Sam Bankman-Fried on Life in Prison and His Unlikely Friendship With Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Sam Bankman-Fried and Sean "Diddy" Combs once lived in entirely different worlds. One was a cryptocurrency billionaire, the other a legendary music mogul. But now, both find themselves behind bars at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, their reputations shattered by scandal. While they come from different backgrounds, the two high-profile inmates have formed an unexpected bond in prison.

In a recent interview with television host and political commentator Tucker Carlson, Bankman-Fried opened up about his experiences in jail, including his surprising friendship with Combs. Here's what we know about the fallen crypto king and his connection to the disgraced music icon.

Who Is Sam Bankman-Fried?

Bankman-Fried was once one of the biggest names in cryptocurrency. As the founder of the now-defunct crypto exchange FTX, he built a financial empire that made him a billionaire before age 30. But in 2022, his world crashed when FTX filed for bankruptcy, exposing one of the largest financial frauds in history.

In 2023, Bankman-Fried was convicted of wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering after defrauding customers and investors. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $11 billion. Once worth an estimated $15 billion, he now sits behind bars at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center, a facility housing several high-profile inmates, including accused United Healthcare CEO shooter Luigi Mangione.

Bankman-Fried's Life Behind Bars

Adjusting to prison life has been an unusual experience for Bankman-Fried, especially given the mix of inmates in his unit. During the interview, he described the prison as a "weird environment" filled with a "combination of a few other high profile cases and then a lot of ... ex-gangsters, alleged ex-gangsters," according to CNN. He added that many of them are "surprisingly good at chess."

Among his fellow prisoners is Combs, the disgraced rapper and music mogul facing sex trafficking and racketeering charges. While Combs has pleaded not guilty, he has been denied bail multiple times and is awaiting trial.

His Friendship with Diddy

When Carlson asked if he had made any friends in jail, Bankman-Fried hesitated before admitting that Combs has been supportive. "He's been kind," he said, breaking into a nervous laugh when Carlson asked if he was "hanging with Diddy," according to PEOPLE.

Bankman-Fried emphasized that prison has stripped away the outside world's perception of people, forcing inmates to interact based only on their shared circumstances. "Obviously I've only seen one piece of him, which is Diddy in prison," he said, as reported by PEOPLE. "And he's been kind to people in the unit. He's been kind to me."

He acknowledged the bleak nature of prison life, describing it as "kind of a soul crushing place for the world in general," adding, "what we see are just the people that are around us on the inside rather than who we are on the outside," according to CNN.

While he and Combs are two of the facility's most well-known inmates, Bankman-Fried admitted that he wasn't going out of his way to acknowledge personal milestones. When Carlson pointed out that it was his 33rd birthday and asked if he would tell Combs, Bankman-Fried responded, "Someone else might, but I'm not," according to CNN.

A Fall From Grace

Both Bankman-Fried and Combs were once dominant figures in their respective industries. Now, they are among the country's most infamous prisoners.

Bankman-Fried's downfall resulted in financial ruin for countless investors, while Combs faces accusations that could permanently destroy his legacy. Combs' legal troubles began in November 2023 when his ex, Cassie, filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and sex trafficking. Although the case was quickly settled, it triggered a wave of similar allegations, leading to federal charges.
For now, the two disgraced figures remain locked in the same facility, finding common ground in an environment neither ever imagined they'd be in.

References: Convicted Fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried Opens Up About Prison Friendship with Alleged Sex Trafficker Sean 'Diddy' Combs | Sam Bankman-Fried describes his relationship with Diddy in jail