Mariah Carey's Net Worth: Uncover How the Queen of Christmas Makes Her Millions

American singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and actress Mariah Carey is one of the most successful singers in history. Known as the “Queen of Christmas” for her holiday season anthem “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah has been in the music business for decades, rising to fame in the early 1990s with her debut album Mariah Carey. 

Mariah’s career has taken many twists and turns over the years. But the songstress has managed to remain at the top of her game, thanks to her soulful lyric coloratura soprano voice that once achieved ranges beyond what most sopranos can sing. To date, Mariah has sold over 200 million albums worldwide and is the second-best-selling female artist of all time and one of the 15 best-selling music artists in history. This guide will explore Mariah Carey's net worth, illustrious career, awards, and money-making accomplishments and discuss how she has achieved her massive wealth.

What is Mariah Carey's net worth?

Mariah Carey is one of the most successful singers in history, with an estimated net worth of $320 million. 

How much does Mariah Carey make per year?

Mariah Carey’s yearly income varies based on her project releases, tours, and branding deals, but her estimated annual income is reportedly around $3 million minimum from her Christmas catalog alone. 

What are the sources of Mariah Carey's income?

Although Mariah was not born into a wealthy family, she worked hard to support her career, taking on part-time jobs to pay her rent for a one-bedroom apartment she shared with four roommates when she first moved to New York City in 1987. Mariah has several sources of income contributing to her massive net worth and annual income.

1. Album Sales

Mariah has sold over 200 million albums worldwide and is among the 15 best-selling music artists. She is also the second best-selling female artist behind the legendary Madonna. With more No. 1 songs than any other female writer or producer in the history of the U.S. music charts, Mariah has received lots of recognition for her career, including five Grammy Awards, 10 American Music Awards, and 15 Billboard Music awards. 

Check out these impressive highlights of Mariah Carey’s album sales:

• Makes $600K annually in “All I Want for Christmas” royalties.
• 1993 album Music Box is certified Diamond in the U.S. and is one of the best-selling albums in history, with over 28 million copies sold.
• 2008 chart-topper "Touch My Body" enabled her to surpass Elvis Presley's record for the most No. 1 singles by a solo artist. 
• Released in 1994, Mariah’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” continues to top the charts every holiday season. It has sold more than 16 million singles worldwide, making it the best-selling single in music history.
• Only The Beatles have had more No. 1 singles than Mariah. 
• In 2022, Mariah became the first female artist to sell over 70 million albums in the U.S. 

2. Concerts

Mariah has headlined over ten international tours, four residencies, and numerous one-off concerts, raking in millions of dollars in ticket and merchandise sales during each tour.

Mariah Carey’s concert tours and other live performances include:

• Music Box Tour (1993)
• Daydream World Tour (1996)
• Butterfly World Tour (1997)
• Rainbow World Tour (2000)
• Charmbracelet World Tour (2003-2004)
• The Adventures of Mimi (2006)
• Residency: Live at the Pearl (2009)
• Angels Advocate Tour (2009-2010)
• The Elusive Chanteuse Show (2014)
• Residency: All I Want for Christmas Is You: A Night of Joy and Festivity (2014-2019)
• Residency: #1 to Infinity (2015-2017)
• The Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour (2016)
• All the Hits Tour with Lionel Richie (2017)
• The Butterfly Returns (2018-2020)
• Caution World Tour (2019)
• Residency: Merry Christmas to All (2022)

3. Product Endorsements

Mariah Carey has been endorsing products since 1992 when she starred in a commercial for Sony’s MiniDisc, a now obsolete disc-based storage device. Since then, she has endorsed several products in other countries and the U.S., including:

• KOSE Lip Adventure lipstick (Japan)
• Aeon - a chain of English conversation-teaching companies in Japan
• Automatic Princess jewelry line at Claire’s 
• Intel computer systems company
• Pepsi 
• Pinko fashion brand 
• Elizabeth Arden - created fragrances M by Mariah Carey and Luscious Pink
• AT&T U-Verse phones
• Jenny Craig
• OPI nail polish
• Gillette Venus
• McDonald’s 
• Milk Bar
• Walker’s Chips

4. Singing Contracts

Mariah's singing contracts have contributed a considerable chunk to her net worth. Her first recording contract was with Columbia Records in 1990, releasing her self-titled debut album on June 12, 1990. She married the head of Columbia Records, Tommy Mottola, in 1993. His company spent $1 million to promote Mariah's first album. It eventually achieved worldwide sales of 15 million copies and was the best-selling U.S. album in 1991. 

After this first record deal, Mariah's subsequent Columbia contracts included:

• Emotions (1991)
• Music Box (1993)
• Daydream (1995)
• Butterfly (1997)

Mariah divorced Mottola in 1998 and left Columbia Records in 2001. At this time, she signed a $100 million, five-album deal with Virgin Records. However, after her first album Glitter and the movie of the same name were commercial failures, Virgin decided to pay Mariah $28 million to buy out her contract. 

She signed a new $24 million contract with Island Records in 2002 and returned with the underperforming Charmbracelet that year. But then she came back with The Emancipation of Mimi album in 2005, which became the world’s second best-selling album of the year.

After additional disappointing album sales, Mariah left Island Records and secured a multi-album record deal with Epic in 2015. She renewed her contract with Epic in 2017.

5. Merchandise

Mariah has made a lot of money from her merchandise over the years. She makes millions from merchandise each time she tours. And her online offerings through the Mariah Carey Store feature everything from home decor, apparel, and accessories to a popular holiday collection.

6. Publishing royalties

Mariah Carey makes approximately $2.5 million in annual royalties in the month of December alone from her single "All I Want for Christmas Is You.” For all other music, she collects about 20% of royalties. 

7. Film Roles

Mariah Carey has had an impressive career in television and film. Some of her most memorable roles and guest appearances include:

• Judge on American Idol
• IIana, The Bachelor
• Billie Frank, Glitter
• Candy Cushnip, Ally McBeal
• Raychel, WiseGirls
• Krystal, Tennessee
• Ms. Weiss, Precious
• Hattie Pearl, The Butler
• Kitty, Empire 

8. Songwriting Credits

Mariah Carey was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022 as one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of all time. She is the top female songwriter in U.S. chart history and has written or co-written all but one of her 19 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. She has written over 50 songs and collaborated with dozens of music icons such as Missy Elliot, Diane Warren, Jay-Z, George Michael, Whitney Houston, and Carole King. Her songs have been sampled and performed by artists like Fantasia, Kelly Clarkson, Idina Menzel, Drake, and Michael Bublé. 

FAQ

How much is Mariah Carey's net worth?

Mariah Carey net worth in 2022 is an estimated $320 million.

What albums did Mariah Carey make her debut with?

Mariah’s debut album was her self-titled Mariah Carey, released in 1990.

What are the royalties associated with Mariah Carey's music?

Mariah reportedly collects 20% royalties from her music. Each December, she makes approximately $2.5 million in royalties from her single “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” 

What endorsements does Mariah Carey have?

Mariah has had many endorsements, starting with her first one in 1992 for KOSE Lip Adventure lipstick in Japan. More recent endorsements are Mcdonald's, Walker's Crisps in Great Britain, Gemini (a bitcoin exchange), and Elizabeth Arden.

What are the details of Mariah Carey's memoir?

Mariah Carey’s memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, was released in 2020. The book covers her memories, mishaps, struggles, survival, and songs. She discusses her life from childhood until the present day and the journey that has led her to become a triumphant woman. The details of the memoir include her childhood, career, and personal and professional relationships. 

What awards has Mariah Carey won?

Mariah has received a very long list of awards, including:

• 10 American Music Awards
• 15 Billboard Music Awards
• 19 World Music Awards
• 5 Grammy Awards
• 5 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards
• GLAAD Media Award
• 2 NAACP Image Awards
• Peabody Award
• 2 People’s Choice Awards

What is Mariah Carey's greatest commercial success?

Mariah’s 1993 album Music Box is one of the best-selling albums in history and was certified Diamond. It sold 28 million copies worldwide.

Takeaway

Mariah Carey's tremendous financial success is what every aspiring entrepreneur strives to achieve: wealth and financial freedom. Her jaw-dropping net worth and income streams offer valuable insights into the power of entrepreneurship. She worked hard, persevered through failures, and is enjoying the fruits of her labor today.

Of course, we all know this kind of wealth doesn’t just fall out of the sky. Like Mariah, we have to work for it. If you are ready to create a new brand or business that can give you the kind of wealth that brings freedom to you and your family, connect with Capitalism.com. 

We help entrepreneurs access the resources and support they need to build a business they love–and one that generates life-changing wealth. With our mentorship programs, free resources, and business blueprints, you can reach your business goals and create the net-worth and life you’ve always dreamed of. 

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