Today (October 14), Diddy was allegedly named in half a dozen new filings. According to USA Today, six of a whooping alleged 120 victims (uncovered by AVA Law Group attorneys Tony Buzbee and Andrew Van Arsdale) have formally filed lawsuit against the disgraced mogul.
In the cases, two Jane Does and four John Does, accuse Diddy of rape, sexual abuse, and sexual assault. Of the six alleged victims, one accuser said they were 16 years old at the time of the supposed assault. The incidents outlined in the lawsuit allegedly took between between 1995 through 2021. Deep within the documents, the outlet claims several of Diddy’s businesses as listed as defendants similar to Cassie’s bombshell filing back in November 2023.
Buzbee says the public should expect more civil filings as the law form is ready to submit more on behalf of their unidentified clients. However, a formal number was not shared. Diddy is currently in jail as he was denied bond three times by a judge. Find more information about Diddy’s upcoming here.
Diddy maintains his innocence in connection with the criminal offensive he was charged with.
The list of allegations Diddy is currently is already quite long. However, it could grow even further. With the disgraced (and currently detained) mogul’s legal team ironing out a defense against for his sex trafficking case, they might need to prepare for additional civil litigation.
According to HuffPost, Diddy could face “at least 120” new sexual assault lawsuits, including 25 underage individuals (the youngest allegedly being 9).
In a statement provided to the outlet, AVA Law Group attorneys Tony Buzbee and Andrew Van Arsdale, claim to represent individuals who were allegedly assaulted by “Diddy (real name Sean Combs) and his associates.”
Buzbee and Van Arsdale claim to have been contacted by “more than 3,000 people” about “possible abuse.” Of those who reach out to the duo, they’ve taken on 120 as clients.
Both attorneys say these alleged victims were also in contact with several law enforcement authorities, including the FBI.
Van Arsdale went on to discuss the reason for the potential influx of filings. “They’re coming forward now because they finally feel a bit safer that he’s behind bars,” he said. “His influence and control over their livelihood and maybe physical health is waning, and so they’re coming forward in the numbers they are.”
Diddy has maintained his innocence against all previous allegations.
A Hip Hop empire has fallen now that Sean “Diddy” Combs has been taken into federal custody. The media mogul rose through the industry’s ranks to become one of the most successful Rap moguls to date, but his career has been fraught with controversy since its inception. Diddy has reigned over his Hip Hop kingdom with precision, floating through each of his monikers at various stages of his development. After helping to put Uptown Records on the map, Combs founded Bad Boy Records, an iconic label that gave us The Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Total, The LOX, Craig Mack, 112, Shyne, Cassie, Mase, and many more. During its heyday, there were only a few labels to contend with the megahits rolling out of Bad Boys’ studios, but these days, Diddy’s alleged dirty deeds have placed him in a spotlight that the hitmaker would have rather avoided.
As Diddy faces an onslaught of lawsuits alleging violence and sexual abuse, he’s also looking at the possibility of spending the remainder of his life in prison. Federal authorities reportedly arrested Combs in New York City last week after being charged with racketeering and sex trafficking. Although his legal team hoped he could await his trial in the comforts of his lavish estate, a judge ordered Diddy to remain behind bars until the launch of his trial. This shocking decision, along with the reports of what authorities located in Diddy’s home during their raid, has taken over timelines. Even the mega-mogul’s peers have come forward, some to defend his character, while others share wild, alleged “Diddy Party” stories of their own.
It was Cassie Ventura’s explosive lawsuit against her former lover last year that seemed to propel this current investigation. We’ll get more into that as we go on, but Combs settled that suit out of court just 24 hours after Ventura filed her paperwork. However, hers wasn’t the first allegation of abuse—for over a decade, stories have haunted Puff from the courtroom to the streets. These accusations have surfaced from Wendy Williams to Combs’ former employees to Al. B Sure defending the late Kim Porter to models who have retained their own attorneys. Meanwhile, the internet is walking down memory lane as it revisits some of Diddy’s most controversial moments. The list of rumors and allegations is enough for a miniseries, but we’re gathering just a few of the most discussed from the life of Sean Combs that have kept him in infamy.
Notorious B.I.G.’s Murder
In March 1997, Hip Hop suffered a great loss when Christopher Wallace, better known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls, was fatally gunned down in Los Angeles. For decades, speculation has circulated in the industry regarding Biggie’s death, and some even named Combs in rumors of a plot. Then, Rolling Stone released an exposé that shook the foundation of the case—they purported Wallace wanted out of his Bad Boy contract and was working on his exit from the label. The publication further stated that Biggie turned to his legal team to gain rights to his publishing, and there was a covert battle between Puff and Big about the concerns.
Upon news of Biggie’s death, RS claimed that Combs capitalized on the tragedy for financial gain. Rolling Stone approached Bad Boy for a magazine cover just months after Big’s murder. However, Kirk Burrowes, who co-founded the label and was acting as president of the company at the time, said that Diddy didn’t want Big on the cover. Instead, Combs graced the August 1997 issue, with Burrowes alleging that Diddy wanted to promote his debut album, No Way Out. Meanwhile, Biggie’s murder officially remains unsolved, although there is still gossip involving Combs, Suge Knight, and a host of characters.
The Assault On Steve Stoute
Mega music executive Steve Stoute also had his name tied up in Diddy’s madness, albeit back in 1998. At that time, Stoute was acting as Nas’ manager, and it was then that he reportedly had a heated altercation with Combs. According to The Los Angeles Times, Stoute recalled he and Diddy exchanging words on the music video set of “Hate Me Now.” As the story goes, the idea for the video was for Combs to be depicted as a crucified Christ. Diddy wanted the scene axed, but somehow, it wasn’t removed. This reportedly angered Combs, who, Stoute said, showed up at his office and went after him with a champagne bottle. Stoute alleged that during the attack, his jaw and arm were broken.
The altercation resulted in Diddy receiving assault charges, but he denied any bones were damaged. Combs would later speak with MTV about the incident, claiming he apologized to Stoute. He also stated he “disappointed myself” as well as the “Hip Hop community.” Combs added, “Because everything I do, I’m trying to be a team player in taking Hip Hop to the next level.” Later, Diddy pleaded guilty to harassment and was ordered to take an anger management course.
This story has resurfaced after famed journalist Touré revisited the tale in a TikTok video. According to the clip, Danyel Smith was an editor at Vibe magazine in 1995 when Diddy graced the cover. She actually previously shared this story with The New York Times, claiming that days following the cover photo shoot, Combs reached out demanding to see the images before they were published. Smith denied the request because it wasn’t Vibe‘s protocol—along with most magazines. After being rejected, Smith stated she heard through the grapevine that Combs planned to visit Vibe‘s offices in an effort to force her hand. Days later, Smith alleged that Diddy showed up irate, requesting to see her immediately while searching for her. Smith remarked she was doing her best to avoid the upset mogul and managed to sneak out of the back door and hail a cab home.
This wasn’t the saga’s end; Puff allegedly called again the next day, wanting to see the pictures. Smith once again said no, and it was then that she claimed he threatened to “see you dead in the trunk of a car.” Combs is also accused of telling her he knew her exact location at that moment, and Smith said she wasn’t taking any chances. She contacted her attorney, resulting in the mega-producer issuing an apology. Again, one would think this is the conclusion of a wild story, but according to Smith, within days, there was another controversy. She stated that when she returned to work, the servers that held all the information for Diddy’s Vibe issue were no longer there. They were purportedly stolen, but despite the setback, the issue was published.
The Club Shooting Which Landed Shyne In Jail
Probably one of the most significant controversies in Combs’ career is tied to Moses “Shyne” Barrow. Shyne was an emerging artist under the Bad Boy umbrella, with his deep, captivating cadence that caught the attention of both fans and the industry. However, a night out at the club in December 1999 would derail Shyne’s career after it turned into a shooting that injured three people. Now, what occurred that evening has been under speculation for years. What is known is there was an altercation that escalated into someone pulling out a firearm—and Shyne was accused of having his finger on the trigger.
Shyne and Diddy faced charges related to the shooting, but the latter was acquitted despite authorities claiming they found weapons in his vehicle. Yet, Shyne wasn’t so lucky and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Since then, he has turned his life around after returning to Belize. Now an activist and politician, Shyne has left his Hip Hop life behind him. However, he has reunited with Diddy on stage at least twice since 2022. After learning of Combs’ recent arrest, Shyne spoke with reporters to share his thoughts. He said this wasn’t someone “who I vacationed with and someone who I enjoyed this great, intimate relationship of brotherhood. This is someone who destroyed my life.”
Drama Over Artists’ Publishing Rights
Over the years, several Bad Boy artists have come forward with complaints over their former label head not budging on giving them their publishing rights. Several of the Golden Era of Hip Hop hitmakers like Mase, members of 112 and Danity Kane, and others reportedly petitioned Combs for control of their publishing, to no avail. Pertaining to Mase, the Harlem World rapper took his grievances to the internet, publicly calling out his former friend. Following much controversy and scandal, Diddy decided to give his former artists their publishing rights in 2023. The move was praised by those who have complained throughout the years, aside from former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O’Day. The Making the Band star has long spoken out against Combs, even stating that in order to receive her publishing, she was allegedly told she needed to agree to no longer speak critically of Puff. In light of his federal charges, O’Day has celebrated his arrest.
Dawn Richard’s Lawsuit
Two weeks ago, Combs was hit with another lawsuit, this time from former Danity Kane singer Dawn Richard. Years ago, during an interview with Hot97, Richard seemingly praised Diddy and spoke about being loyal to him for helping develop her career on Making the Band. However, there were rumors of misdealings and ill feelings behind the scenes, and her recent lawsuit was yet another that stopped the industry in its tracks.
According to Richard’s court documents, she has accused Combs of physical violence and intimidation. She specifically named alleged incidents, including one involving Cassie Ventura. Richard stated she was at a dinner with Jimmy Iovine, Ne-Yo, and Usher, and it was there that Diddy allegedly punched Cassie in front of the guests, and no one moved or came to the singer’s aid. Richard also stated that she witnessed Combs threaten Ventura, choke her, and drag her upstairs. Richard also claimed Diddy locked her in a car for hours, “manipulated her” by threatening her career, and tried to convince her that women in the industry would have to face “abuse and exploitation” to be successful.
Further, Richard’s suit also included mentions of Diddy’s infamous parties, or as the federal authorities have called them, “freak offs.” The singer stated that she witnessed these events with “passed out” women who were alleged victims to Combs and his friends, who “performed sexual acts on them.” Moreover, Richard said she was violated when Combs allegedly grabbed her “bare buttocks” while she was in a changing room, even attempting to “touch her breasts.” When she continued to deny his advances, Richard claimed Diddy stifled her career. The lawsuit is ongoing.
His Relationship With Cassie
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 27: Cassie (L) and recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
Last year, Cassie filed a lawsuit against Diddy, unraveling a bevy of allegations of abuse throughout their 11-year relationship. These accusations included rape, physical violence, intimidation, manipulation, and forcing her to engage in sexual acts with male escorts. Additionally, there was a story about an artist whose car was blown up because Diddy supposedly believed he and Cassie were dating after a breakup. Kid Cudi would later come forward to confirm that he was, indeed, the man in question, and the incident did occur. Diddy quickly settled the lawsuit but accused Cassie of previously attempting to blackmail him for millions. Through his lawyer, he denied the allegations.
Then, earlier this year, a video of Diddy and Cassie surfaced, again thrusting them into infamy. The surveillance footage was from a hotel, showing Cassie making her way to an elevator before Combs is seen running after her, dragging her by her hair, punching her, and kicking her while she was on the ground. Cassie further speculated in her lawsuit that Diddy paid off certain hotel workers to suppress the video evidence.
Scandal Over Fight With J. Cole Over Kendrick Lamar
This controversy resurfaced in the thick of Kendrick Lamar’s recent outpouring of diss tracks against Drake. After J. Cole swiftly removed himself from the brewing beef, fans hopped online to revisit the 2013 rumor of Cole and Combs getting into a physical altercation. The alleged event reportedly took place at an afterparty for the MTV Video Music Awards. Combs was said to have been liquored up when he confronted Cole about Lamar dubbing himself the “King of New York” on a track. K. Dot was also at the event, and Diddy allegedly attempted to pour a drink on him before Cole stepped in. Things escalated and became physical, claimed sources, but it was mainly pushing more than fisticuffs.
CCNY Controversy
In 1991, the City College of New York became the scene of a fatal stampede. Diddy was all set for a promoted celebrity basketball game and impending concert in the packed gymnasium with a capacity of 2,730. However, fans stormed the location, and at least 5,000 people were in attendance, according to reports. Things became so out of control that officials stopped letting in guests as there wasn’t enough security to stave off the crowd. Closed doors didn’t stop those on the outside from trying to make their way in, eventually breaking down the barriers. The stampede resulted in over two dozen people being injured and nine others losing their lives. Much like Travis Scott faced at Astroworld, Combs was hit with several lawsuits from victims and family members of the deceased.
Usher’s Comments About Living With Diddy During His Youth
When young artists enter the music industry, many parents allow their children to live with high-profile producers or executives as they are developed. This happened with Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri, Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun, and Usher with Diddy. Of the latter pair, in 2016, Usher reflected on his time at Diddy’s home when he was 13 and 14 years old. While on The Howard Stern Show, Usher recalled, “There were very curious things taking place.” He spoke about the late-night to early-morning parties Combs would host with his celebrity friends. The Grammy winner also suggested that the women who frequented these events flirted with the rising star.
Diddy Assaulting UCLA Coach Over Son, Justin Combs
Pride was illuminated by the Combs family when Diddy’s son Justin was accepted to the UCLA football team. However, in 2015, it was reported that Diddy got into a physical altercation with the then-assistant football coach, Sal Alosi. It was said that Diddy was less than thrilled when Alosi criticized Justin, leading to an argument later in the coach’s office. The mogul was accused of grabbing Alosi and throwing a kettlebell at another employee. It was rumored that Diddy had to be physically removed from the location, but Combs denied the allegations via his representative. Yet, Diddy was still arrested for assault, but charges were not filed against him. He would later speak on the incident during an interview with The Breakfast Club, which you can watch above.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, aka Puff Daddy, aka P. Diddy, aka Puffy, aka Love, has again been denied bail, this time by a different judge, over concerns of potential witness tampering. According to multiple sources, including the Twitter accounts of TMZ and Huffington Post editor Phil Lewis, Diddy’s second request for bail was shot down by a second judge, Andrew L. Carter, despite a bid by his attorney Marc Agnifilo to appeal yesterday’s decision by Judge Tarnofsky to deny bail based on flight risk.
According to @innercitypress, the Twitter account of independent reporter Matthew Lee, who previously covered the trial of Tekashi 69, Agnifilo offered the services of a private security firm to monitor Combs’ whereabouts, bar Combs from access to the internet or a mobile device, and control visitor logs, but Carter was unconvinced — especially as the state presented evidence he had contacted witnesses even while under investigation by federal authorities. Agnifilo also tried to explain away the 2016 video of Diddy beating Cassie in a hotel hallway as the result of anger from supposed infidelity on her part rather than part of a pattern of behavior. Needless to say, it didn’t help his case.
Kim Porter, the late ex-girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs, detailed the alleged abuse she suffered at his hands in a reported never-before-seen memoir, surfacing nearly six years after her sudden death.
According to an anonymous source who shared the files with RadarOnline.com, the explosive 40-page document was found on a flash drive. While RadarOnline.com cannot verify the claims, the memoir includes harrowing anecdotes of the actress and model’s life, allegedly written in the months leading up to her death.
Porter described Diddy’s “jealous” nature and short temper, recounting an incident where he allegedly sent her to the hospital after beating her with a chair.
“We were supposed to go out for dinner, but he was in a foul mood,” the memoir reads. “Sean yelled, ‘What the f—!’ I would have to walk on eggshells as I came out of the bathroom, but I found him holding flowers, so I smiled, ‘You brought me flowers!’ Sean yelled, ‘No! So who the f— are they from?’ I was bewildered, and told him honestly, ‘I don’t know. Probably just a fan.’
“He threw the attached card at me. I picked it up to read it. ‘Sean i…’ He slapped me so hard I hit the ground. Sean yelled, ‘Who the f— were you with the other night?’ I looked down at the card that was lying next to me, and it read, ‘The other night was amazing, we must do it again.’”
The memoir alleges the flowers came from a producer for a project who she had coffee with to discuss future work. The producer was said to have work on another project, she explained to Diddy. The memoir alleges the details made Diddy more irate, flipping over a table. After more of a tense conversation, Diddy allegedly hit her with a chair. Kim Porter would awake in a hospital.
“My arm was in a cast, hanging from a sling,” the doc reads. “My face hurt. My eyebrow was in immense pain, as was my lip. As I came to, the first face I saw, was of the man that put me here.
“Sean asked with concern in his voice, ‘How are you feeling?’ I responded, ‘Stay away from me.’”
The manuscript reads Diddy would apologize, stating: “I don’t know what came over me.”
Kim Porter, who shared three children with Diddy, passed away at 47 in her Los Angeles home on November 15, 2018. The medical examiner ruled her death as “natural,” citing lobar pneumonia as the cause.
You can read the full details of the manuscript here.
A sixth lawsuit has been filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs. Today (May 21), New York Times reported that a former model named Crystal McKinney filed a lawsuit against Diddy, accusing him of forcing her to perform oral sex on him.
According to the lawsuit, McKinney, who was 22 at the time, first met Diddy in 2003, when an unnamed fashion designer invited her to attend a Men’s Fashion Week event at a restaurant in Manhattan. The suit notes that she had met Diddy that night, and was invited by him to accompany him to his recording studio. McKinney says she was given alcohol and marijuana, and later, says she came to realize it was laced.
The suit claims that Diddy led McKinney into a bathroom, pushed her head down to his crotch, and forced her to perform oral sex on him, despite her refusals. McKinney said she then lost consciousness, and woke up in a cab, realizing she had been sexually assaulted.
This is the sixth lawsuit filed against Diddy in recent time. Last November, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura sued him for sexual abuse, and said suit was settled within 24 hours. Shortly after,Joi Dickerson-Neal and a woman identified as Jane Doe filed two other sexual assault lawsuits against Diddy. The following month, a woman also identifying as Jane Doe accused Diddy of gang-raping her when she was 17 years old. Back in February, Lil Rod accused Diddy of sexual misconduct.
Last week, a video allegedly featuring Diddy physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie in 2016 surfaced online. Diddy has since taken to social media, filming an apology, despite denying allegations of abuse last November, when Cassie first sued him.
Last week, Diddy’s homes were raided by the Department of Homeland Security in a reported sex trafficking investigation stemming from a series of lawsuits against the rapper. As Diddy’s legal troubles mount, his A-list friends are now being placed under the microscope. Ashton Kutcher is reportedly expected to be subpoenaed in the investigation, which has unearthed some comments he’s made over the years about his well-documented friendship with Diddy.
During a 2019 appearance on Hot Ones, host Sean Evans asked Kutcher for some details about “Diddy parties,” which had become a favorite topic on the web series. (The question was also spurred by an Instagram photo of Kutcher partying with Diddy.) While Kutcher’s answer seemed innocuous at the time, it reads differently in light of the allegations against Diddy.
“I’ve got a lot I can’t tell,” Kutcher told Evans while pausing to think of another anecdote, only to quip, “I can’t tell that one either.”
According to The Daily Beast, the two have been close since their early days on MTV:
Combs’ Making the Band was another huge property at MTV at the time and helped foster their friendship, Kutcher and Combs told James Corden in a 2018 joint interview.
“I gave [Kutcher] a call one day and said, ‘I heard that you are going to punk me, and I just don’t think that’s a good idea,’” Combs told Corden, when the host asked how the two met.
“I think it was some version of, ‘If you do that, that will not end well for you, but I think we should work out a deal,’” Kutcher amended.
Kutcher being pulled into the Diddy scandal is also raising eyebrows after his best friend and That ’70s Show co-star Danny Masterson was convicted of rape. Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis wrote letters to the judge asking for leniency that they did not expect to go public. Once the letters were published, Kutcher resigned from the board of the anti-child sex abuse organization he founded with ex-wife Demi Moore.
You can see Kutcher talking (about how he can’t talk) about Diddy parties at the 11:03 mark below:
Following the raid of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami homes this past Monday (March 26), Combs’ team has broken their silence. Today (March 27), Combs’ attorney Aaron Dyer has issued a statement to HipHopDX, maintaining Combs’ innocent.
In the statement, Dyer called the raids “a gross overuse of military-level force” and decried how his children and employees were interrograted and handcuffed.
“This unprecedented ambush – paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence – leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” said Dyer.
Though Combs himself was not arrested, a man named Brendan Paul who was alleged in a suit to be Combs’ “drug mule,” was taken into custody for possession of marijuana and cocaine. At the time of writing, it is unclear if the arrest was in relation to Combs.
You can read Dyer’s full statement below.
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way.
This unprecedented ambush – paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence – leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs’s net worth finally reached a billion in October 2022. Replacing Kanye West on the Forbes list, the American rapper, actor, producer, and record executive first worked as a talent director at Uptown Records before founding his own record company, Bad Boy Records, in 1993. At Bad Boy Records, he would sign iconic artists such as Notorious B.I.G, Mase, and more. In addition, he’s released a wide portfolio of multi-platinum albums.
Despite growing up in a violent environment that directly impacted his family, he rose above the circumstances. He developed a keen entrepreneurial spirit at 12 years old when he began working as a vendor for a local newspaper company. Throughout the years, Diddy’s expanded his portfolio to include a number of ventures and investments, including Revolt TV, Ciroc, and more. Below, we broke down exactly how Diddy accumulated a billion-dollar net worth by 2024.
He Got His Start at Uptown Records
NEW YORK, NEW YORK–NOVEMBER 12: Hip-Hop Producer/Executive/Label Head Andre Harrell relaxes in a nightclub VIP area by chatting with Sean “Puffy” Combs on November 12, 1994 in New York City. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)
After graduating from high school, Diddy initially enrolled in business school at Howard University. However, he dropped out after two years after talking his way into an internship at New York’s Uptown Records. During his first experience in the music industry, he developed artists such as Jodeci and Mary J Blige. Diddy was able to move up the corporate ladder into an executive position.
However, Diddy was fired from Uptown Records in 1993 and embarked on the next chapter of his career. Harrell, who fired Diddy, later clarified in the Bad Boy documentary Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A Bad Boy Storythat he “fired Puff only to make him rich. I told Puff he needs to go and create his own opportunity.” Either way, Diddy’s termination would inspire him to his own record label.
Founding the Bad Boy Entertainment Record Label, he brought artists such as Notorious B.I.G, Carl Thomas, and Faith Evans with him. In addition, he utilized his industry notoriety to begin creating his own music. He produced Notorious B.I.G’s Ready to Die and Life After Death, the two respective albums now amongst the holy grail of rap albums. In addition, he released Platinum albums such as No Way Out and Forever. While Diddy’s sound was rooted in hip-hop, his penchant for soul and R&B fused into his sound. At Bad Boy Records’ peak, it was worth over $100 million.
His Alcoholic Beverage Company Is His Most Profitable
MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 01: Sean “Diddy” Combs attends press conference for Ciroc Vodka at Fontainebleau Miami Beach on December 1, 2009 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Carlos Marino/FilmMagic)
While seemingly every famous rapper has delved into the alcoholic industry, Diddy was the pioneer of the trend. Back in 2007, he took over Ciroc Vodka as a majority owner. He would utilize his image to pivot the brand from a minor player to a multi-billion dollar powerhouse. The brand has branched out significantly from its original product offerings including various flavors and ready-to-drink products. Ciroc launched four flavors of vodka-spiked, ultra-premium canned cocktails. In an interview with Forbes, Diddy stated, “When it came to our innovation, we wanted to disrupt the market. When I was looking at the landscape, it wasn’t giving me luxury. We’re making the category sexy.”
Diddy owes the bulk of his net worth to Ciroc Vodka, where he’s making an estimated $60 million per year. However, Ciroc is not his only venture into the alcoholic beverage space. In addition, he owns the luxury tequila brand DeLeon. All of these brands fall under the umbrella of Combs Wines & Spirits. All of his companies fall under his recently re-branded Combs Global, which contains a portfolio that ranges from alcohol to cannabis products. The two billionaires in hip-hop, Diddy and Jay-Z have each had highly successful ventures into the alcoholic beverage world.
Diddy Disrupted the Clothing Industry
Sean “Diddy” Combs during Sean “Diddy” Combs Launches Sean John Elite Footwear Collection in Miami at Dolphin Mall in Miami, Florida, United States. (Photo by Rodrigo Varela/WireImage)
If alcohol has been Diddy’s primary source of net worth, then clothing is a close second. Back in 1998, he launched the Sean John clothing brand under the umbrella of sportswear. The brand would soon branch out into other lanes of fashion. Once exceeding $450 million in sales on an annual basis, Sean John was one of the premiere clothing brands in the US. However, the brand went starkly downhill after Diddy sold his majority stake in the company back in 2016. By 2021, Sean John had filed for bankruptcy. It would take Diddy re-purchasing the brand for $7.5 million to save it.
The billionaire’s clothing initiative began in a cubicle at Bad Boy Records. Jeffrey Tweedy, Sean John’s president for two decades, spoke about the initial process in an interview with GQ. He stated, “I got several calls from [Diddy] about starting a brand. He had a three-year plan already laid out, from what the collection looks like to what we do with it to where we market it how we market it to who we put it on. Diddy had done his homework.”
Diddy Is Building A Black-Owned Media Powerhouse
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 25: Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attends the REVOLT & AT&T Summit on October 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
Diddy has also dived into the television network space. Launched in October 2013, Revolt TV was created with the intention of being “unapologetically hip-hop.” The network has lived up to that mantra, giving hip-hop artists the opportunity to promote their work through mediums such as Revolt-hosted podcasts, music video blocks, and covering social justice issues targeting African Americans. More recently, Diddy has expressed interest in acquiring a majority stake in BET as Paramount Global explores a potential sale. The initiative is a part of Diddy’s long-term vision to own a black-owned media powerhouse.
While rappers such as Childish Gambino and 50 Cent have had successful ventures into acting, Diddy was one of the first hip-hop acts to dive into the networking side of television. At the time, Comcast agreed to carry minority-owned networks as part of its deal to purchase a minority-stake of NBCUniversal. This is when Diddy came in with Revolt, a network that he announced on the steps of Notorious B.I. G’s childhood home.
Diddy Proven To Be An Intelligent Investor
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 27: Mark Wahlberg (L) and Sean Combs visit Extra at The Grove on February 27, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images for Extra)
Outside of driving his own businesses, Diddy has proved to be an intelligent investor. For example, he’s currently a partner of Aquahydrate, one of the biggest water companies in the world. Investing a cool $20 million in the company along with Mark Wahlberg. Both are now part of a company that’s worth over $2 billion.
Diddy has also begun to invest in the cannabis market. Back in November of 2022, he acquired the licenses to buy various weed businesses in three different states. The overall deal was worth around $185 million. The deal would make Diddy the owner of the largest black-owned cannabis company in the nation. His dive into the industry was rooted in steadfast anger, as he expressed his frustration at the lack of Black representation in the industry. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, he stated “Two percent? All the years, all the pain, all the incarceration…to me, it was important to do a big deal like this.”
Net Worth Surpassed $1 Billion in 2022
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 27: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs speaks onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Of course, Diddy’s business ventures haven’t had a 100% success rate. For example, he attempted to move into the auto parts world by creating the SJC Wheels Company back in 2005. At the time, the worlds of lavish cars and hip-hop were tied together. Therefore, the move had some definite promise on the surface. However, the company’s highly expensive line of wheels would fail to appeal to its target audience. SJC Wheels would file for bankruptcy a year after its inception.
From failed business ventures to getting fired from Uptown Records, Diddy would use these experiences to mold him into one of the hardest workers to come out of the music industry. From the alcohol to fashion industries, Diddy and Jay-Z’s ability to succeed with a wide-range of business ventures stands them from the rest of the crowd. Replacing Kanye West as America’s second hip-hop billionaire in 2022, his wealth and notoriety have continued to shoot up with age.
Following various allegations and lawsuits filed against Sean “Diddy” Combs, the rapper, producer, and entrepreneur has stepped down from Revolt, a music-centered television network he cofounded in 2013, according to TMZ, who first broke the news
What was Diddy’s role at Revolt
Since finding Revolt in 2013, alongside Andy Schuon, Combs served as a chairman for the network, however, was not actively involved in the network’s operations, according to a post from Revolt’s Instagram.
“Sean Combs has stepped down from his position as chairman of Revolt,” read the post. “While Mr. Combs has previously had no operational or day-to-day role in the business, this decision helps to ensure that Revolt remains steadfastly focused on our mission to create meaningful content for the culture and amplify the voices of all Black people throughout this country and the African diaspora.”
At the time of writing, TMZ reports that this is currently temporary, however, it is unknown if Diddy plans to step back into his role as a chairman.
