Mariah Carey Biography Mariah Carey, born on March 27, 1969, is a legendary American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Widely recognized for her incredible five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style, and distinctive whistle register, she has earned the title “Songbird Supreme” from Guinness World Records. Rolling Stone ranked her as the fifth greatest singer of all time in 2023, further solidifying her influence on the music industry. Carey first rose to prominence in 1990 with her self-titled debut album. She became the only artist in history to have their first five singles reach number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, from “Vision of Love” to “Emotions.” Her success continued with massively popular albums like Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995), both of which solidified her international fame.
Mariah Carey Biography
Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Long Island, New York, to Patricia Hickey, an Irish-American, and Alfred Roy Carey, who had African-American and Venezuelan heritage. She attended Harborfields High School in Greenlawn before launching her illustrious career. In June 1990, Mariah debuted with her self-titled album Mariah Carey, which initially entered at #73 but skyrocketed to #1 by August 4, 1990. The album went multi-platinum and produced an impressive four consecutive #1 singles: “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” These successes earned her Grammy Awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Vocalist. Her 1993 album Music Box went ten-times platinum, further cementing her position in the music industry. On September 30, 1995, she made history with the release of “Fantasy” from her Daydream album.
Mariah Carey Biography Details
| Born | March 27, 1969 (age 55) Huntington, New York, US |
| Occupations | Singer songwriter record producer actress director |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Works | Albums singles songs videography performances |
| Spouses | Tommy Mottola (m. 1993; div. 1998) Nick Cannon (m. 2008; div. 2016) |
| Children | 2 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
About Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Dubbed the “Songbird Supreme” by Guinness World Records, Carey is known for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whistle register.
- Born: 27 March 1969 (age 55 years), Huntington, New York, United States
- Spouse: Nick Cannon (m. 2008–2016), Tommy Mottola (m. 1993–1998)
- Parents: Patricia Carey, Alfred Roy Carey
- Siblings: Alison Carey, Morgan Carey
- Height: 75 m
Early life
Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York. Her name was inspired by the song “They Call the Wind Maria” from the 1951 Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon. She is the youngest of three children born to Patricia Hickey, a former opera singer and vocal coach of Irish descent, and Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer with African-American and Afro-Venezuelan roots. The surname “Carey” was adopted by her Venezuelan grandfather, Francisco Núñez, when he emigrated to New York. Patricia’s family disowned her after she married Alfred, and the Careys faced racial prejudice in their community.
After her parents divorced, Carey had little contact with her father, and Patricia worked multiple jobs to support the family. Mariah spent much of her childhood alone, often singing from an early age—at three, she was already imitating her mother’s renditions of Verdi’s Rigoletto in Italian. Carey’s older sister, Alison, moved in with their father, while Mariah and her older brother, Morgan, remained with their mother.
How Did Mariah Carey Get Discovered?
Carey’s music journey began as a background singer for Brenda K. Starr. In December 1988, Carey attended an event with Starr and handed her demo tape to Tommy Mottola, the head of Columbia Records at the time. Mottola was immediately captivated, and after two weeks of searching, he convinced her to sign with the label despite other companies vying for her. Carey and Mottola eventually married but later divorced, with Carey describing him as controlling and frightening.
How Did Mariah Carey Become Famous?
Her debut album, Mariah Carey (1990), skyrocketed with hits like “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” She won the Grammy for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Vision of Love,” which solidified her place in the music world.
How Much Does Mariah Carey Make From “All I Want for Christmas Is You”?
Carey’s beloved holiday song, written in just 15 minutes (a legend she has said is somewhat exaggerated), has earned her approximately $60 million between 1994 and 2016, averaging $2.6 million annually. This figure doesn’t even factor in her earnings from related merchandise, concerts, holiday specials, and other festive projects tied to the song.
How Much Does Mariah Carey Make Each Christmas?
Every holiday season, Carey earns around $3 million from “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” That amount increases significantly when she tours, performs Christmas specials, or endorses holiday-related products.
Why Is Mariah Carey So Wealthy?
In addition to selling over 200 million albums globally, Carey’s brand deals have been lucrative. She started endorsing products in 2006, including Intel computers and a jewelry line with Claire’s. She later launched a perfume line with Elizabeth Arden and endorsed high-end products like $290,000-per-bottle Angel Champagne.
Her other brand endorsements include Pepsi, Motorola, Gillette, Jenny Craig, and McDonald’s, and she also created her own cookie line, Mariah Carey’s Cookies, and a brand of Irish cream liqueur, Black Irish, inspired by her diverse heritage. Carey has also appeared as a judge on American Idol, starred in her own reality show Mariah’s World, and acted in movies like The Bachelor, Glitter, Precious, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, among others. Her festive specials and Hallmark Christmas movie also boost her revenue.
How Much Does Mariah Carey Make Per Year?
Her annual earnings vary depending on projects, tours, and branding deals. However, it is estimated that she earns a minimum of $3 million annually from her Christmas catalog alone. In 2014, she reportedly made $6.3 million in total.
How Much Does Mariah Carey Make in Royalties?
Carey reportedly earns around 20% in royalties, which is a high rate for any artist. Her songwriting royalties are especially valuable, as she writes and co-writes many of her hits. She earns multimillion-dollar advances for albums, and her contract with Universal Records earned her $7.5 million per album. She also pocketed $28 million after her split with EMI/Virgin Records.
How Much Did Mariah Carey Make from “All I Want for Christmas Is You” on Spotify?
By December 2025, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” had accumulated over 2 billion streams on Spotify. At $0.0037 per stream, Carey earned over $7.4 million from Spotify streams of the song alone.
Other Earnings and Endorsements
Carey has made considerable money from brand endorsements and special appearances. For example, she was paid $11 million for her 2019 Walkers crisps ad campaign, and she has reportedly made upwards of $1 million for private performances.
How Much Did Mariah Carey Make for “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan”?
Carey made a cameo in You Don’t Mess With the Zohan (2008), playing herself. Although her exact payment for the film is unknown, it grossed more than $200 million worldwide.
Mariah Carey’s Settlement with Nick Cannon
In her 2016 divorce settlement with Nick Cannon, Carey didn’t owe him anything. Cannon, however, pays $5,000 monthly into a trust for their twins, Moroccan and Monroe. Carey also gave Cannon a 2012 Ferrari and agreed to pay for lodging and travel for his visits with the kids.
What Is Mariah Carey’s Net Worth 2025?
Mariah Carey’s net worth is estimated to be around $350 million, a reflection of her incredible career as one of the best-selling artists of all time.