Mariah Carey Biography: Mariah Carey born March 27, 1969 is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Songbird Supreme,” she is celebrated for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic vocal style, mastery of the whistle register, and her iconic diva image. A major influence in the music industry, Carey was named the fifth greatest singer of all time by Rolling Stone in 2023. Carey rose to stardom in 1990 with her self-titled debut album, becoming the only artist to have their first five singles top the US Billboard Hot 100, from “Vision of Love” to “Emotions.” Her global success was solidified with the best-selling albums Music Box (1993) and Daydream (1995). In 1997, she began to embrace a hip hop-influenced style, notably after remixing “Fantasy” with Ol’ Dirty Bastard, which shaped her critically acclaimed album Butterfly.
Mariah Carey Biography
Mariah Carey was born on March 27, 1969, in Long Island, New York, to Patricia Hickey, an Irish-American opera singer, and Alfred Roy Carey, who was of African-American and Venezuelan descent. She attended Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York. Carey burst onto the music scene in June 1990 with her self-titled debut album, Mariah Carey, which initially entered the charts at number 73 but soared to number one by August 4, 1990. The album achieved multi-platinum status and produced four consecutive number-one hits: “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” Her powerful debut earned her two Grammy Awards—Best New Artist and Best Female Vocalist. In 1993, Carey released Music Box, which went on to be certified ten-times platinum. On September 30, 1995, she made music history when her single “Fantasy,” from the album.
Mariah Carey Biography 2025 Details
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| Years active | 1988–present |
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| Children | 2 |
| Category | Singers Bio |
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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, signature use of the whistle register, and diva persona.
Mariah Carey Wiki
- Born: 27 March 1969 (age 56 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: 1.75 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, an Irish-American opera singer and vocal coach, and Alfred Roy Carey, an aeronautical engineer of African-American and Afro-Venezuelan descent. Her Venezuelan grandfather, Francisco Núñez, changed his last name to “Carey” after moving to New York.
Patricia’s family disowned her for marrying a Black man, and the Carey family experienced racial hostility in their neighborhood—including incidents where their dog was poisoned and their car set on fire. After her parents divorced, Carey had limited contact with her father. She often spent time alone at home and began singing at age three, frequently mimicking her mother’s performances of Verdi’s Rigoletto in Italian.
How Did Mariah Carey Get Discovered?
Mariah Carey got her start in the music industry as a background vocalist for singer Brenda K. Starr. In December 1988, Carey accompanied Starr to a music industry event and passed along her demo tape to Tommy Mottola, the then-head of Columbia Records. Captivated by her talent, Mottola spent two weeks tracking her down and eventually signed her—despite a bidding war from other labels. The two later married and divorced, with Carey later describing the relationship as deeply controlling and emotionally stifling.
How Did Mariah Carey Rise to Fame?
Carey’s breakthrough came in 1990 after signing with Columbia Records. Her debut album, Mariah Carey, delivered four consecutive #1 hits: “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Someday,” and “I Don’t Wanna Cry.” Her powerhouse vocals earned her two Grammy Awards: Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “Vision of Love.”
What Is Mariah Carey’s Net Worth 2025?
Mariah Carey has an estimated net worth of $350 million, making her one of the highest-earning and most successful music artists of all time.
How Much Has Carey Earned from “All I Want for Christmas Is You”?
Although it was written in reportedly just 15 minutes (a claim Carey herself has challenged), “All I Want for Christmas Is You” has become an enduring holiday classic. From 1994 to 2016, the track earned her around $60 million, averaging $2.6 million per year, according to The Economist. This doesn’t even include revenue from merchandise, concerts, books, or her animated Christmas film.
How Much Does Mariah Carey Make Every Christmas?
Carey earns about $3 million every holiday season from her Christmas catalog alone. The figure increases in years when she tours, headlines Christmas specials, or launches seasonal merchandise.
Why Is Mariah Carey So Wealthy?
Beyond music, Carey has built a financial empire through endorsements and product lines. She’s endorsed brands like Pepsi, Motorola, Gillette Venus, HSN, Milk Bar, and Jenny Craig. She’s launched perfume lines with Elizabeth Arden, a luxury Irish cream liqueur brand (Black Irish), and even a cookie brand.
Her work in television, film (Precious, The Butler, The Lego Batman Movie), and reality TV (Mariah’s World, American Idol) also contributes to her wealth.
What’s Mariah Carey’s Annual Income?
Her yearly earnings fluctuate depending on tours and business ventures, but she consistently earns at least $3 million annually from her holiday music alone. For example, in 2014, she reportedly made $6.3 million in total.
How Much Does Carey Make from Royalties?
As a songwriter for all her hits, Carey commands around 20% in royalties, which is unusually high. She’s earned multimillion-dollar advances for her albums—her Universal Music deal paid her $7.5 million per album, and her controversial EMI/Virgin deal resulted in a $28 million payout when the contract dissolved.
How Much Does Carey Make Each December?
She earns around $2.6 million annually from “All I Want for Christmas Is You” alone, with the majority of that income arriving in December as the song surges in popularity.
What Did Carey Earn from American Idol?
In 2013, Carey was paid $18 million to judge American Idol Season 12—a gig she later described as “the worst experience of my life,” largely due to a manufactured feud with Nicki Minaj.
How Much Did Mariah Carey Receive in Her Divorce from Tommy Mottola?
Specific financial details from their 1998 divorce are undisclosed. However, Carey has openly discussed the emotional toll of the relationship, describing it as oppressive and isolating in her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey.
Did Mottola Sabotage Carey’s Music?
Carey has claimed that Mottola interfered with her Glitter project, allegedly leaking her planned sample and featured artists to Jennifer Lopez’s camp, forcing Carey to rework the lead single “Loverboy” at the last minute.
What Did Carey Earn for Free Guy?
While her fee for the use of “Fantasy” in Free Guy remains unknown, Ryan Reynolds said the song was crucial to the film’s creative direction. Carey and Reynolds even teamed up for a TikTok duet of the track.
What Did Carey Earn for Precious?
Carey earned little for her role as Ms. Weiss in Precious. Despite the low budget and quick turnaround, she was proud to take on the makeup-free role in such a powerful project, which earned widespread critical acclaim.
What Did She Make for Her Christmas Specials?
Carey has headlined several holiday specials. Her 2020 Apple TV+ special, Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special, reportedly had a $5 million+ budget. The 2021 follow-up, Mariah’s Christmas: The Magic Continues, had an even larger budget, although exact figures for Carey’s cut are unknown.
What Was the Settlement with Nick Cannon?
Carey pays no alimony or child support to Nick Cannon. He, however, contributes $5,000 per month into a trust for their twins, Monroe and Moroccan, and she gave him a 2012 Ferrari as part of their divorce settlement.
What Does It Cost for Mariah Carey to Leave Her House?
Nick Cannon once joked that it costs Carey $150,000 to $200,000 just to step outside—expenses that include security, glam squads, and private jets.
How Much Did She Earn for the McDonald’s Ad?
While specifics aren’t confirmed, Carey’s McDonald’s holiday meal promotion likely netted her $1–10 million, based on what other celebrities earned for similar campaigns.
How Much Does She Make from Streaming Overall?
Including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and others, Carey makes millions per year through streaming platforms—especially around the holidays.
How Much Did Carey Make from the Walkers Ad?
In 2019, Carey earned $11 million for starring in a Walkers crisps ad campaign in the UK, complete with holiday-themed branding and a whistle-note-filled commercial.
FAQs
How did Mariah Carey get her nickname “Songbird Supreme”?
Mariah Carey earned the title “Songbird Supreme” from Guinness World Records in recognition of her extraordinary vocal abilities, including her five-octave range and signature whistle register.
What inspired Mariah Carey’s name?
Mariah was named after the song “They Call the Wind Maria” from the 1951 Broadway musical Paint Your Wagon, a favorite of her mother’s.
What challenges did Mariah Carey face growing up?
Growing up in a racially mixed family, Mariah Carey experienced significant discrimination. Her family was targeted by neighbors who poisoned their dog and set their car on fire. These early hardships shaped her resilience and identity.
Did Mariah Carey write her own songs?
Yes, Mariah Carey is a prolific songwriter who has co-written the vast majority of her hits. Her songwriting talent has earned her induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
What is Mariah Carey’s connection to hip hop?
Mariah Carey was one of the first mainstream pop artists to successfully incorporate hip hop into her music. Starting with the “Fantasy” remix featuring Ol’ Dirty Bastard, which set the stage for her 1997 album Butterfly.
How many records has Mariah Carey sold worldwide?
Mariah Carey has sold over 220 million records globally, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.