Did Diddy once describe Bill Gates as one of his heroes?

The famous hip-hop music producer allegedly made these remarks in 2003, right before collaborating with Microsoft to promote the Xbox gaming console. 

A recent viral post on the platform X has reignited this story, capturing public and media attention.

The viral post, shared on September 22, 2024, has garnered over 72,000 views. It claims that music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs once referred to Microsoft Co-Founder Bill Gates as his hero. According to the post, this statement was reportedly made at a press event around February 6, 2003. The event took place as Diddy (known back then as “P. Diddy”) was announcing a promotional deal with Microsoft for the Xbox.

The original Neowin article, cited as the source of the claim, mentioned that Diddy’s praise for Gates was expressed alongside his admiration for other icons like Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, and Ralph Lauren. Neowin sourced this from a Reuters report, which noted that Diddy allegedly made these comments during an interview coinciding with the announcement of a multi-million-dollar distribution deal between his record label, Bad Boy Records, and Universal Music Group (UMG).

According to the report, Diddy admired Gates for building Microsoft from the ground up. His remarks were presented as a testament to his respect for self-made entrepreneurs, a quality he related to in his own journey through the music industry. However, the post on X appeared to have a different motive: linking Gates to the rumored illicit activities surrounding Diddy.

This viral claim has rekindled discussions about the intersection between the tech and music worlds, especially when powerful figures from both industries come together. Diddy’s praise for Gates, allegedly given during a significant promotional deal, has sparked speculation about the nature of their partnership and the broader influence of these industries at the time.

Whether or not this story is entirely verified, it sheds light on how past connections and statements can be revisited and draw attention, even as these major figures move into different phases of their careers.