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Who is Mariah Carey?
Mariah Carey is a multifaceted American talent known for her roles as a singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and actress. She holds a prominent position among the top-selling musical artists in history, having sold over 200 million albums worldwide. Mariah Carey ranks as the second best-selling female artist of all time, trailing only behind Madonna. Her impressive resume includes more number-one songs on the US charts than any other female writer/producer. As of now, she has earned five Grammy Awards, 10 American Music Awards (AMAs), and 15 Billboard Music Awards.
Mariah’s journey to stardom began with perseverance in the 1980s, when she struggled to gain recognition while working multiple jobs in New York City. Her big break came through Brenda K. Starr, who introduced her to influential figures in the industry. Following Starr’s advice, Mariah Carey handed her demo tape to Tommy Mottola, an executive at Columbia Records, during a party. Mottola, determined to find her, tracked her down and promptly signed her to the label. The 1990s witnessed Mariah’s domination of the music charts, with her debut album maintaining the top position for an impressive eleven weeks. Although her second album, released just a year later, didn’t match the same level of success, her “MTV Unplugged” recording achieved triple-Platinum status. She went on to release three more highly successful albums and collaborated with Boyz II Men on “One Sweet Day,” a song that held the number-one spot for an astonishing sixteen weeks, setting a chart record. She also married Tommy Mottola during this time.
However, Mariah Carey’s career took a downturn with her next two albums, which, though successful, didn’t reach the heights of her earlier work. She yearned for greater creative control, while her record label was less willing to grant it. Promotional support dwindled, leading to declining sales. Her professional struggles mirrored her personal life, as her marriage to Tommy Mottola crumbled in the early 2000s. In 2001, she signed with Virgin Records, but her career faced further setbacks. She experienced health issues, went off the radar for a while, and released “Glitter,” a film and soundtrack that received critical panning and limited public attention. Later, she joined Island/Def Jam, and from 2003 to 2004, the label meticulously guided her career resurgence. Her tenth album, “The Emancipation of Mimi,” exemplified the success of their strategy, becoming the top-selling female album in 2005 with nearly 8 million copies sold worldwide. Since then, Mariah Carey has continued to maintain her musical relevance and popularity.
Learn more: most famous singers of all time
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Mariah Angela Carey
- Birthdate: March 27, 1969
- Birthplace: Huntington, New York
- Heritage: African American, Afro-Venezuelan, and Irish descent
- Debut Album: “Mariah Carey” (1990)
- Breakout Album: “Music Box” (1993)
- Notable Hit: “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (1994)
- Grammy Awards: 5 wins
- Best-Selling Female Artist: Second only to Madonna
- Record Deal: $100 million with Virgin Music (2001)
- Career Comeback: “The Emancipation of Mimi” (2005)
- Las Vegas Residency: Caesars Palace (2015-2017)
- Children: Twins, a boy, and a girl (born in April 2011)
- Entrepreneurship: Fragrance line, Butterfly MC Records, and more
- Film Career: Roles in “Precious” and “Glitter”
- Philanthropy: Active in charity work, including Camp Mariah for kids
Early Life
Mariah Carey, born on March 27, 1969, in Huntington, New York, comes from a diverse background with African American, Afro-Venezuelan, and Irish heritage. Her family history includes her paternal grandfather adopting the name “Carey” when he moved to New York, replacing “Nunez.” Mariah’s mother had a brief career as an opera singer and vocal coach, but her parents separated when Mariah was just three years old.
Mariah’s passion for the arts, especially music, ignited during her time at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York. Even in her school years, she began crafting poems and early songs. She graduated from high school in 1987. It was during her time at Harborfields that Mariah formed friendships with Gavin Christopher and Ben Margulies, who became her collaborators in songwriting. After high school, while living in New York City, Mariah, Gavin, and Ben continued working together, creating a complete demo.
Their demo eventually found its way to pop singer Brenda K. Starr. Brenda eagerly shared the demo within the music industry and introduced Mariah to various industry events. At one such event, the demo tape found its way into the hands of Tommy Mottola, the head of Columbia Records. Tommy, intrigued by what he heard, decided to give it a listen on his car ride home. After listening to just the first two songs, he was convinced that Mariah Carey was destined for stardom.
It took two weeks to locate Mariah, but once Tommy found her, he wasted no time in offering her a record deal. He assembled a dedicated team to plan her commercial debut. In Tommy’s vision, Mariah was poised to become Columbia Records’ response to the legendary Whitney Houston, who was signed with Arista Records.
Success
Mariah Carey’s journey to stardom was marked by remarkable achievements:
Mariah’s self-titled debut album, released on June 12, 1990, was a promising start. Columbia Records invested a whopping $1 million in promoting it. Although sales were slow initially, the album eventually achieved a stunning 9X platinum certification in the United States alone, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. It climbed to the number one spot on the Billboard charts and earned her Grammy awards for Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Her next album, “Emotions,” released in 1991, continued her streak of success. But it was her third album, “Music Box,” in 1993 that catapulted her career to stratospheric heights. “Music Box” spent an impressive 128 weeks on the Billboard chart and ultimately sold a jaw-dropping 28 million copies worldwide. It secured a place as one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Mariah’s success didn’t dwindle with time. Her holiday album, “Merry Christmas,” also achieved monstrous sales, surpassing 15 million copies worldwide. Following that, her next three albums each sold exceptionally well, with 20 million, 10 million, and 8 million copies sold worldwide, respectively.
Mariah Carey’s incredible talent and enduring appeal solidified her position as a music icon, and her record-breaking albums continued to captivate audiences around the globe.
“All I Want for Christmas” Royalties
Mariah’s Christmas album stands out, largely thanks to the iconic song “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” This track has achieved legendary status as one of the best-selling and most profitable singles ever, with global sales exceeding 16 million and still counting. You’ve probably heard it in countless Christmas movies, and it becomes a massive hit every holiday season on streaming platforms like Spotify and Pandora.
The fascinating part? Mariah and her producer, Walter Afanasieff, reportedly penned this holiday classic in just 15 minutes. But its enduring popularity means it’s a gift that keeps on giving. “All I Want for Christmas Is You” generates an estimated $600,000 in royalties for Mariah and Walter every year. To date, this song has raked in over $60 million in gross royalties—an astonishing testament to its timeless appeal and the festive joy it brings to millions around the world.
Virgin Contract
In April 2001, Mariah made a significant move by departing from Columbia Records and inking a record-setting deal with Virgin Music. This groundbreaking contract, which originally stood at $100 million for five albums, would be equivalent to a staggering $150 million today when adjusted for inflation. At the time, it marked the most substantial deal in the history of the music industry.
Mariah’s first release under Virgin’s banner was the album “Glitter,” which hit the shelves on August 18, 2001. Interestingly, this album served as the soundtrack to a movie of the same name, a semi-autobiographical tale featuring a fictionalized version of Mariah. Unfortunately, both the album and the film faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and audiences. To make matters worse, the movie’s release coincided with the tragic events of September 11, 2001, just ten days after the 9/11 terror attacks, which further impacted its reception. “Glitter” would later go down in history as one of the biggest box-office flops ever.
Before the movie even premiered, Mariah’s health took a hit as she had to be hospitalized due to extreme exhaustion, marking a physical and emotional breakdown.
While “Glitter” managed to sell 3 million copies—a respectable figure for most artists—it was a catastrophic outcome for Mariah and Virgin, given the massive $100 million contract they had signed. Desperate to sever ties with Mariah, Virgin opted to pay her a whopping $28 million to terminate the contract prematurely. When all was said and done, Mariah ended up earning nearly $50 million for delivering just one album under the Virgin label, making it a costly chapter in her career.
Return to Success
After parting ways with Virgin, Mariah Carey embarked on a new musical journey. She signed a five-album deal worth $24 million with Island Records. While her Island albums enjoyed moderate success, the standout was “The Emancipation of Mimi” in 2005, which sold an impressive 10 million copies worldwide.
Following her Island stint, Mariah released an album under Def Jam before finding a new home at Epic Records in 2015, where she continues her musical career today.
In 2012, Mariah Carey took a detour from her music endeavors, earning a substantial $18 million for her role as a judge on a single season of the popular TV show American Idol.
The year 2015 marked a significant milestone as Mariah signed a lucrative $30 million contract for a two-year Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace. This venture propelled her into the ranks of the highest-earning women in music, with total earnings amounting to a remarkable $27 million for that year. Mariah’s return to the stage in Las Vegas was a resounding success, both artistically and financially.
Personal Life
Mariah Carey’s personal life has seen its fair share of ups and downs:
In 1993, she tied the knot with music manager and producer Tommy Mottola, but their marriage ended in divorce in 1998.
Subsequently, she entered into a marriage with actor Nick Cannon in 2008, and they remained together until their divorce in 2016. During their time together, they welcomed twins— a boy and a girl—into the world in April 2011.
There was a brief engagement with Australian billionaire James Packer in 2016.
Earlier in her life, between 1998 and 2001, she had a relationship with singer Luis Miguel.
Mariah Carey’s personal journey has been marked by both high-profile relationships and significant life changes.
Real Estate
Mariah Carey’s real estate journey has been quite intriguing. In recent decades, she has divided her time between a rented home in the upscale Beverly Hills area and a triplex apartment nestled in New York City’s vibrant Tribeca neighborhood.
During her marriage to Tommy Mottola in the mid-1990s, the couple resided in Westchester County, New York, on a sprawling 51-acre property that boasted a massive 33,000 square-foot mansion. However, after their separation in 1998, they sold this estate to financier Nelson Peltz, who is the father of Nicola Peltz and the father-in-law of Brooklyn Beckham. Tragically, the mansion was engulfed in a devastating fire just a year later.
Mariah also possesses a vacation property in the Bahamas, offering her a serene retreat.
In November 2021, Mariah Carey made headlines by purchasing a 4.2-acre property in the Sandy Springs suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. The property featured a grand Colonial mansion spanning an impressive 16,000 square feet. However, her real estate adventure took an interesting turn when she listed the mansion for sale in September 2022, asking for $6.5 million. Ultimately, she accepted an offer of $4.3 million in May 2023, resulting in a $1.35 million loss on the property. For a closer look, you can check out a video tour of the mansion.