Will Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Serve His Entire Sentence in Prison? Factors Could Lead to Early Release

Today, in a high-stakes courtroom in Manhattan, hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs received a sentence of 50 months in federal prison. The judge also imposed a $500,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Because he already spent about a year in prison, the effective time he has left to serve is reduced accordingly. So, could Combs serve even less time behind bars? Here’s what to know.

Could Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs see an early release from prison?

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing was completed on Oct. 3, 2025. During the hearing, Combs appeared emotional, remorseful, and tearful while his legal team played a video montage of family moments and community work, and his children’s statements pleading for leniency echoed through the courtroom, according to People. The judge, Arun Subramanian, acknowledged Combs’ accomplishments in music and business. But he emphasized the gravity of the offenses, stressing that his wealth and influence had contributed to delaying accountability for years

Although Combs was acquitted of the more serious charges, like sex trafficking and racketeering, the sentence marks one of the most consequential moments of his legal saga. The prosecution asked for Combs to spend 11 years behind bars. And his defense team requested a much lighter sentence of fewer than 14 months. Judge Subramanian settled on a sentence of about four years and two months with a $500,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

Sarena Townsend, a founding partner of Townsend Law, spoke on Law&Crime about Combs’ sentence.

“There is opportunity for him to get out earlier on good behavior, ” Townsend clarified, “and so the calculation is not exact. And time will tell whether he will be getting out with some time off from the full three. I know it’s a four-year sentence — obviously, the 14 months counts. You already deduct that. That’s definitely coming off, because he does have credit for the time served. So, already, it’s less than the sentence that he’s getting for four years. He could very easily be walking out sooner rather than later.”

The hip-hop mogul’s defense team showed a 12-minute video to the judge

During the Oct. 3 sentencing hearing, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team played a 12-minute video montage designed to humanize him before the court. The footage included scenes of him engaging in community work, speaking at schools, running charity runs, and spending quality time with his children, according to People. These moments were intended to highlight his philanthropic side and his role as a family man.

Entertainment Tonight’s Kevin Frazier spoke with CBS News’ Jericka Duncan about the impact of the video. Duncan called the video “well-produced.”

“Every single shot was intentional, and the goal, again, is to try and get at the heart of the judge to show another version of Combs that we did not see throughout his trial,” she continued. “… I think the goal for the defense is hoping that it will allow the judge to look at him as a human, as a father, as this philanthropist, and not just as someone who was convicted of a crime.”

What does supervised release entail?

When Combs finishes his prison sentence, he will enter a period of supervised release. In the federal system, supervised release is imposed at sentencing and typically lasts between one and five years. During this time, a probation officer monitors compliance with court-mandated rules and may also help facilitate his reintegration into the community, according to Federal Defenders of New York.

The conditions of his supervised release will likely include mandatory requirements, such as refraining from committing any federal, state, or local crimes; submitting to drug testing; cooperating with restitution orders; and not possessing controlled substances unlawfully, according to FindLaw. Beyond these, the court may impose discretionary conditions tailored to his case. These could include restrictions on travel, limits on business dealings, prohibitions on associating with certain individuals, or obligations to attend counseling or community service.

If Combs violates any of these conditions, say, by failing to report to his probation officer, committing a new offense, or testing positive for drugs, the court may revoke his supervised release. In that scenario, he could return to prison.

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