How much does Mariah Carey make off 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'? Singer reaps millions in royalties
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: As the holiday season officially kicked off on November 1 and Christmas is just a month away, the internet has been buzzing with people revisiting their favorite festive tunes. One song that continues to dominate every year is Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit, 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'.
The timeless classic has become synonymous with the holidays, and her fans, known as "Lambs," along with curious listeners, have been wondering just how much the 55-year-old singer earns annually from this holiday anthem.
With Carey’s impressive net worth of $340 million, rumors have been swirling about her earning millions each year from the song. Here's a closer look at how much the pop diva rakes every holiday season.
How much does Mariah Carey earn each year from her 1994 hit?
Mariah Carey, who has recently kicked off her Christmas tour, continues to rake in millions each year from her 1994 hit song 'All I Want for Christmas Is You'. According to Good Housekeeping, the song is rumored to earn Carey between $2.5 million and $3 million annually in royalties alone.
While the exact figure hasn't been confirmed, calculations from The Economists estimate the annual earnings closer to $2.5 million to $2.6 million. Meanwhile, The New York Post suggests the song could be bringing in around $3 million a year.
When the song was first released in 1994, Carey reportedly earned $60 million in royalties. Since then, it has become one of the "most covered modern Christmas pop songs," with Carey even re-recording a version with Justin Bieber for his 2011 Christmas album 'Under the Mistletoe'.
Notably, the song has been streamed a staggering 1.87 billion times since its release, making it one of the most-played tracks. According to My Stream Count, it has sold 16 million copies and ranks as the 12th highest-selling single of all time. However, it still trails behind Bing Crosby's ‘White Christmas', which holds the title of the best-selling holiday song with an estimated 50 million copies sold, followed by his version of ‘Silent Night’ at 30 million copies.
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ facing $20 million lawsuit
Mariah Carey, the "Queen of Christmas," is facing a $20 million lawsuit from Andy Stone and Troy Powers, who co-wrote the 1989 country song 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' by Vince Vance & the Valiants.
Back in November 2023, Stone filed a civil lawsuit in the Central District of California against Carey, her co-writer, and Sony Music Entertainment, accusing them of "copyright infringement and unjust enrichment."
Although the lawsuit was dismissed after two months, Stone and Powers refiled it in 2024, claiming that Carey copied their original song, which gained significant radio play a year before Mariah's version was released. Carey has yet to comment on the lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Carey is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her iconic Christmas album with her third Christmas tour, titled Mariah Carey's Christmas Time.
The 20-city tour began on November 6 in California and will continue through December 17, wrapping up with a performance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
