Mariah Carey performs "All I Want for Christmas Is You" at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Jeff Kravitz | Filmmagic, Inc | Getty ImagesThe ecosystem of music royalties is notoriously convoluted. Carey and Afanasieff split their writing credits with publishers including Universal Music, Sony Music and Kobalt Songs Music Publishing, according to ASCAP. Afanasieff, Sony Music and Kobalt Songs Music Publishing didn't return requests for comment. All told, these estimates suggest Carey may have made about $2.7 million to $3.3 million from recording and publishing in 2022.

---

Persons: Mariah Carey, Gilbert Flores, Mariah Carey's, Carey, Chris Chambers, didn't, Natasha Chee, Donahue Fitzgerald, George Howard, Kevin Mazur, Howard, Phillips, Jeff Kravitz, Walter Afanasieff, Jordan Bromley, She's, —, Afanasieff, Bromley, Santa Claus, James Devaney, Berklee College of Music Carey, Entertainment's Bromley Organizations: Penske Media, Billboard, The Chamber Group, Spotify, Berklee College of Music, Rykodisc, Madison, Garden, Getty, Phelps, Beacon Theatre, Inc, Finance, Manatt Entertainment, ASCAP, Universal Music, Sony Music, Music Publishing, Columbia Records, Publishing, Universal Music Publishing, Rockefeller Center, Wireimage, Sony Locations: U.S, New York City, Manatt, Santa