Here's what could happen to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' $61 million L.A. mansion if he's convicted

Dow Jones
May 20

MW Here's what could happen to Sean 'Diddy' Combs' $61 million L.A. mansion if he's convicted

By Claudine Zap

Combs is on trial for sex trafficking and other charges.

Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs' long-awaited sex trafficking trial got underway this week at a New York City courthouse, where jurors have already heard horrifying testimony from the musician's former partner, Cassie, who made several allegations about the heinous abuse she says she suffered at his hands.

Combs, 55, stands accused of a lengthy list of crimes, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution-and faces life in prison if he is found guilty on all charges.

He has pleaded not guilty on all counts and vehemently denies all allegations against him, according to CNN.

The rapper's trial comes eight months after he was arrested and indicted by federal agents in New York City on Sept. 16, 2024-during which time he has remained behind bars in a Brooklyn jail cell, having been denied bail by a judge soon after his arrest.

At the time of his bail hearing, the rapper offered up his $48 million Miami mansion as collateral for his $50 million bond-the same mansion that was raided by Homeland Security agents in March 2024 as part of a wide-ranging investigation into his alleged crimes.

Agents also raided his expansive Los Angeles mansion in the exclusive Holmby Hills neighborhood, a property he has since put on the market for $61.5 million, initially listing the home just one week before his arrest.

That dwelling, which boasts 10 bedrooms and 13 bathrooms, has remained on the market since Sept. 8, despite its owner's arrest-which begs the question: Can Combs still proceed with a sale if he is convicted after his trial?

What happens to Combs' home if he is found guilty?

The short answer is yes, he can sell the property even if he ends up serving a sentence for the charges laid against him-however, what becomes of the money from a sale could well be left in the hands of the authorities.

"Generally speaking, he can sell his home, but given the legal action mounting against him, the court will likely have a say in how the proceeds are disbursed," Cara Ameer, an agent with Coldwell Banker in California, tells Realtor.com.

Crisis manager for White Collar Advice, Justin Paperny, adds that Combs may well be all the more motivated to push forward with a deal, because he will likely be looking to "accumulate" as many financial assets as he can.

"In a situation like this, cash is king," Paperny explains. "People are looking to accumulate assets."

However, if a sale is in the offing and Combs is convicted, the federal government "can put a lien on the asset" and have a say in where the money goes.

Paperny also explains that, if Combs is convicted, offering up settlement money for the dozens of lawsuits against him would help with his sentencing.

"You can't buy your way out of prison, but if you come up with a chunk of money, it helps," he says.

If convicted, in order to get any kind of reduced sentence, Combs "will need a huge number to offer up to the courts to get leniency," Paperny adds.

Ameer points out that Combs may well end up with sky-high legal costs at the end of the trial and may well need the money from the sale of his home in order to cover them.

"It might be he has to sell his home to pay for his legal costs as well as restitution that is being sought for his victims," she says. "He may end up having to liquidate a lot of his assets if he can't afford to pay out of pocket. A court may have oversight of where the proceeds from the sale go in that instance."

However, given the stigma around the property, a sale at his desired price might be a tough hill to climb.

If Combs takes the home off the market, he could always rent it out as a "trophy property," Paperny notes, explaining that notable clients of his, with high-end homes, have made their real estate available on Airbnb for as much as $20,000 a night.

He adds of the current asking price that Combs "could be asking too much. People might not want the affiliation to him."

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Inside Combs' enormous Los Angeles mansion

The enormous gated estate spans 17,000 square feet across 1.3 acres, and is described as "one of the most spectacular and beautiful estates in Holmby Hills."

Although no interior photos are included with the listing, the mansion is said to feature a wine cellar, an office, a gourmet kitchen with a family room, and a separate catering kitchen. A "state-of-the-art theatre" seats up to 35 people.

Upstairs is the primary suite with dual baths and large closets, and a wide gallery hallway leads to all guest and family suites.

In addition the property includes a a two-story guesthouse with a large gym, a recording studio, and guest bedrooms. The grounds also feature lawns, mature trees, formal gardens, a swimming pool with a waterfall and grotto, a basketball court, spa house, and an outdoor covered loggia with a barbecue, bar, and pizza oven.

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Upkeep to the estate could also be adding financial pressure to the owner, and the home's taxes alone are around $500,000 a year.

However, when a low ball offer came in, it didn't appear to move the needle, as the home still shows as actively for sale.

More from Realtor.com: Home Sellers Are Pricing Too High and Not 'Listening to the Market,' Experts Warn

Has Combs received any offers?

Bo Belmont, of Belwood Estates, an real estate investment firm, offered half the asking price.

Belmont is the same real estate investor who bought Kanye West's derelict Malibu beach house for $21 million, which had last been on the market for $39 million. West walked away with a major loss, as he had purchased the once-enviable architectural for $57.25 million.

Belmont announced that he had offered $30 million for the property, which he previously described to Realtor.com as having a "stigma."

Belmont said, "I want to remove the stigma and focus on the charming elegance of this remarkable property. We intend major renovations and especially want to recapture the beautiful, bucolic setting of the outside grounds, with its picturesque trees, foliage, and walkways."

More from Realtor.com: 'My Property Tax Went From $15K to a Life-Altering $91K a Year'

He estimated the cost of a renovation to flip the property would cost somewhere between $8 million and $12 million.

Combs reportedly paid $39 million on the property in 2014, so accepting the offer would be a loss. He appears to have taken out a mortgage of $25.3 million on the home at the time.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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May 20, 2025 05:01 ET (09:01 GMT)

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