Mariah Carey’s Net Worth And Biography (Updated 2022)
Who Is Mariah Carey?
Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer who is known for her 5-octave vocal range and melismatic singing style.
Carey has sold more than 200 million records globally and is currently considered the best-selling music artists of all time. Over the years, 19 of her songs have topped the Billboard Hot 100, most of which went on to dominate the charts for weeks. Carey has also won numerous awards and accolades, including:
• 10 American Music Awards,
• 15 Billboard Music Awards
• 19 World Music Awards, and
• 5 Grammy Awards
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Mariah Carey |
| Popular Name: | Mariah Carey |
| Gender: | Female |
| Birth Date: | March 27, 1969 |
| Age: | 52 years |
| Parents: | Alfred Roy Carey and Patricia Carey |
| Siblings: | Alison Carey and Morgan Carey |
| Birth Place: | Huntington, New York |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American, Afro-Venezuelan, and Irish |
| Education: | Harborfields High School |
| Marital Status: | Divorced. Formerly married to Tommy Mottola (1993 – 1998) and Nick Cannon (2008 – 2016) |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Wife/Spouse: | N/A |
| Children: | Moroccan Cannon and Monroe Cannon (from her relationship with Nick Cannon) |
| Dating: | N/A |
| Net Worth: | 321 million (as of June 1st, 2021) |
| Source of Wealth: | Singing, Songwriting, Record Producing, Acting, and Other Ventures |
| Height: | 5′ 9″ (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 66 kg; In pounds: 145 lbs. |
Early Life and Career Information
Mariah Carey was born on March 29, 1969, in Huntington, New York, to Alfred Roy Carey and Patricia Carey. She graduated from Harborfields High School in 1987.
Carey broke onto the music scene in 1990 after releasing her debut album with Columbia Records. The album went on to top the US Billboard 200 for eleven weeks in a row.
Following the success of her debut album, Mariah Carey followed up with three more albums – Music Box in 1993, Merry Christmas in 1994, and Daydream in 1995. Some of her best-selling singles from these albums include All I Want For Christmas, Hero, Always Be My Baby, Without You, and One Sweet Day (featuring Boys II Men).
After eleven years with Columbia Records, Mariah left the production company in 2000 and signed a multimillion recording deal with Virgin Records. However, her first CD with Virgin Records was both a commercial and critical failure, prompting the company to terminate the contract indefinitely.
It did not take long for Carey to bounce back. In 2005, her album titled The Emancipation of Mimi became the second-best-selling album in the world. The album’s most successful song, We Belong Together, topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for more than three months and was declared Billboard’s song of the decade.
The following are the albums that Mariah Carey has released to date:
• Mariah Carey (1990)
• Emotions (1991)
• Music Box (1993)
• Merry Christmas (1994)
• DayDream (1995)
• Butterfly (1997)
• Rainbow (1999)
• Glitter (2001)
• Charm-bracelet (2002)
• The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
• E=MC2 (2008)
• Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel (2009)
• Merry Christmas II You (2010)
• Me. I Am Mariah… The Elusive Chanteuse (2014)
• Caution (2018)
Besides singing, Mariah Carey has also landed a few big screen gigs, including featuring in movies like Glitter and Precious, as well as appearing as a judge on American Idol.
Mariah Carey’s Net Worth
As of June 1, 2021, Mariah Carey had a net worth of $321 million. She has earned much of her wealth from album sales and successful tours. Carey’s earning power is further boosted by the fact that she doubles up as the writer and producer of her own songs.
To date, Mariah Carey’s most commercially successful song is All I Want For Christmas, which she released in 1994. The song became an instant success both locally and internationally.
Each year the Christmas season rolls in, Mariah Carey earns millions in download sales from the song. According to reports, All I Want For Christmas brings in at least $500,000 annually from royalties and licensing in the UK alone.
The song has sold more than 100 million copies and earned $60 million in royalties since its release. Overall, Carey has sold more than 200 million records and over 55 million albums throughout her three-decade-long music career.
In addition to album sales, Mariah Carey has also performed exceptionally well in tours. However, many of her commercially successful tours are those that she embarked on quite recently. One such project is the 2016 tour titled Sweet Sweet Fantasy, which grossed about $30.3 million.
Mariah Carey’s impressive track record has seen her sign several lucrative record contracts too. In 2001, she landed a record deal with Virgin Records worth more than $100 million for each of the 5 CDs that she records with the company. Unfortunately, the first CD released under this deal performed quite dismally, forcing Virgin Records to terminate the contract. Despite the cancellation of the contract, Mariah Cary still bagged a cool $28 million.
1. Mariah Carey’s Big Screen Gigs
While she’s mostly famous as a singer, Mariah Carey has occasionally branched out into acting. Some of the films that she has featured in include Glitter (2001) and Precious (2006). Precious grossed $63.6 million worldwide from a production budget of $10 million.
Besides acting, Mariah Carey has also made television appearances. She preceded Jennifer Lopez as a judge on American Idol for one season, earning $18 million.
In 2015, Mariah Carey earned $27 million from her residency in Las Vegas. The deal involved performing her hits at Caesars Palace. After performing at the Palace for two years, she went on to sign another residency deal at The Venetian. According to The Blast, The Venetian residency deal was in the low eight-figures.
2. Mariah Carey’s Endorsement Deals and Other Ventures
Mariah Carey followed the path of many celebrities to launch a line of fragrances. To date, she has released 14 fragrances which have collectively earned some $150 million. Some of the brands she has partnered with include Elizabeth Arden and Walkers.
Life Lessons from Mariah Carey
1. Never dwell on your setbacks
After her recording deal with Virgin Records went south, Mariah Carey did not dwell on her failure. She took it as a lesson and a few years later, made a grand resurgence through her The Emancipation of Mimi album.
2. Be consistent
Mariah Carey is among the few artists that enjoy a successful career spanning more than three decades. It takes consistency and resilience to last in the industry that long.
3. Count your blessings
In 2001, Mariah Carey was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder. She opened up about her struggles with the condition in 2018 and according to her, it has taken the grace of God to be where she is today.
Quotes by Mariah Carey
Conclusion
Ever since she came onto the limelight about 30 years ago, Mariah Carey has never disappointed her fans. A combination of her unique vocals, consistency, and passion for what she does has kept her going through the years.