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Graziadaily
03-07-2025
- Business
- Graziadaily
How Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Net Worth Changed Since His Criminal Trial
The trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs has come to an end and the music mogul has been found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution. Despite being his acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, a dark cloud continues to hang over Diddy's legacy. He was once the most powerful man in music whose ascent to the top was something to behold. Starting his own music label Bad Boy Records at the age of 24 and signing artists like The Notorious B.I.G and Faith Evans, Diddy quickly diversified his portfolio to become a multi-million dollar global empire. His company, Combs Enterprises, now Combs Global, grew to include music, fashion, fragrances, beverages, marketing, film, television, and media properties. As such, Diddy has amassed enormous wealth over the years. But what is he worth? And has his wealth been affected by the trial? We've done the research so you don't have to. Diddy at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards, the year he was declared a billionaire. (Photo: IMAGO) In June 2024, two months before Diddy was arrested, Forbes valued his net worth at $400 million (£292m). However, in 2018 Diddy's net worth was reportedly $825 million (£603m). In 2022, Rolling Stone reported that he had become a billionaire, making him the second richest hip-hop artist behind Jay-Z at the time. 'Diddy's surge into the billionaires club comes courtesy of years of investments and valuable assets, including his Ciroc partnership with Diageo which draws in $60 million annually,' the article reports. 'The musician-turned-entrepreneur also benefits from his partial ownership of DeLeon tequila and Revolt, the media network launched in 2013 for which Diddy is a majority shareholder.' From those who knew Diddy in his youth, such as former Bad Boy Records producer Prince Charles Alexander, it was clear from the off that Diddy was ambitious. During his music career, Diddy released five studio albums, two collaborative albums, one remix album and 72 singles. It was also reported by Business Insider that his record label brought in about $130 million a year in its prime. The year his first album came out, he also launched a clothing brand called Sean John. In 1998, the brand made its debut at Bloomingdale's in New York. According to Macy's Sean John's annual revenues exceed $525 million (£385m). It's also estimated that Diddy made about $60 million (£40m) from his deal with beverage company Diageo to increase exposure and sales for Cîroc vodka and DeLeón. He also has investments in the cannabis industry, an extensive property portfolio including homes in LA, New York, Miami, The Hamptons, New Jersey and Georgia. As well as being a successful producer and recording artists himself, Diddy established himself as a cultural figure at large, earning a star on the Hollywood walk of fame in 2008 and regularly hosting infamous A-list white parties which read as a who's who of the entertainment industry. His company Combs Global employs more than 200 people and is based in New York. It's possible that Diddy's net worth will be affected by his high profile criminal trial – and likely that it already has. The music mogul reportedly lost more than half his wealth in two years from his billionaire status in 2022 to $400m in 2024. It is unclear what Diddy's current net worth is. It is likely Diddy's his multiple business ventures are being overseen by a seasoned group of executives, including his management team at SALXCO. More information can be found here. Diddy is currently being detained in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in New York and his prison sentence is currently scheduled to be determined in October. He faces up to 20 years, but is expected to have a much shorter sentence. Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, covering pop culture, TV, news and features.
Business Insider
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Diddy prosecutors drop Kid Cudi-related arson and kidnapping from their racketeering case
Rapper Kid Cudi may have testified at the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial for nothing. With closing arguments a day away, federal prosecutors said Wednesday that they are narrowing their racketeering case and will no longer ask jurors to decide if Combs set fire to Kid Cudi's red Porsche in his Beverly Hills driveway in 2011. Federal prosecutors gave no specific reason for trimming the Porsche arson and two other allegations — kidnapping and aiding and abetting sex trafficking — from the list of "racketeering activities" that Diddy is charged with conspiring in. Prosecutors said only that they were being responsive to "the court's desire for streamlined instructions," a reference to the legal instructions the judge said he plans to give the jury Friday, following closing arguments scheduled for Thursday. The prosecution's plans were revealed in an eight-page letter filed Wednesday morning. Kid Cudi, given name Scott Mescudi, took the stand in May, during the second week of testimony. He described a brief 2011 romance with star prosecution witness Cassie Ventura, who was 28 at the time. Combs flew into a jealous rage over the romance, Mescudi and other witnesses said. "Get dressed — we're going to go kill" Mescudi, a former Combs executive, Capricorn Clark, testified Combs demanded, while referring to the other artist using a racial slur. Clark said Combs was banging on her front door and waving a gun at the time. Mescudi told jurors that he and Combs were never violent with each other directly. He testified, however, that he believed Combs broke into his house, shut his dog in the bathroom, and unwrapped his Christmas presents he intended to give his family. Mescudi also said he believes Combs was responsible for firebombing his Porsche with a Molotov cocktail. "What the fuck," Mescudi said with an embarrassed smile when asked by the prosecution to describe his reaction to seeing his torched car in the driveway of his Hollywood Hills house. On cross-examination, Mescudi said he had no direct knowledge that anyone affiliated with Combs was involved with the never-solved arson. The deep cut to the list of racketeering activities leaves the indictment listing six alleged racketeering activities. They are bribery, tampering with witnesses, forced labor, transportation for purposes of prostitution, inducement for purposes of prostitution, and distributing and possessing narcotics. Jurors must come to a unanimous agreement on two crimes on that list, finding that Combs and others in his music and lifestyle company, Combs Global, agreed to commit those crimes as part of a pattern of racketeering activity. The cuts follow arguments in court on Tuesday, during which Combs' attorney Alexandra Shapiro described the weaknesses that defense lawyers see in the prosecution's case. "The government has failed to prove the elements of the racketeering conspiracy charged in the indictment," Shapiro began. Racketeering conspiracy carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison. "There is, at best, thin proof that any of the other employees knowingly participated in the crimes with, or for, Mr. Combs, other than things like picking up or helping Mr. Combs procure personal use quantities of drugs for himself," she argued. There was scant evidence showing that employees knowingly agreed with Combs to commit crimes, she said. "Most of the testimony about the employees shows that they ran errands related to his personal life, made travel arrangements for him and his girlfriends, and the like," she said. Shapiro then picked apart the underlying crimes, one by one, including the kidnapping, arson, and sex-trafficking crimes that prosecutors edited from the indictment Wednesday. She said there was no direct evidence linking Combs to the arson. "Neither Capricorn Clark nor Cassie Ventura nor Mr. Mescudi witnessed the arson or put Mr. Combs at Mr. Mescudi's residence at the relevant time," Shapiro argued. As for sex-trafficking, there was likewise no proof that Combs' employees believed anything illegal might have been going on with Ventura and "Jane," the second sex-trafficking accuser, Shapiro argued. So there was no proof of an enterprise — or "racket" — aiding in sex trafficking, she said. Shapiro also criticized the government's kidnapping accusations, which allege in part that Combs forced Clark, his former executive, to go to Mescudi's house to "kill" him. The defense has argued that while Combs may have had a gun, it was never pointed at Clark.
Fox News
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy prosecution rests their case after six weeks of testimony
Prosecutors in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering trial chose to rest their case against the disgraced music mogul Tuesday. Diddy's defense team immediately moved for a judgment of acquittal. Attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued the government failed to prove the counts against the rapper. The jury spent the last six weeks hearing testimony from Diddy's ex-girlfriends, ex-employees and witnesses involved in the investigation. The prosecution used the testimony to show that Diddy allegedly ran a criminal enterprise through his businesses, including Combs Global. According to testimony, the rapper had his personal assistants set up hotel rooms for "freak offs" or "hotel nights." The ex-employees who took the stand also testified they often procured drugs for the rapper. These drugs – including MDMA, cocaine and ecstasy – were then used by Diddy and his ex-girlfriends during the allegedly forced sexual sessions involving male escorts, the prosecution argued. Cassie Ventura, who dated Diddy from 2007 until 2018, and the rapper's most recent ex-girlfriend both took the stand during the six weeks of testimony. Cassie and Jane, testifying under a pseudonym, claimed they were introduced to "freaks offs" or "hotel nights" shortly after beginning their relationship with Diddy. During these encounters, Cassie and Jane both testified they were forced to have sex with male escorts while Diddy watched. Cassie claimed she took drugs in order to dissociate during the "freak offs." Jane later told prosecutors there were times she felt coerced into "hotel nights" with Diddy and that the Bad Boy Records founder still pays for both her legal fees and rent. Homeland Security Special Agent Joseph Cerciello continued his testimony Monday as the government's 34th and final witness. During his testimony, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey showed the jury roughly 20 minutes of footage from "freak offs." The footage was only shown to the jury, due to its "explicit" nature. The fifth week of testimony in Diddy's trial ended with the rapper's alleged "drug mule," Brendan Paul, taking the stand. Diddy's defense team indicated there will not be any defense witnesses called after the prosecution rests. Marc Agnifilo indicated in court Monday that the legal team instead plans to introduce evidence to prove inconsistent statements. WATCH: DIDDY NOT TESTIFYING IN FEDERAL TRIAL MAY BE 'SAVVY' MOVE, EXPERT SAYS The rapper's defense lawyers initially said they would need roughly two weeks to plead their case, but told Judge Arun Subramanian last week that they may be able to rest by Tuesday or Wednesday. Diddy is not expected to testify, and the judge will likely ask the "Last Night" rapper to confirm his decision not to take the stand. The defense and prosecution agreed closing arguments could begin Thursday morning after a charging conference to go over jury instructions is held Wednesday.
The South African
23-06-2025
- The South African
Judge to deliver final blow? Diddy's fate looms in New York trial
Judge Arun Subramanian presided over the criminal trial United States v. Combs, which started on 5 May 2025, in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Sean 'Diddy' Combs is facing five federal charges: one for conspiracy to commit racketeering, two for sex trafficking by force, and two for transporting individuals for prostitution. He pleaded not guilty, and authorities are holding him at MDC Brooklyn under the inmate number 37452 054. Additionally, all twelve jurors (eight men and four women) are New York State residents. Over six weeks, prosecutors called 34 witnesses, including Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and an unknown woman, known only as 'Jane'. Ventura, 38, said Combs forced her to participate in drug-fuelled group sexual activities involving urine and subjected her to constant physical and mental abuse. She also said that Combs threatened to send out sex videos to control her. Brendan Paul, Sean Combs' assistant from late 2022 to March 2024, testified on 20 June 2025 after prosecutors granted him immunity. Paul also said that he planned 'freak-offs', which he described as parties full of drugs and sex. He said the terms 'Gucci bag active' and 'Wild King nights' were code words for drug and sex parties, respectively. After six weeks and thirty-four witnesses, the prosecution will wrap up its case on 23 June 2025. Combs Global employees and an expert witness will testify during Sean 'Diddy' Combs' defence, which is expected to last one to two days. However, Combs is not going to testify. The judge has hinted that closing arguments could begin as early as 26 June 2025; it is anticipated that they will begin shortly after the defence is finished. According to federal sentencing guidelines in the United States, Combs faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years. If convicted of crimes such as sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, Combs could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
Business Insider
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Diddy's courtroom energy has been off the charts as the defense case nears its start
He greets his multimillion-dollar defense team each morning with a round of three-second hugs and a volley of fist-bumps. Lately, he throws in a small yoga studio's worth of short, namaste-like bows, hands together as if in prayer. And his smile — as he turns from his lawyers and scans the courtroom — nearly stretches ear to ear. As his Manhattan sex-trafficking trial nears a conclusion, Sean "Diddy" Combs has been walking into court and taking his seat at the defense table with a show of high energy and still-higher spirits. "He's at peak Diddy," observed courtroom sketch artist Christine Cornell, who has drawn the trial since it began in mid-May. "It's like he sees what he thinks is the light at the end of the tunnel," she told Business Insider. Federal prosecutors are on track to rest their direct case after calling their final witnesses Friday and Monday. The defense case will begin as early as Monday, starting with testimony by a pair of executives from Combs Global, the hip-hop entrepreneur's music and lifestyle empire. The defense also has a forensic psychiatrist on tap to testify as an expert witness. They have not said if they will call Combs, 55, to the stand. Combs, who is fighting sex-trafficking and racketeering charges carrying a potential life sentence, has often appeared animated throughout nearly six weeks of testimony by 32 prosecution witnesses. US District Judge Arun Subramanian has at least twice warned Combs to rein himself in when the jury is present, including a specific directive against "nodding vigorously" when he hears testimony he apparently likes. But as the prosecution case wraps, and his own case nears its start, Combs appears extra amped. During testimony this week, he has jotted his ideas on a flurry of Post-it notes, handing them out among the eight attorneys seated near him, a team led by Manhattan attorney Marc Agnifilo. Often, he'll lean in for whispered exchanges with the attorneys sitting to his side. "Lately he's been tapping his leg a lot, and he takes copious notes — I've never seen a defendant take so many notes," said Cornell, who's been sketching trials for 50 years. Combs continues to push the boundaries of how animated he can be in front of jurors. On Tuesday, attorney Teny Geragos cross-examined one of three US Attorney's Office witnesses who will testify for the government. As Geragos returned to her seat to his right, Combs half stood in his chair. He showily pulled out Geragos's chair, pushing it back toward the table for her as she took her seat. They were soon deep in whispered conversation. "He's done that a couple of times," Cornell said of the chair-pull. "But this week he leapt out of his own chair, really going out of his way." Combs is especially lively when the jurors are not in the courtroom. "Waiving, your honor!" he answered on Friday, smiling as he waved his right hand over his head. The cheerful display came in response to the judge asking Combs if he was waiving his right to challenge a juror who'd given inconsistent answers about whether he lived in the Bronx, as he said pretrial, or in New Jersey, as he said later. The juror was excused from the jury on Monday, over the objections of defense lawyers, who argued against booting a Black juror and replacing him with a White alternate juror. One of the few instances when Combs appeared aggrieved in court came minutes after losing that battle. After the jury departed for the day, Combs shook his head "No" and seemed to say, "It's bad" to his mother, Janice Combs, who sits three rows behind him. Otherwise, at any chance he gets when the judge is not on the bench Combs turns to his mother, mouthing, "I love you," blowing her kisses and making heart shapes with his hands. "Go eat!" Cornell has heard him tell her. Prosecutors have worked since May 12 to convince the eight-man, four-woman jury that between 2009 and last year, Combs sex trafficked two girlfriends, R&B singer Cassie Ventura and a woman who testified as "Jane," for Jane Doe. Both described being beaten by Combs. The indictment alleges Combs forced Ventura and Jane to cross state lines to have sex with male escorts as he watched, masturbated, and made recordings. These dayslong, drug-fueled sexual performances took place almost weekly at luxury hotels in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami, and were called "freak offs," hotel nights, and king nights, according to the indictment. "Be strong," Combs mouthed to his sons behind him, pounding his chest with his fist, during a break in Jane's testimony, according to Cornell. Combs is also charged with racketeering. That charge alleges he ran his business empire as a criminal enterprise, using its staff and cash in furtherance of additional crimes — not only sex trafficking, but also bribery, obstruction of justice, kidnapping, forced labor, narcotics distribution, and arson. Combs has pleaded not guilty and is putting on an energetic defense. His lawyers' cross-examinations of Ventura and Jane focused on their long text and email histories with Combs, in which they at times showed enthusiasm for freak offs and resentment over his public affairs with rival girlfriends. Testimony continues Friday with prosecutors expected to call their fifth former Combs personal assistant to the stand.
