Sean “Diddy” Combs, a father of seven, will spend this holiday season in prison rather than hosting the extravagant celebrations he’s long been known for.
Now 56 and identified as inmate #37452-054, Combs is serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix in New Jersey, where he will remain through Thanksgiving and Christmas. While families across the country gather around home-cooked feasts, his holiday meals will follow the strict routine of the prison cafeteria.
Breakfast, typically served around 6:30 a.m., consists of bananas, bran flakes and whole wheat bread, accompanied by two jelly packets, a margarine spread and skim milk.
Lunch, served between roughly 11 a.m. and 12 p.m., will be the closest thing to a traditional Thanksgiving spread. Inmates can choose between roasted turkey or soy chicken with vegetables, along with cornbread and dressing. The tray will also feature baked sweet potato, mashed potatoes, corn, chicken gravy and whole wheat bread. Margarine is provided, and each person can select either fruit or a holiday dessert, along with a beverage.
The evening meal, usually around 4:30 p.m., is simpler. Inmates have the option of a deli meat and sliced cheese sandwich or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Sides may include potato chips, fruit, dessert or whole wheat bread with jelly.
On Christmas Day, the menu is largely the same. The main change is at lunch, where baked Cornish hen is offered in place of soy chicken with vegetables. The sides, fruit and dessert options remain unchanged.
Combs was sentenced and transferred to FCI Fort Dix on Oct. 30 and is currently projected to be released on May 8, 2028, a little more than 30 months from now. The sentencing judge, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, recommended that he participate in the facility’s Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP).
He received a 50-month federal prison sentence after a New York jury found him guilty on two counts related to transporting individuals for prostitution. The verdict followed a closely watched trial in the Southern District of New York, where he was acquitted of the most serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, which could have carried potential life sentences.
Based on his projected release date, and considering that Combs had already spent about a year in custody before his October sentencing, he may be eligible for an earlier release with credit for good behavior, though that timeline could still change.
His legal team responded quickly after the verdict, filing a two-page notice on Monday, Oct. 20, signaling their intent to appeal. On Nov. 3, U.S. Circuit Court Judge Beth Robinson granted an expedited appeal, with oral arguments scheduled for April 2026.
