Notable People
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has to get creative when it comes to prison currency. Here’s what he’s using behind bars, according to sources.
As the legal storm continues to swirl around hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, attention has shifted to what life is like for the rapper in prison. The icon and entrepreneur once reigned over the music industry with Bad Boy Records. He now finds himself living under a very different set of rules — those enforced by the prison system. Here’s what to know about how Combs uses packets of fish as currency and how much money he can spend every two weeks.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs reportedly uses $1 packets of mackerel to exchange for items in prison
Sean “Diddy” Combs no longer lives a life of luxury. The mogul now resides behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, as he awaits trial. The federal charges against him include sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation for prostitution.
Sources familiar with federal prison regulations confirm that Combs is subject to strict daily routines. These include wake-up calls at 6 a.m., mandatory bed checks, and limited phone privileges, typically including 15-minute calls monitored by prison staff. Inmates can have a select number of personal items, and access to electronics or luxury goods has serious restrictions.
So, how does Combs attain goods while behind bars? According to The New York Times, Combs uses packets of mackerel, which are available for $1 from the commissary, as currency. Prisoners at the MDC can only spend $180 every two weeks. Loved ones are allowed to put money in inmates’ commissary funds. If Combs wants to buy a snack, he’ll spend $5.95 on a six-pack of Snickers or $3.65 on Cheez-It crackers.
A former inmate told Us Weekly that Combs could receive special privileges because of his mogul status. These privileges could potentially include extra food.
“If the guards take a liking to Diddy, he will get extra food, extra time out of his cell,” the former inmate said.
Combs also received a preloaded laptop with legal documents to go over before he heads to trial. His trial is currently scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.
For more news and exclusive interviews, follow Showbiz Cheat Sheet’s Instagram.
