Raised in Long Island as the daughter of an opera singer and an engineer, Mariah Carey has had a lifelong affinity and talent for music. In fact, before she started kindergarten, Carey spent much of her free time listening to music, a devotion that would fuel her passion for singing and songwriting later. While still in high school, she wrote music with fellow songwriter Gavin Christopher. Her early foray into music, as well as her various odd part-time jobs, helped finance her own path in professional singing, songwriting, and performing after she graduated high school.
It was several years after she graduated that she caught the eye of Tommy Mottola, head of Columbia Records. He signed her to the label and later became her husband. Under the tutelage of Mottola and the Columbia label, Carey quickly became a household name. Despite her marriage ending less than a decade later, Carey continued to write music and record and perform her own songs. She starred in a semi-autobiographical film called Glitter, adding the label of actress to her resume. To date, she has sold more than 200 million records, making her the one of the most successful female vocal artists of all time.
Carey married fellow performer and actor Nick Cannon in 2008. They are now the parents of twins, one girl and one boy. She has starred as a judge on the hit TV show American Idol and continues to make and record her own songs. For all of her efforts, she has accrued an impressive Mariah Carey net worth of $520 million. She has become more successful than other music icons including Elvis Presley and the Beatles. With five Grammy awards to her credit, as well as 11 AMA awards, 19 World Music awards, and 31 Billboard awards, Carey is now established as a musical legend in her own right. She also possesses a five octave range, a vocal talent that few other singers can claim.
How Much Is Mariah Carey Worth Today?
Most sources agree that Mariah Carey has a Mariah Carey net worth of $520 million. This net worth is comprised significantly from the sales of her 200 million records, as well as her appearances in films, documentaries, and on TV shows. She has served as a judge on American Idol in the past and also has appeared in movies like 2009’s Precious and 2013’s The Butler. She also sang on the soundtrack, partnering for a duet with Whitney Houston, for the animated film The Prince of Egypt. Of course, she is best known in the film industry for her starring role in 2001’s Glitter, a movie that is loosely based on her own life.
However, other acts in the music industry look to Carey for support and collaboration on their own professional endeavors. She has partnered with fellow singers and songwriters like Missy Elliot, Sean Combs, David Foster, Arethra Franklin, and Gloria Estafan, among many others. She has also partnered with notable rappers on various projects. Some of these performers include Rick Ross, Jermaine Dupri, and Meek Mill.
Despite filing for divorce from Nick Cannon, Carey continues to remain busy with her professional endeavors. She has released a new album entitled The Elusive Chantreuse. It has been well received by fans and critics alike. It has sold more than 117,000 copies since its release. Given her reputation for being a talented singer, songwriter, and performer, Carey will continue to please her fans for years to come. She has gone on record as saying that she has no plans to retire soon, but will remain in the music business and active in her passion for writing songs for as long as she can.