It's that time of year when Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" starts playing on every radio station and over department store loudspeakers. Carey sees it as more than a festive earworm. She makes a lot of money.

The song earned $8.5 million in 2022 from streams, downloads, and publishing fees. That's just a small portion of Mariah Carey's projected $2.5 million a year from the 1994 hit since its premiere. Earnings could exceed $100 million in 2023.

This Christmas anthem breaks charts. It's the most streamed female artist song on Spotify in 24 hours with over 21 million lists! Of course Carey is worth $350 million.

Carey's Christmas happiness comes from more than "All I Want". Her riches includes five Grammys, 200 million albums, and 19 No. 1 songs. Her two-year Las Vegas residency brought nearly $30 million.

Carey also makes money from endorsements, with PepsiCo reportedly paying $11 million to use her for their Christmas commercial. Remember those jewellery collaborations?

Carey excels beyond music and marketing. Her memoir, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey," was a bestseller, and she wrote two children's books.

When you hear "All I Want for Christmas Is You" in your neighbourhood store, realize that it's not just a catchy song but another monument to Mariah Carey's business acumen and legacy.