Inside Astonishing History of Abandoned $7 Million Diddy Music Video Mansion as It’s Overrun by Squatters and Graffiti

It once seemed like everything Sean “Diddy” Combs touched turned to gold. But in recent months, the once-revered rapper has found himself at the center of more than a few shocking scandals—and now, his name has been linked to another wild controversy, this time involving a megamansion he once used as the set of a music video.

The once-luxurious Hollywood Hills abode has, according to reports, been overrun with squatters and graffiti artists, who have covered the white exterior of the property with tags and street art, including the phrase “Diddy was here” in giant red letters across the roof.

The artists also covered the side of the home with a two-story crying heart and added tags, quotes, and phrases, including the somewhat ironic “Money is temporary, lifestyle is forever.”

The exterior of the Mulholland Drive home, which was once owned by musician Mary J. Blige and is valued at between $6 million and $7 million, is now completely covered in colorful graffiti.

Meanwhile, the interior has been taken over by squatters, with local reports claiming that authorities removed at least 10 people from the residence on a single day.

The house has been abandoned for about 10 years, but the vandalism has ramped up in recent weeks, after Combs was first arrested in Manhattan as part of a sex trafficking probe.

Combs has been charged with three criminal counts, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. He is being held without bail in solitude in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility that has made headlines for its poor conditions for inmates.

It’s a far cry from the lavish mansions he owns in Miami Beach, New York City, and Holmby Hills, as well as this one, where he shot the video for the hit “Last Night,” which was released in 2016.

When viewers made the connection between Combs and this five-bedroom, nine-bathroom, 9,707-square-foot mansion, graffiti hell broke loose, according to reports.

Who owns the home?

Since 2012, the property has been owned by John Powers Middleton, the only son of businessman and Philadelphia Phillies owner John S. Middleton. According to public records, the younger Middleton paid $4,750,000 for the residence, which sits on a massive hillside lot with views.

Built in 2003, the home was remodeled with “top-of-the-line materials, soaring ceilings and grand entertainer’s rooms.”

Of note were its chef’s kitchen, grand living room with views, luxurious primary suite, media room, and music studio. The landscaped grounds included a large pool, a grassy backyard, dramatic water features, and entertaining areas.

Middleton seems to have gone cold on the prestigious property. About ten years after purchasing it, he declared it a nuisance, abandoned it, and stopped paying taxes on it. He was ordered to build a fence around it but failed to do so, so the city built one instead, and a lien was filed against the property.

Los Angeles Councilwoman Nithya Raman said in a statement that the owner is in “egregious violation of the law.”

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“This is in egregious violation of the law and we are elevating the issue with the abandoned buildings unit at the department of building and safety to ensure that the fullest extent of enforcement is being implemented urgently and swiftly,” the statement reads.

“This is a public safety issue with serious consequences for both neighbors and the surrounding community. Irresponsible property owners like [this] must take accountability for their property or face action from the city.”

It should be noted that Middleton also owns another abandoned mansion, also in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.

The police have been called numerous times to the property and on reports of vandalism and trespassing. Recently, 10 people were removed from the property for squatting.

Neighbors told KTLA they’re concerned about the effect the vandalized home will have on property values, and the possibility of the tagging spreading to other homes in the area.

Social media filmmaker Nick Sozonov created a drone video that caught the taggers in action.

The primary suite with a fireplace

Other luxe properties involved in Combs legal battles

Fabulous in Florida

This is not the only property related to Combs that has been affected by his recent legal entanglements.

According to a statement given to the Associated Press, Homeland Security Investigations said it “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”

That would include a search of Combs’ Star Island property in Miami Beach, which he picked up in 2021 from Gloria and Emilio Estefan for $35 million. It includes two buildings on 1.34 acres, with a total of six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and nearly 8,000 square feet of living space.

Realtor.com® reported he offered his $48 million Miami mansion as collateral for his $50 million bail, but the court wouldn’t allow it.

Beverly Hills beauty

Combs’ posh Holmby Hills estate was also searched. He paid $39 million for the prestigious locale developed by megamansion builder Nile Niami in 2014.

It measures 17,000 square feet and has nine bedrooms, a 35-seat home theater, a gym, a wine room, and a lagoon-style pool with a grotto, according to the Los Angeles Times.

It was on the market for $61.5 million, when the rapper was arrested and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and remains there today.

Don’t be surprised if you see the Florida property popping up on the market as well in the near future. Combs is facing charges of serious criminal activity that could put him away for decades if he is convicted. He has pleaded not guilty.

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