What Did Mariah Carey Do With Her 3 Emerald-Cut Engagement Rings?

In 1990, a young Mariah Carey burst onto the pop music scene with the release of her self-titled debut album. And just three years later, she said “I do” to Sony Music executive Tommy Mottola with a million-dollar diamond on her hand. However, the couple—who had a 20-year age gap—quickly called it quits, divorcing in 1998. That ring, however, wasn’t the only one the “All I Want for Christmas Is You” singer has received over the past three decades. 

After initially meeting in 2005, Carey tied the knot with fellow artist Nick Cannon in 2008. The duo continued to renew their vows each year on their anniversary, planning elaborate celebrations for each milestone—including one in Paris. On April 30, 2011, Carey gave birth to the pair’s twins, Moroccan and Monroe Cannon. However, in 2014, the duo decided to part ways and separated; their divorce was ultimately finalized in 2016. That same year, the pop star announced her engagement to billionaire James Packer, before calling it off a few short months later. 

Even though we know (some of) the details of how these relationships ended, the whereabouts of Carey’s three rings aren’t as well-known. Here, we dive into where each of these diamonds might be now. 

What Happened to Mariah Carey’s Engagement Ring From James Packer?

In October 2016, just a few months after sharing the news of their engagement, Carey and Packer—who was to be her third husband—announced their split. The engagement ring that represented their then-partnership, however, continued to shine. As one of the most expensive celebrity engagement rings of all time, the 35-carat diamond is estimated to have cost the Australian businessman $10 million. Even after their relationship had ended, the pop star continued to wear the emerald-cut accessory for a year. She eventually sold it to a Los Angeles jeweler for $2.1 million in May 2018. 

“Mariah has been very vocal recently about her choice to move forward in her life surrounded by positivity,” the singer’s publicist told Page Six at the time of the sale. “That requires leaving emotional and material baggage behind, including an old engagement ring from an ex-boyfriend.” The “Obsessed” singer took a slightly different approach when deciding what to do with the $250,000 Valentino gown she planned to wear for the duo’s nuptials: Instead of auctioning it off, she set it on a fire in a music video. 

Where Is Mariah Carey’s Engagement Ring From Nick Cannon?

Unlike her public sale of her diamond from Packer, the whereabouts of Carey’s ring from her ex-husband Nick Cannon are a little less clear. In 2008, the comedian proposed to the pop star with a $2.5-million 17-carat pink diamond by Jacob & Co; rumor has it, he passed her a Ring Pop wrapper with the massive rock, complete with (what else?) an emerald-cut stone, inside (as a nod to their engagement, he gave her another diamond ring shaped like an actual Ring Pop on their second wedding anniversary). The couple later said “I do” at a surprise wedding in the Bahamas, where the icon wore a Nile Cmylo slip dress. However, after six years of marriage, Cannon filed for divorce, which was ultimately finalized two years later. 

While the whereabouts of this ring aren’t currently known, there are a few possible scenarios for where it may be. Since we know that Carey later sold her diamond from Packer, it’s likely that she did the same a few years earlier with her ring from Cannon. This option seems probable, considering the pair’s tumultuous breakup. “Honestly, I think Nick and I could have worked it out between the two of us, but egos and emotions got inflamed (which can translate into many billable lawyer hours, and ultimately it did),” she wrote in her 2020 memoir. “It was tough.” However, the music artist may have also elected to keep the ring, particularly if she was considering passing it down to the pair’s children.

What Happened to Mariah Carey’s Ring From Tommy Mottola?

When Carey tied the knot with her first husband Tommy Mottola (who was also her mentor), the wedding took cues from Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s. The duo held their June 5, 1993, nuptials—reported to cost $500,000—at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. Carey wore a $25,000 Vera Wang dress with a 27-foot train, which she paired with a 10-foot veil. However, one of the biggest stars of the show was her diamond, which Mottola proposed to her with in 1990. The emerald-cut ring was estimated to be worth just over $1 million. 

Unlike Cannon, who she shares her two children with, Carey appears to maintain no contact with her first husband. In her book, she details their unhealthy marriage. “I couldn’t talk to anyone that wasn’t under Tommy’s control,” the singer wrote. “I couldn’t go out or do anything with anybody. I couldn’t move freely in my own house.” Based on these reflections, it’s fair to assume that Carey likely sold the diamond after the pair’s divorce.