In a revelation that has resurfaced and stunned a new generation, Sting has confirmed that Sean “Diddy” Combs has been paying him approximately $2,000 per day—every single day—since 1997 for the uncleared use of The Police’s iconic “Every Breath You Take” in the global smash “I’ll Be Missing You.”
The confession, originally made by Sting in a 2018 Rolling Stone interview and recently recirculated amid the fallout from Diddy’s legal troubles, stems from one of the most famous sampling disputes in music history.
Released just months after the murder of Notorious B.I.G., “I’ll Be Missing You” – performed by Diddy (then Puff Daddy), Faith Evans, and 112 – became an instant worldwide anthem of grief. The track heavily interpolated Sting’s 1983 classic, using its unmistakable guitar riff and melody as its backbone. However, according to Sting, no clearance was sought beforehand.
“My publisher called me and said, ‘Puff Daddy has used your song without permission,’” Sting recounted. “I could have blocked the record entirely, but I chose not to. Instead, we negotiated a settlement: 100% of the publishing royalties, forever.”
The result? An estimated $2,000–$5,000 daily (depending on fluctuating streams and airplay) flowing directly to Sting and his co-writers for nearly three decades. Conservative calculations place the total payout north of $30 million, with some industry insiders estimating closer to $40–$50 million when accounting for inflation and the song’s enduring popularity.
“I’ll Be Missing You” spent 11 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, sold over 8 million copies worldwide, and won the 1998 Grammy for Best Rap Performance. Its cultural footprint remains massive: it is one of the best-selling singles of all time and continues to generate hundreds of thousands of streams daily across platforms.
Sting has always been philosophical about the arrangement. “I don’t mind,” he said in 2018. “It’s a beautiful song they made from it. And the money? I put it straight into my children’s trust funds.”
The resurfaced quote has taken on new weight amid Diddy’s ongoing legal battles, with social media users marveling at the irony: while Combs faces lawsuits and federal scrutiny, Sting continues to collect a daily check that began the same year Biggie was killed.
“Every breath Diddy takes… he’s paying Sting,” became the running joke across TikTok and X, racking up millions of views.
The deal remains one of the most lucrative and longest-running sample clearances in history, proving that sometimes the biggest hits come with the longest tails.
