The 54-year-old producer - variously known as "Puff Daddy," "P. Diddy," and more latterly "Brother Love" - is accused by several women of being a violent sexual predator who relied on drugs and alcohol to manipulate his victims.
Specific reasons for his indictment have not been disclosed, but the arrest could be a major fall from grace for one of hip-hop's biggest names in America, who expanded his empire into lucrative alcohol and fashion businesses.
In 1993, Combs founded Bad Boy Records and was at the center of hip-hop's crossover into the mainstream, with acts including Mary J. Blige and the Notorious B.I.G., who was murdered in 1997.
Flashy entrepreneur often seemed to play the role of life of the party, sporting diamonds, yachts, and tailored suits, and bragged about his success in the music business.
In 2019, Forbes estimated his net worth at $740 million, but reports indicate that due to risky investments and a bruised reputation, it has since shored up considerably.
The allegations of sexual misconduct have long emanated from the beginning of his career in the '90s, but most pertinently, his ex-partner, R&B singer Cassie, spoke out in mid-November.
She had accused him, in the civil suit, of raping her in 2018, and of years of "violent behavior" and "deviant demands," including forcing her to have sex with male escorts. Her case was settled for money.
Since then, nine other women have come forward with complaints against him. One former adult film actress, Adria English, alleged he used her as a "sexual pawn for the pleasure and financial benefit of others" from 2004 to 2009. Another woman alleged she was gang-raped by Combs and two other men when she was only 17.
He has denied these accusations and will want to clear his name in court, according to his lawyers.
Combs had begun his music career interning at Uptown Records in 1990, where he had made his name through his talent for talent-spotting. However, as his reputation continued to grow as a party promoter, the tragedies could not hold him back, as nine people died due to overcrowding during a concert organized by him in New York in 1991.
Accusations of negligence in safety led to several lawsuits and his eventual firing from Uptown Records. He used the opportunity to create his own label, Bad Boy Records, which launched his career.
His friend and protégé, Notorious B.I.G., became the East Coast rap king in 1994 with his first album "Ready to Die," before being murdered in 1997, just months after the assassination of his rival Tupac Shakur.
Not to mention that Combs worked throughout his career with many stars such as Usher, Mariah Carey, and Lil' Kim. He became also a great rapper; among his hits, the Grammy-winning "Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" is included, and his album "No Way Out" is a classic.
Meanwhile, he continued with the flashy image, and his high-profile romance with the actress and singer Jennifer Lopez from 1999 to 2001 raised his profile among the people.
Of late, he has been trying to spruce up his image by attempting to do some charity and philanthropy. He spoke at a 2014 commencement in Washington about his desire to follow in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps but in a far more legitimate way. His father died in a tragic incident while dealing drugs.
