P Diddy, also known as Puff Daddy, Diddy, or Sean Combs, is one of the most influential and successful figures in the hip-hop industry. He has a nett worth of $900 million and is a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive, businessman, and fashion designer. He is the founder and owner of Bad Boy Records, which has produced and managed artists such as The Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Mase, Faith Evans, and more. He is also the creator and producer of the reality TV show Making the Band, which launched the careers of groups such as Danity Kane, Day26, and Da Band. In this article, we will explore P Diddy’s net worth, his career highlights, his personal life, and some frequently asked questions about him.
Career Highlights
P Diddy was born on November 4, 1969, in Harlem, New York City. His father, Melvin Combs, was an associate of drug dealer Frank Lucas and was killed in a car shooting when P Diddy was two years old. His mother, Janice Combs, was a model and teacher’s assistant. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, where he attended Mount Saint Michael Academy and played football. When he was younger, he was given the name “Puff” because when he became furious, he would “huff and puff.”
P Diddy attended Howard University but dropped out after his sophomore year to pursue a career in the music industry. He started as an intern at Uptown Records, where he worked his way up to become a talent director and helped launch the careers of artists such as Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, and Heavy D. He also produced songs for artists such as Father MC, TLC, Boyz II Men, and Mariah Carey. In 1993, he was fired from Uptown Records after a dispute with the CEO Andre Harrell. He then founded his own label, Bad Boy Records, with Arista Records as his distributor.
P Diddy’s first artist on Bad Boy Records was The Notorious B.I.G., who became one of the most influential and popular rappers of all time. P Diddy also signed other artists such as Craig Mack, Mase, Faith Evans, Total, 112, The Lox, and more. He also launched his own rap career under the name Puff Daddy with his debut album No Way Out in 1997. The album featured the hit singles “Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down”, “It’s All About the Benjamins”, and “I’ll Be Missing You”, a tribute to The Notorious B.I.G., who was killed in 1997. The album sold over seven million copies and won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.
P Diddy continued to produce and rap on albums such as Forever (1999), The Saga Continues… (2001), and Press Play (2006). He also changed his stage name several times from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy to Diddy to P Diddy. He also formed a musical group called Diddy – Dirty Money with singers Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper in 2009. They released their debut album Last Train to Paris in 2010, which featured the singles “Hello Good Morning”, “Coming Home”, and “Loving You No More”. In 2023, he released his fifth solo album The Love Album: Off the Grid.
P Diddy is also known for his entrepreneurial ventures outside of music. He founded the clothing line Sean John in 1998, which has won several awards and earned over $500 million in annual sales. He also launched a fragrance line called Unforgivable in 2005, which became one of the best-selling fragrances in the US. He also became the brand ambassador for Ciroc vodka in 2007 and helped increase its sales by over 1000%. He also co-founded Revolt TV in 2013, a cable network and website that focuses on music news and culture.
Personal Life
P Diddy has never been married but has dated several celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Kim Porter, Cassie Ventura, Lori Harvey, and more. He has seven children from different relationships: Justin Combs (born 1993), Christian Combs (born 1998), Chance Combs (born 2006), D’Lila Star Combs (born 2006), Jessie James Combs (born 2006), Quincy Brown (adopted son of Kim Porter), and Niko Brim (adopted son of Misa Hylton-Brim).
P Diddy has also been involved in several legal issues and controversies throughout his career. He was arrested in 1999 for his involvement in a nightclub shooting that injured three people. He was charged with weapons violations and bribery but was acquitted of all charges in 2001. He was also sued by his former driver, who claimed that P Diddy forced him to flee from the police after the shooting. He was also sued by his former business partner Kirk Burrowes, who claimed that P Diddy cheated him out of millions of dollars and threatened him with a gun. He was also accused of assaulting a record executive, a club promoter, and a personal trainer in different incidents.
P Diddy is also known for his philanthropic work and social activism. He has supported various causes and charities such as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Children’s Hope Foundation, and more. He also organized and participated in several events and campaigns such as Vote or Die, Citizen Change, Live 8, Hurricane Katrina relief, and more.
FAQs
How much did P Diddy make from Bad Boy Records?
P Diddy made about $130 million from Bad Boy Records in 2017, which was the highest-earning year for the label. The label’s revenue came from various sources such as music sales, streaming, publishing, touring, merchandising, and licensing.
How much does P Diddy make from Ciroc vodka?
P Diddy makes about $50 million per year from Ciroc vodka, which is one of his most lucrative deals. He owns a 50% stake in the brand and receives a share of the profits based on its performance.
What is P Diddy’s latest project?
P Diddy’s latest project is his fifth solo album The Love Album: Off the Grid, which was released in September 2023. The album features guest appearances from artists such as Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Rihanna, and more. The album also marks P Diddy’s return to his original stage name Puff Daddy.