The star of everyone’s Christmas playlist, Mariah Carey has had an illustrious career as a singer, songwriter, actress and producer. From chart-topping ballads to her incredible five-octave register and whistling top notes, we can all appreciate the diva’s vocal range, and her amazing collection of properties is just as impressive. However, it hasn't all been plain sailing when it comes to her real estate journey. Following a burglary, Mariah listed her Atlanta mansion for sale after less than a year of ownership. Now, 10 months on, she's finally sold it after dropping the price by a staggering $2.2 million (£1.7m). Click or scroll on to find out more...

As one of the most successful music artists in the world, Mariah Carey has spent her fair share of time living in LA, as well as in her hometown of New York, where she has a multimillion-dollar luxury apartment. While she may have accumulated an incredible roster of jaw-dropping real estate over the years, the singer most recently rented out a lavish Beverly Hills mansion over the spring, where she lived for a time with 12-year-old twins, Monroe and Moroccan. Not one to sit still, she's also just sold her huge Atlanta mansion, which was once home to a famous on-screen star. However, she wasn't born into such palatial property... 

Born in Huntington, New York in 1970, Mariah Carey grew up the youngest of three children in a disruptive environment. When she was three years old, her parents divorced and she grew up with her mother Patricia and her older siblings, brother Morgan and sister Allison. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey discussing her memoir The Meaning of Mariah Carey, the singer describes a tumultuous childhood and her brother as "extremely violent" and her sister as "troubled and traumatized". 

Mariah’s childhood home was an apartment situated above a similar-looking small shop in Huntington, Long Island. After her parent's divorce, Mariah had little contact with her dad, Alfred, who was an aeronautical engineer. Her mother, Patricia, who was a vocal coach and operatic singer, worked several jobs to support the family. An outlet from her troubled childhood, Mariah started singing at the tender age of three.

Copying her mum’s operatic vocal coaching style, she was given singing lessons from the age of four. She then spent her days writing poetry and lyrics at Harborfields High School in Greenlawn, where she graduated in 1987. Throughout her high school days, Mariah was often absent while working as a demo singer, earning her the nickname ‘Mirage’. After graduating, the ambitious budding star set her sights on New York City. 

The extracurricular work paid off, as the demos in Long Island provided her with the opportunity to move to New York City. When she arrived in the Big Apple, the star enrolled in beauty school classes, alongside pursuing her music career. During this period of her life, she lived in a one-bedroom apartment with four other students in Manhattan. 

In 1988, Mariah met Tommy Mottola, a Columbia Records executive through her friend Brenda K. Starr. who passed on Mariah's demo tape. Tommy tracked her down and signed her to a recording contract. She went on to release her debut album, Mariah Carey, in 1990, which went on to reach number one in the charts. 

The pair hit it off and eventually got married after working together for four years. Between 1993 and 1998, the power couple lived in a 51-acre estate and mansion they designed themselves, after purchasing the land for $2 million (£1.6m) in 1991. Let's take a closer look...

The 22,000-square-foot Bedford mansion sits approximately 40 miles north of New York City and is made up of nine bedrooms, seven fireplaces, a ballroom, pistol range, a recording studio, and both indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Mariah called the home ‘Sing Sing’, which was said to be a nod to the infamous maximum-security prison and her sheltered life inside it. 

Neighbours of the musical duo weren’t as keen on Sing Sing, and they made complaints about construction noise and troublesome drainage issues caused by their 2.5-million-gallon pond. Here's an old image of Mariah in one of the home's living spaces, framed by floral swagged curtains.

When their marriage ended in 1998, Sing Sing was sold for $20.5 million (£16.2m) to Triarc Cos. chief executive, Nelson Peltz. However, just one year later in 1999, the building was destroyed in a fire and the dream home was lost. Fortunately, the property had been vacant since the sale and no one was hurt.

In 1999, after her split from Mottola, the songstress snapped up her New York City penthouse in the Tribeca area for $5.5 million (£4.4m). She also splashed out $3.5 million (£2.8m) on the apartment below. Listing images of the home are few and far between, but Mariah regularly shares a sneak peek inside with her social media followers. Pictured here in the 2020 lockdown, the star can be seen clapping for carers over the New York City skyline. 

During lockdown, the star enjoyed cake decorating on the granite worktops of the sprawling kitchen. As first brought to her fans' attention in a 2002 episode of MTV Cribs, Mariah has a rather decadent chaise longue in her kitchen. According to her Instagram posts, the diva still enjoys lounging on said kitchen furniture.

Inside Mariah’s Tribeca triplex you’ll find a grand foyer, limestone and bronze-plated floors. As well as your standard super-rich amenities, there's also a rather unusual feature in the form of a movie theatre that doubles as an aquarium, creating the illusion of watching movies underwater.

Not long after her marriage to Nick Cannon in 2008, Mariah and her new husband moved into this French-themed estate in the Bel Air neighbourhood of Los Angeles in 2009. Just like her first marital home, this 11,750-square-foot house had a pet name and was known as ‘Fleur de Lys’.

Purchased for $6.9 million (£5.5m), the extravagant quasi-Colonial style mansion hosts 12 bedrooms and 15 bathrooms. TV star Farah Fawcett was a previous owner of the three-acre estate, which has two gated driveways alongside numerous patios, motor courts, a swimming pool and even its own putting green. 

What’s more, Fleur de Lys has space for a home movie theatre seating 50 guests, a basketball court, a ballroom and a 32-foot ‘Aspen Room’ for entertaining. In March 2015, after the couple divorced, the mansion was sold for $9 million (£7.1m).

One year after leaving the Bel Air house, Mariah moved into a Mediterranean-style home with her billionaire boyfriend at the time, James Packer. The mansion is located in Calabasas, best known to reality TV fans as the home of the Kardashian-Jenners.

After a whirlwind engagement in 2016, the couple leased the house for $250,000 (£198k) per month with the option to buy. Sitting on one acre, the 18,000-square-foot home features six bedrooms and nine bathrooms. Long may Mariah enjoy more than one bathroom per day of the week.

Within the double gated community in this beautiful enclave of The Oaks in California, you’ll find a sauna, home gym and another one of Mariah’s favourite features: the classic home movie theatre. 

According to reports by TMZ at the time, the relationship ended on a bad note and one headline from the settlement was that Mariah wanted Packer to buy her an LA mansion. But of course, not all was lost. Let’s find out where she spent Christmas that year…

Mariah decided to enjoy her Christmas 2016 in a luxury vacation home with very festive surroundings: she stayed with family, friends and her new boyfriend, Bryan Tanaka, in a $22 million (£17.4m) Aspen estate.

The luxury lodge, pictured here covered in Colorado snowfall, boasts idyllic festive views of snow-capped mountains and fir trees framed by floor-to-ceiling windows. Every bit the idyllic woodland retreat, it was the perfect backdrop for the festive diva over the holiday period.

For a reported $10,000 (£7.9k) per night, Carey and chums enjoyed two living rooms, a large kitchen for cooking up festive feasts, cosy fireplaces and a multitude of Christmas trees throughout. Just look at those vaulted beamed ceilings!

Alongside five bedrooms and five bathrooms, the dreamy Aspen lodge also played host to a rather wonderful recreation room. Here, guests could enjoy a round of drinks at the bar, a few games of pool and more fun in the entertainment area. Happy holidays! 

In 2018, the multiple Grammy award-winning singer decided to try out another rental property, this time in Beverly Hills. Running across 10,000 square feet, this eight-bedroom Mediterranean-style property is reportedly priced at around $35,000 (£27.7k) per month.

Previously rented by Nicki Minaj, who has had very public feuds with Mariah, the house sits within a gated enclave with a separate apartment for guests (or staff). The celebrity tenants don't end there as the one-acre site once played host to another well-known singer, the late great Frank Sinatra.

As well as Mariah’s usual array of multiple bathrooms (eight to be precise), you’ll also find large open plan living and dining rooms – plural – as well as a rather expansive ‘family room’. Recessed spotlighting and plenty of windows throughout help to illuminate the grand space. 

The contemporary eat-in kitchen provides access to outside space (and an outdoor kitchen) via French doors, with magical views of arching loggias and an expanse of well-kept lawns, terraces and, of course, a swimming pool and spa area. 

Mariah returned to her 90s roots and rented multiple properties in Bedford, New York over lockdown in 2020. Approximately one hour outside of Manhattan, she stayed in this 10,500-square-foot modern mansion, which was built in 2006.

The Westchester County area is unsurprisingly a celebrity favourite, with easy access to New York City and opulent hilltop residences. Inside the property’s five suites, you’ll find coffered ceilings and hardwood plank and stone tiled floors, along with swathes of French doors that fill the ground-floor rooms with daylight.

Three of the five suites can be found upstairs and come complete with decks and outdoor fireplaces. There is, of course, a movie theatre. We know we’d rather be in here watching Glitter on repeat than sweating it out in the home gym.

What pop star mansion is complete without a pool shaped like a violin? This was probably the icing on the cake when Mariah viewed this rental, closely followed by the alluring five acres of grounds encompassing forest, a sports court and water features.

Mariah’s most recent property purchase was once home to movie action hero, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, who reportedly leased the estate a couple of years ago. Mimi bought the Atlanta estate in November 2021 through a company called The Mirage Real Estate Trust, in an off-market deal estimated to be worth just under $5.7 million (£4.5m). However, a mere 10 months and one burglary later, she decided to move on from the property, popping the estate back on the market in September 2022 for $6.5 million (£5.1m). In June 2023, it was reported that the house finally sold for $4.3 million (£3.4m), that's $2.2 million (£1.7m) under the asking price, and some $1.4 million (£1.1m) less than she originally paid.

This residence is located in the luxurious Sandy Springs neighbourhood, which is a popular choice for celebrity buyers looking to splash some serious cash. This expansive estate spans 4.2 acres of land, allowing for a spacious driveway, swimming pool, pool house, children’s playground and guest apartment, which comes with a fireplace. Dense forest surrounds parts of the estate and manicured gardens border the property. 

During her short stay at the Atlanta manse, Carey put her own stamp on the place. As Dirt reports, Mariah didn’t move straight in, instead giving the place her signature look. She overhauled this chic gourmet kitchen with its spacious eat-in island, high-end Bosch, Sub-Zero and ZLINE appliances and light-filled breakfast nook. This means the star is likely even more out of pocket, having off-loaded the residence at such a loss.

Here we see one of 12 luxury bathrooms in the nine-bedroom property, which gives a nod to the diva's preoccupation with all things pink. Pastel rose walls and wood panelling decorate the bath and storage units, while the spacious shower leaves plenty of room for a morning sing-song.

It didn’t take long for Mariah to add her own sparkle to other parts of the place, and the foyer was quickly kitted out with a pink and cream rug and a giant chandelier. The master bedroom is also decorated in the star's signature style, with an oversized pale pink velvet headboard, blush pink curtains and crisp whitewashed walls. 

And where else would the chart-topping Christmas song sensation nestle down to watch her favourite seasonal movies than in this plush personal movie theatre? This entertainment den comfortably fits an audience of 10 with its soft brown leather seats and plush grey carpeting.

Having formerly been leased to The Rock, it’s unsurprising that the mansion came with a fully-equipped gym, alongside a full-sized tennis court encircled by trees for extra privacy. Also outside, you’ll find the ultimate backyard, boasting a heated pool, pool house and entertainment pavilion, as well as a charming series of manicured gardens.

Mariah's home has certainly endured some wear and tear in recent years. In July 2022, the home was broken into while the star was on vacation and a police investigation was opened. Meanwhile, back in September 2020, The Rock ripped this electric gate off the wall during his tenure, after a power outage prevented him from getting out. Cast and crew were waiting for the actor on set, so he decided to skip the 45-minute wait for a technician and pulled the gate from the brickwork himself so he could get to work. Not a man you would want to mess with!

Offloading her Atlanta mansion was a lengthy and no doubt stressful process for the singer. Yearning for respite, Mariah decided to rent this elaborate mansion, known as the Laurella Estate, for three months in the spring of 2023. The stately residence is situated in the heart of A-list hotspot Beverly Hills and encircled by a grove of trees – the ideal spot for the star to unwind in privacy. Sprawling across 10,380 square feet, the property certainly had enough space for Mariah and her twins, Monroe and Moroccan, to stretch out.

The lavish mansion has eight bedrooms, 10 bathrooms and no end of stunning living spaces. As well as two sweeping Cinderella-style staircases in the grand hall and a palatial lounge with intricate crown mouldings, the floor plan offers more unusual spaces like this dark and dramatic library. Enveloped in black panelling and framed by a black coffered ceiling overhead, it's full of fascinating design details, including quirky porthole windows and undulating built-in bookshelves. 

Mariah is pictured here cooking up a storm in the home's kitchen during her tenure. The image was released as part of a collaboration with Booking.com – the star offered her loyal fans, or lambs, the chance to book a fully catered two-night stay at the mansion from 24 - 26 June 2023, for a mere $6.21 (£4.90). The rental included a special itinerary curated by the singer herself, including reservations at her favourite restaurants, a private stylist consultation and a guide to her must-see sites in the area.

The lucky guests would've also enjoyed free rein of the mansion's countless luxury amenities, ranging from an opulent marble master bathroom, vast walk-in closet and sauna, to the large swimming pool and Jacuzzi outside. It's not hard to imagine Mimi reclining on a lounger here on the terrace and basking in the warm LA sunshine. While the star only called the plush rental home for a few months, we wouldn't be surprised if she returned for another break in the lap of luxury in the future.

An international superstar with beautiful luxury homes to match, Mariah Carey has a property portfolio that most of us can only dream about. While she may own a collection of palatial pads, the star's proclivity for plush rentals keeps us constantly guessing where she'll up sticks to next. We'll be keeping our eyes peeled for Mariah's next move...

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