More like a humble beginning right? That’s what we can say of Mariah Carey’s career. Why not? from a YouTube star to a global icon, it is worth putting her in that category.
While at it, who at all is Mariah Carey? To those of us born in the 80s, the singer is no stranger in town. Mariah Carey is an American-renowned singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress who has captivated audiences worldwide with her incomparable talent and diva-like persona.
Mariah isn’t young I must confess. For someone who was Born on March 27, 1969, this American songstress has solidified her status as one of the most iconic figures in music history. Maria is widely known as an influential figure in music for her distinctive use of the whistle register, melismatic singing style, and five-octave vocal range.
In 2023, she was ranked 5th on Rolling Stone’s list of greatest singers of all time and also referred to as the “Songbird Supreme” by Guinness World Records. But there’s so much more to Mariah than meets the eye. This biography discusses everything about Mariah Carey, including her early life, education, net worth, awards, recognitions, personal life, husband, divorce, and more.
Must-know Facts About Mariah Carey
- Mariah has sold 200 million albums worldwide.
- She is the second-best-selling female artist of all time.
- Mariah earned $18 million for appearing on one American Idol season.
- She has more No. 1 songs than any other female artist.
- She was paid $50 million to produce one album for Virgin Records.
- Mariah made her singing debut at age 20.
Early Life and Education
Mariah Carey was born to Patricia Carey and Alfred Roy Carey in Huntington, New York, United States, on March 27, 1969. According to her birthday, she was born under the Aries astrological sign. Her name was taken from the song “They Call the Wind Maria.” Mariah is of mixed ancestry (African American, Afro-Venezuelan, and Irish descent) and was raised in a Christian family.
Her siblings are Alison Carey and Morgan Carey. Her parents separated when she was three years old. Following her parents’ divorce, Mariah stayed with her mom, spent time alone at home, and began singing. Her older sister Alison moved in with their father, while Mariah and her elder brother Morgan lived with their mother.
Mariah excelled in music and literature during her elementary music years. She began writing poetry and lyrics while attending Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, New York and graduated in 1987. Under her mother’s supervision, Mariah started her music training. She often missed class in high school because she worked as a demo singer.
Since working in the Long Island music scene, Mariah became friends with Gavin Christopher and Ben Margulies, with whom she co-wrote material for her demo tape. She relocated to New York City, working part-time to pay her rent and completing 500 hours of beauty school. While living in New York City, Mariah, Ben, and Gavin kept working together to create a full-length demo. Mariah later had a job as a gig singing backup for freestyle singer Brenda K. Starr.
Quick Wikipedia
| Quick Biography | Answers |
| Birthday | March 27, 1969 |
| Full Name | Mariah Carey |
| Hometown | Huntington, New York, United States |
| Lives In | Beverly Hills |
| Net Worth | $350 million |
| Horoscope/Birth Sign | Aries |
| Age (dead) | 55 years old |
| Stage Name | Mariah Carey |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer, and Actress |
| Father’s Name | Alfred Roy Carey |
| Mother’s Name | Patricia Carey |
| Number of Children | 2 |
| Children’s Name | N/A |
| Husband/Boyfriend | Tommy Mottola (m. 1993–1998) and Nick Cannon (m. 2008–2016). |
| Wife/Girlfriend | N/A |
| Birth Year | 1969 |
| TikTok | @mariahcarey |
| Facebook Handle | Mariah Carey |
| YouTube Handle | Mariah Carey |
| Twitter/X Handle | @MariahCarey |
| Instagram Handle | @mariahcarey |
| Snapchat Handle | N/A |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm) |
| Body Measurements | 37-25-35 inches |
| Feet/Shoe Size | 9.5 (US) |
| Color of Eye | Dark brown |
| Movies Starred | Tennessee (2008), Precious (2009), The Butler (2013), A Christmas Melody (2015), and The Lego Batman Movie (2017) |
| References | Wikipedia, Celebrity Net Worth, & IMBD |
Career
Music
Mariah Carey rose to stardom in 1990 after dropping her self-titled debut album on June 12, 1990. She became the only artist with her first five singles to debut at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1994, Maria released holiday music, Merry Christmas (1994), the best-selling holiday album, and its single “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The single is the best-selling holiday single by a female artist of all time. Three years later, she dropped the best-selling album Music Box and Daydream (1995), which both achieved international success. Following the release of Butterfly (1997), she adopted a new urban image with hip-hop-inflected sounds. With her success in the music industry, Billboard ranked Mariah as the most successful artist of the decade after 11 consecutive years of US No. 1 singles.
Mariah left Columbia Records in 2001 and inked a contract record-setting $100 million, five-album contract with Virgin Music. Her first album release with Virgin was “Glitter,” which was released on August 18, 2001. After Mariah’s career dropped and the 2001 film Glitter failed, she signed a $24 million, five-album deal with Island Records. In 2005, she returned to the top with The Emancipation of Mimi (2005), one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century.
Film and Television
Beyond her music career, Mariah Carey also appeared in several hit films and played significant roles. Her film credits include Tennessee (2008), Precious (2009), The Butler (2013), A Christmas Melody (2015), and The Lego Batman Movie (2017). She served as an American Idol judge and has made numerous television appearances. Mariah appeared in the docuseries Mariah’s World and released her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey, in 2020.
Net Worth and Career Earnings
How rich is Mariah Carey? The 55-year-old American icon, known for her impressive talent and glamorous lifestyle, has amassed a fortune through various ventures. As of this writing, Mariah Carey’s net worth is $35 million. With over 200 million records sold globally, she is one of history’s 15 best-selling musical artists. Behind Madonna, Mariah is the second best-selling female artist of all time. Not only has Mariah established herself as the best-selling artist in the music industry, but she has more No. 1 songs than any other female writer/producer in United States chart history. As of now, Mariah has five Grammys, 10 AMAs, and 15 Billboard Music Awards.
Awards and Recognitions
Thanks to her success in the music industry, Mariah Carey has received numerous accolades. She has won a Grammy Global Impact Award, five competitive Grammy Awards, ten American Music Awards, 19 World Music Awards, and twenty Billboard Music Awards. She is an inductee of the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Mariah still holds the record for most Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 singles by a solo artist (19x), a female producer (15x) and a female songwriter (18x). Throughout the United States, Mariah Carey is the highest-certified female artist and 10th overall, with 75 million certified album units.
Personal Life
Mariah Carey has had high-profile relationships and married twice. She first married music manager/producer Tommy Mottola in 1993. Five years later, they divorced in 1998. Following her divorce, she began dating actor and comedian Nick Cannon. The two lovebirds exchanged their marriage vows on April 20, 2008, at a private ceremony in the Bahamas. The same year, she had a miscarriage. Together with Cannon, the couple has two children, twins (a boy and a girl born in April 2011). In August 2014, Mariah confirmed their separation and divorced in 2016. The same year, she became engaged to Australian billionaire James Packer in 2016. She also dated singer Luis Miguel between 1998 and 2001.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How rich is Mariah Carey?
Ans: Mariah Carey has a net worth of $350 million right now.
Q. Are Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon still married?
Ans: Mariah and Cannon were married on April 20, 2008 and divorced in 2016. They had twins together.
Q. How old are Mariah Carey’s twins?
Ans: Her kids are 13 years old as of 2024.
Q. Who was Mariah Carey’s first husband?
Ans: She first married Tommy Mottola from 1993 to 1998.
Q. How many marriages has Mariah Carey had?
Ans: Mariah Carey has been married twice: Tommy Mottola (m. 1993–1998) and Nick Cannon (m. 2008–2016).
