05-05-2025
Sean 'Diddy' Combs Net Worth as Trial Starts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' long-awaited criminal trial began today with jury selection as the rap mogul faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Once considered one of the wealthiest artists in the music industry, Combs' financial status has become less clear amid mounting legal troubles and public backlash.
Why It Matters
Combs' financial decline comes amid what is one of the highest-profile criminal trials in the entertainment industry. He is facing life in prison if convicted. The trial has implications not only for Combs' freedom but for the future of his business interests.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all criminal counts and denies any wrongdoing. Newsweek reached out to Combs representatives for comments.
Sean "Diddy" Combs at a special screening of "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story" held on May 16, 2017 at The Curzon Cinema Mayfair in London, England, UK.
Sean "Diddy" Combs at a special screening of "Can't Stop Won't Stop: A Bad Boy Story" held on May 16, 2017 at The Curzon Cinema Mayfair in London, England, UK.
zz/KGC-247/STAR MAX/IPx
What To Know
In 2019, Combs had an estimated net worth of $740 million, according to Forbes. The outlet now estimates that Combs is worth $400 million. The decline follows a series of civil lawsuits, a federal indictment and the sale or diminishment of key assets in his empire.
Combs is the founder of the record label Bad Boy Records. At its peak, the label made $130 million annually, according to Business Insider. He has also made $100 million off his own music, Fortune reported in March 2024.
While Combs has been active in the music industry for decades, it is not his only stream of income. His clothing brand, Sean John, has annual revenues exceeding $525 million, Fortune reported.
In 2007, he entered a partnership with alcoholic beverage company Diageo to increase sales of the Cîroc vodka brand and DeLeón tequila. The agreement included a 50/50 split at the time, but Diageo now owns 100% of Cîroc and DeLeón. It is estimated that Combs made $60 million annually from the deal, according to Fortune.
Combs ventured into acting in the 2010s and signed a $185 million deal to buy cannabis retail stores across the U.S. in November 2022. His Combs Wine & Spirits venture and other licensing deals also played a role in increasing his net worth.
Combs has also profited from Revolt TV, the media company he launched in 2013. He has since sold his stake in Revolt.
Combs owns homes in Florida and California. His Miami Beach mansion is estimated to be worth over $37.4 million. His Los Angeles mansion is currently for sale, listed at $61.5 million.
Federal prosecutors say that from 2004 to 2024, Combs coordinated "freak offs" in which women were allegedly drugged and coerced into sex acts. Combs is also facing dozens of civil lawsuits.
What People Are Saying
Combs, in a 2023 interview with the Associated Press: "My dreams have always been to be successful in music, being obsessed with fashion and the greatest Black serial entrepreneur to ever live."
Combs' attorneys, in an October 2024 statement obtained by CNN: "Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman."
What Happens Next
Opening statements are scheduled for May 12 in Manhattan federal court, and the trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks.
Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
