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Walter Afanasieff Net Worth - Pulptastic

What is Walter Afanasieff’s Net Worth?

Walter Afanasieff, a Russian-Brazilian music producer and songwriter, has a net worth of $100 million. He is best known for his work with pop singers, including Mariah Carey, for whom he co-wrote and produced the holiday classic “All I Want for Christmas,” generating over $100 million in royalties.

Afanasieff worked with Carey on her first six studio albums in the 90s and produced some of the decade’s biggest commercial hits, including the original motion picture soundtrack to “The Bodyguard” and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.”

In 1997, Afanasieff produced “My Heart Will Go On,” which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Golden Globe, and several Grammys, including the 1999 Record of the Year.

In addition to his work with Carey and Dion, Afanasieff has produced and written for Whitney Houston, Michael Bolton, Luther Vandross, and Kenny G. He has also written songs for several Disney movies, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” and “A Whole New World.”

Walter Afanasieff: The Man Behind “All I Want for Christmas Is You”

In 1994, Walter and Mariah wrote and produced “All I Want for Christmas Is You”. The song has become a classic and has sold over 15 million copies. Surprisingly, it hit #1 on Billboard in 2019, 25 years after its initial release, generating over $100 million in royalties. Other artists Walter has worked with include Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Destiny’s Child, Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Darren Hayes, Johnny Mathis, Kenny Loggins, Barbra Streisand, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Babyface, and Lara Fabian.

Early Life

Walter Afanasieff, born as Vladimir Nikitich Afanasiev on February 10, 1958 in São Paulo, Brazil to Russian parents Tatiana and Nikita. He later moved to the United States. Afanasieff developed a love for music early on in life.

In high school, Afanasieff wrote that his goal was to “write and play better than Keith Emerson.”

Early Career and Collaboration with Narada Michael Walden

In 1980, Walter Afanasieff began his music career as a jazz keyboardist, playing with violinist Jean-Luc Ponty. He later formed a group called the Warriors with guitarist Joaquin Lievano and drummer Narada Michael Walden, who was also a songwriter and producer. Walden hired Afanasieff as a producer and arranger, and together they wrote pop songs, including the title track for the James Bond film “Licence to Kill.” Afanasieff also played keyboards on Whitney Houston’s debut album in 1985.

Collaboration with Mariah Carey

Walter Afanasieff’s most successful and prolific collaboration was with R&B singer Mariah Carey. He worked with Carey on six studio albums from 1990 to 1997, serving as a producer and co-writer for many of her hit songs, including “Can’t Let Go,” “Anytime You Need a Friend,” “Forever,” “My All,” “Butterfly,” and “Hero.” Afanasieff and Carey also co-wrote the popular holiday hit “All I Want for Christmas is You” and helped co-write “One Sweet Day” with Boyz II Men. The duet became the longest-running number-one song in the history of the Billboard Hot 100, remaining atop the chart for 16 weeks from 1995 to 1996.

Collaborations of Walter Afanasieff

Walter Afanasieff has collaborated with various artists throughout his career. One of his most notable collaborations has been with saxophonist Kenny G, with whom he has co-written numerous songs since the 80s. He also co-wrote songs with the Australian duo Savage Garden on their album “Affirmation” in the late 90s.

Afanasieff has also worked with other artists such as Joey McIntyre, Jessica Simpson, Josh Groban, and Santana, co-writing tracks for their albums.

Producing Career of Walter Afanasieff

During the 90s, Walter Afanasieff produced soundtracks for multiple Disney animated films such as “Beauty and the Beast,” “Aladdin,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and “Hercules.” He also produced the hit soundtrack to the film “The Bodyguard,” which became the best-selling soundtrack album of all time and the best-selling album of the decade. Afanasieff’s success continued with Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” the theme song to the blockbuster film “Titanic,” which won him a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. In the 2000s, he produced albums for Ricky Martin, Destiny’s Child, Michael Bolton, Josh Groban, and Barbra Streisand, among others.

Afanasieff’s Recent Career Highlights

In 2014, Afanasieff became head of the producers department for the worldwide talent search and development mentorship program Isina. The following year, he joined the Russian television vocal talent show “Main Stage” as a mentor, which is the Russian version of “The X Factor.”

Walter Afanasieff’s Marriages and Family

Walter Afanasieff has been married three times. In 2005, he began dating entrepreneur and comedian Katie Cazorla, whom he married in 2017. Together, they have three children named Christina, Isabella, and Andrei. The couple also shares a love for rescue dogs.

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Abbie Anker

Update: 2024-05-19