7× platinum No Way Out (1997).
Why is Diddy in prison?
50-month federal sentence (Oct 3, 2025) after a July 2025 conviction on two Mann Act counts; acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking; held at FCI Fort Dix, NJ.
What happened to Diddy in prison in October 2026?
Oct 10, 2026 (~1 AM): ambulance from FCI Fort Dix with a head injury — non-life-threatening; back in custody by Oct 11 morning. Cause not publicly established; his team is investigating.
How many children does Diddy have?
Sources
- Wikipedia — Sean Combs
- BET — Nov. 4, 1969 retrospective
- martincid.com — Sean Combs profile
- The Source — Diddy career retrospective
- Parade — Diddy net worth
- Beacon Journal — Did Diddy lose his empire?
- Live Mint — Diddy trial verdict coverage
- WLT Report — Diddy prison medical emergency (Oct 2026)
- The Mix — Diddy prison head injury (2026)
- Ghanamma — Diddy hospitalised in prison (Oct 13, 2026)
See also: A$AP Rocky biography — another hip-hop mogul-brand figure, and Bad Bunny net worth — a look at another contemporary music-industry peer’s fortune.