Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who has a net worth of $340 million as of 2023.
She is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 200 million records sold worldwide. Carey is famous for her impressive 5-octave vocal range and her chart-topping hits like “Vision of Love,” “Dreamlover,” “Hero,” “Fantasy,” “Always Be My Baby,” and “We Belong Together.”
Mariah Carey Net Worth
Mariah Carey has an estimated net worth of $340 million as of 2023, making her one of the richest singers in the world. The majority of her wealth comes from album sales. She has sold over 200 million albums globally during her career so far. According to Billboard, she was the top-selling female artist of the 1990s and remains the only artist to have a #1 single in every year of the 1990s.
Carey’s world tours and Las Vegas residencies have also been extremely lucrative. Her Adventures of Mimi tour in 2006 grossed over $40 million from just 40 shows. Similarly, her 2018 Caesars Palace residency grossed around $27 million for just 25 performances. Carey also earns royalties from radio play and streaming of her extensive song catalog.
Early Life and Education
Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, Long Island, New York. She had a difficult childhood, with her parents divorcing when she was 3 years old. Carey had little contact with her father, and he grew up primarily with her mother. As a biracial child, Carey faced discrimination and bullying by her peers.
Carey began singing at a young age and was immensely talented. She started writing her songs and poetry in high school. After graduating, Carey briefly attended SUNY Purchase before moving to Manhattan to pursue a music career. She worked odd jobs while trying to get her big break as a backing vocalist.
Music Career Beginnings
Mariah Carey’s journey to Stardom began when she met Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola at a party in 1988. Carey handed him a demo tape of songs she had written and recorded, which immediately impressed Mottola with her raw vocal talent and songwriting abilities. He signed the then-unknown Carey to Columbia Records on the spot.
In 1990, Mariah Carey’s self-titled debut studio album was released and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It went on to sell over 15 million copies globally and was certified diamond by the RIAA. The album produced four chart-topping singles on the Billboard Hot 100 – “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.”
“Vision of Love” is one of the most influential vocal performances in pop music history, showcasing Carey’s impressive and now-signature 5-octave vocal range. She won two Grammy Awards for the song – Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best New Artist. “Vision of Love” launched Mariah Carey’s career and cemented her as a rising star with an iconic and technically skilled vocal ability.
Rise to Stardom in the 1990s
After the impressive debut of her self-titled album, Mariah Carey’s second studio album, Emotions, released in 1991, hit #1 on the charts. It included the hits “Emotions” and “Can’t Let Go.” Carey continued her collaboration with producer Walter Afanasieff, who co-wrote most of the album’s songs with her.
However, it was her third studio album, 1993’s Music Box, that catapulted Carey into one of the best-selling female artists of all time. Music Box spent 128 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and featured her first holiday hit single, “All I Want For Christmas Is You” – now is a classic Christmas pop song. Other #1 hits from the album included “Dreamlover” and “Hero.”
In 1995, Carey released her most commercially successful album of the 90s, Daydream. It became her biggest seller at the time, moving 25 million units worldwide. Daydream spawned three more chart-toppers – “Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day” (with Boyz II Men), and “Always Be My Baby.” The latter spent 16 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, breaking The Beatles’ long-held record.
Salary and Earnings
In her early years, Carey earned mainly through record sales. Her first five albums with Columbia Records each sold over 5 million copies worldwide. She earned $10 million from her 1991 record deal renewal with Sony Music. By 2000, Carey had already sold over 140 million albums globally.
Carey’s touring and live performances have also been a major income source. Her 2006 Adventures of Mimi tour grossed over $40 million from just 40 shows. Recently, her Las Vegas residencies have been highly lucrative – her 2014-2015 Caesar’s Palace residency earned $27 million from 79 shows.
Additionally, Carey earns royalties from radio play, YouTube views, and streaming on services like Spotify. She also takes a cut of sales from her merchandise lines and fragrance products. Carey’s perfumes have earned over $100 million in the 2000s.
In 2012, Carey was the highest-paid judge on television for her role on American Idol, where she earned between $12-17 million for one season. She also earned well over $1 million per episode for guest appearances on shows like Empire.
Other Career Ventures
Mariah Carey has explored various entertainment and business endeavors over the years.
Carey ventured into acting, making her film debut in 1999’s The Bachelor before starring in Glitter in 2001. She leveraged her acting talents in cameos on TV shows like Empire. Carey also founded her record label, Butterfly MC Records, in partnership with Sony Music.
Las Vegas residencies became a lucrative move for Carey. Her 2018-2019 residency “The Butterfly Returns” grossed over $27 million for just 25 shows. Carey also launched merchandise, including clothing, accessories, and 13 fragrances. Her perfumes have generated over $100 million in revenue.
However, Carey has an involvement in philanthropy by donating to children’s charities like the Fresh Air Fund and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Through business ventures and charity work, Carey has expanded her brand and success outside of her storied music career.
Personal Life and Relationships
Carey married her former boss, the head of Sony Music, Tommy Mottola, in 1993. The lavish wedding was dubbed “the wedding of the decade” by the press. However, Carey later described feeling creatively stifled in the marriage due to Mottola’s control over her career. They divorced in 1998 after being separated for 2 years.
Shortly after her divorce, Carey began a relationship with Mexican singer Luis Miguel from 1998 to 2001. Their romance was kept relatively private, away from the public eye.
In 2008, Carey surprised fans by marrying comedian and actor Nick Cannon in a secret wedding ceremony in the Bahamas after just six weeks of dating. Carey gave birth to their fraternal twins, son Moroccan and daughter Monroe, on their 3rd wedding anniversary in 2011. However, the couple separated in 2014 and finalized their divorce in 2016. They have maintained an amicable relationship and co-parent their children.
FAQs on Mariah Carey Net Worth
What was Mariah Carey’s big breakthrough song?
Mariah Carey’s first big hit song was “Vision of Love” from her debut self-titled album in 1990. Its impressive vocal performance helped launch her career.
How many #1 hits have Mariah Carey had?
Mariah Carey has had 18 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart so far, more than any solo artist. Her total includes soundtrack songs and features.
What was Mariah Carey’s highest-selling album?
Mariah Carey’s top-selling album is Music Box (1993), which has sold over 28 million copies worldwide and had hits like “Dreamlover” and “Hero.”
What acting roles has Mariah Carey had?
Some of Mariah Carey’s acting credits include The Bachelor (1999), Glitter (2001), Precious (2009), American Idol judge (2013), and Empire (2015).
Final Thoughts
Mariah Carey’s reign as a pop music icon has spanned over three decades and counting. Her prodigious 5-octave vocal range and signature melismatic singing style have influenced generations of artists. With 200 million records sold, Carey holds her place as the best-selling female artist of all time.
Carey’s journey began as a biracial child with a difficult upbringing, possessing a gifted voice from a young age. Her meteoric rise to fame in the 1990s was marked by chart-topping albums and a record string of #1 hits on the Billboard charts. Songs like “Vision of Love,” “Dreamlover,” and “Always Be My Baby” defined pop music in that decade.
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