Mariah Carey, often dubbed the “Queen of Christmas,” continues to rake in impressive earnings from her iconic holiday anthem, All I Want for Christmas Is You, nearly three decades after its release.
The song, which debuted in 1994, became an instant classic, climbing to number two on the UK charts and number six in the US. In the era of streaming, the festive hit re-emerges every holiday season, consistently reclaiming its spot on the charts.
To date, All I Want for Christmas Is You has reached number one in over 30 countries and is a staple on popular streaming playlists like Spotify and Apple Music. Reflecting on the song’s enduring success, Carey, 55, told Billboard: “When I wrote [it], I had absolutely no idea the impact the song would eventually have worldwide. How could I? It was so early in my career, and at that time, most young artists weren’t making Christmas music at the onset of their careers.”
Currently, the song sits at number 10 on the UK charts, with expectations of climbing higher as Christmas approaches. Its success has been a lucrative venture for Carey. According to The Economist, the song generated $60 million in royalties between its 1994 release and 2017, averaging $2.6 million annually—around £2.1 million.
Based on those figures, Carey earns an estimated £5,753 per day, or roughly £239.70 an hour, from the track alone.
Not bad for a song written nearly 30 years ago.
One fan perfectly summed up the song’s perennial popularity: “It’s amazing how this song is timeless, reborn every November, and then dies after Christmas. Mariah thought of a marketing genius.”
It’s clear that for Carey, the spirit of Christmas isn’t just about tradition—it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
