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NEED TO KNOW
Mariah Carey first released "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in 1994
Since then, the song has become a yuletide classic
The number earns Carey millions of dollars each holiday season
Mariah Careyis known as the "Queen of Christmas" — and she has her 1994 song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You," to thank for her title.
Upon its release, the hit earned Carey $60 million in royalties, perForbes. However, the song has only appreciated in value since, adding millions to the singer's wealth every year.
On Dec. 13, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" became thefirst holiday song to reach 2 billion streamson Spotify.
"This is beyond incredible," Carey said in a statement to PEOPLE. "I'm so grateful to all Spotify listeners around the world who've made the song part of their holiday tradition year after year."
So how much does Mariah Carey make every Christmas? Here's everything to know about her profits from "All I Want for Christmas Is You."
How much does Mariah Carey make from "All I Want for Christmas Is You" each year?
Kevin Mazur/Getty
When the song was first released in 1994, Carey made $60 million. Now, according toForbes, Carey earns around $2.5 million in annual royalties based on calculations fromThe Economist.The New York Posthas estimated the number to be even higher, at $3 million.
"All I Want for Christmas Is You" was part of Carey's fourth album,Merry Christmas, and was instantly a global success, topping the charts in 26 countries. Three decades after its release, it continues to climb back up the Billboard Hot 100 ladder and Spotify's streaming numbers as soon as the holiday season comes around.
The tune has consistently been among the most-streamed holiday songs, perForbes, and became thefirst holiday single to ever receivethe coveted RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) Diamond Award in 2021. To earn the prize, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" had to reach 10 million sales and streams.
Two years later, the song wasinducted into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.
"I'm honored beyond belief!" Carey wrote of the achievement onX. "I definitely did not even imagine this would happen when writing and recording this song!"
Is "All I Want for Christmas Is You" the most popular Christmas song of all time?
Mariah Carey/ YouTube
According to Spotify, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has grown 120% globally on the platform since 2019, becoming the most streamed holiday song of all time both globally and in the U.S.
While Carey has yet to beatBing Crosby's "White Christmas," the highest-selling single of all time with 50 million copies sold worldwide, the Christmas tune is well on its way.
At least on Spotify, Carey's classic has been the No. 1 song globally on Christmas Day every year since 2016.
How many times has "All I Want for Christmas Is You" been covered?
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The classic has been covered more than a dozen times by a number of popular artists. Carey even rerecorded the song herself in 2011 alongsideJustin Bieberfor his Christmas albumUnder the Mistletoe.
Michael Bubléreleased his own version that same year on his Christmas album, while other artists likeBarry Manilow,Fifth Harmony,Ingrid Michaelsonand evenDolly PartonwithJimmy Fallonhave all covered it.
In 2003, the song was used in the beloved movieLove Actually, performed by Olivia Olson, who played Joanna. The tween sang the song herself — and waseven offered record deals after.
Read the original article onPeople
