Mariah Shines as Christmas Hit Earns Millions
The 56-year-old Christmas queen kicked off her Christmas Time in Las Vegas residency with a dazzling mix of festive glamour, theatrical staging and her signature whistle notes.
During the opening show, Carey descended from the rafters on a giant sparkling snowflake while wearing a candy-stripe, figure-hugging dress. She later stunned the crowd in a shimmering gold mini-dress before closing the night with her holiday anthem All I Want For Christmas Is You in a red-and-white festive playsuit, joined by marching toy soldiers and Santa Claus — “my dude,” she joked.
Originally released in 1994, the global smash hit remains the most-streamed Christmas song of all time and earns an estimated £2–3 million in royalties every year, contributing to its more than £75 million total revenue by 2023.
Carey has said she began writing the track on a simple Casio keyboard, aiming for a “timeless” sound that wouldn’t feel tied to the ’90s. She attributes its longevity to the song’s sincerity: “I really, truly love the holidays. It’s not fake.”
Offstage, Carey’s Christmas celebrations are as extravagant as her performances. With a reported net worth of around £300 million, she spends the season in snowy Aspen with her children and extended family. Their traditions include sleigh rides, home-cooked feasts, a visit from Santa, and even live reindeer — all part of what she calls her yearly “extravaganza.”
