American Idol has created a slew of musical stars as well as its fair share of musical flops in its more than 15 years on the air. Though the show has always been a ratings success, it has been riddled with controversy since 2002, with many claiming it isn’t the “golden ticket” to fame and money that the show’s producers would have you believe. There are 10 Kelly Clarkson success stories among the richest American Idol performers for every Kelly Clarkson success story, despite being on TV in front of millions of people on a regular basis. One thing is evident from the list of the wealthiest American Idol alumni: it is entirely possible to make a lot of money by singing your heart out in front of the entire country once a week. Some of the names on this list will come as no surprise, while others may!
30+ Wealthiest And Most Successful ‘American Idol’ Contestants
Sanjaya Malakar
Sanjaya Malakar’s scenario, as a Season 6 candidate, is one of the most intriguing in Idol history. The judges lambasted him at every opportunity, but spectators embraced him despite (or perhaps because of) this criticism, and Sanjaya moved to the Top 7. Malakar has a net worth of $300,000 or more after appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! following the series.
Sanjaya Malakar
Brittany Kerr
Brittany Kerr didn’t last long on American Idol, but her brief presence launched a career, and she’s now worth nearly $500,000 on her own. Kerr, on the other hand, is best recognized for her romantic relationships. In 2012, she was in a relationship with country singer Jason Aldean while he was still married. Aldean married Kerr after his divorce and they had two children.
Brittany Kerr
Lee DeWyze
Lee DeWyze has continued to release songs since his Season 9 victory. His most successful album, Live It Up, debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200. He has now released two additional albums and received a Teen Choice Award. He is said to be worth $500,000.
Lee DeWyze
Blake Lewis
Blake Lewis rose to prominence on American Idol thanks to his passionate singing and beat boxing ability. Since finishing second, Lewis has had a highly successful music career, releasing four albums, two of which were independently distributed. Lewis, who has an estimated net worth of $500,000, has also volunteered for cancer causes.
Blake Lewis
Danny Gokey
Danny Gokey’s participation on American Idol is recognized primarily for his tragic backstory. The singer’s wife died shortly before the event as a consequence of complications from congenital heart disease surgery. Gokey’s excellent accomplishments, paired with his sympathy, drove him to the season’s top three. He’s turned that achievement into a rather successful music career, garnering a net worth of roughly $600,000 as a result.
Danny Gokey
William Hung
William Hung is the most well-known American Idol contestant in several ways. He didn’t win or even make the competition, but his off-key audition of Ricky Martin’s “She Bangs” went viral, resulting in a temporary record deal and a Top 30 album for Hung. He’s now a $600,000-plus motivational speaker.
William Hung
Justin Guarini
We can hear you scoffing, but please bear with us. Yes, Justin Guarini is most known to the general public as the runner-up to Kelly Clarkson on the first season of American Idol, as well as the co-star of the awful From Justin to Kelly, and two albums that failed. He has, however, created a successful and financially lucrative ($700,000 net worth) Broadway career over the last 15 years or so.
Justin Guarini
Constantine Maroulis
Constantine Maroulis has been a jack of all trades since coming sixth on Idol’s fourth season. He’s released albums, acted on television and in films, and had a successful Broadway career, getting a Tony nomination for his work in Rock of Ages. Maroulis has an estimated net worth of $750,000.
Constantine Maroulis
Lauren Alaina
Alaina has established herself as one of country music’s most prominent performers in the last decade, courtesy to her second-place finish on American Idol season 10. She has an estimated net worth of $900,000 as a result of two successful albums, many hits, and headlining tours and festivals across the country.
Lauren Alaina
Ace Young
Ace Young finished sixth on American Idol, and his only album was a disaster, so how could he make this list? He’s written songs for others (including fellow AI alum Chris Daughtry) and has appeared on Broadway in productions like Grease, Hair, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His net worth is one million dollars.
Ace Young
Nick Fradiani
The winner of Season 14 was Nick Fradiani’s song “Beautiful Life.” The song has since become the official anthem of the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Hurricane, his debut album, was published in 2016, and he followed it up with an EP in 2017 after terminating his contract with his record company. His estimated net worth is merely $1 million (in comparison to past Idol winners), but with a fresh sound and the support of his former bandmates, he could be on his way to glory.
Nick Fradiani
Caleb Johnson
Caleb Johnson continues to do what he does best: produce music. Since winning Season 13, the rocker has released two albums: Testify and Born from Southern Ground. His net worth is currently believed to be $1 million.
Caleb Johnson
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Hicks, the winner of Season 5, has a lot of staying power. His debut album premiered at No. 2 on the Billboard charts, and from 2008 to 2009, he played Teen Angel on Broadway and on the national tour. Today, he may be seen on INSP hosting State Plate, a show on farm-to-table food. He is reportedly worth $2 million.
Taylor Hicks
Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard has had a lot of success since leaving the show. In addition to losing 119 pounds, his debut record sold over 400,000 copies in its first week! He has also released six additional CDs, appeared on The Biggest Loser, and performed onstage in plays and musicals. His net worth is believed to be $3 million.
Ruben Studdard
Kris Allen
Since leaving the program, Kris Allen has released three full-length albums. His debut album sold over 300,000 copies and featured five tracks that hit at some point on the Billboard Hot 100. He has now published four additional albums. His estimated net worth is $3.5 million.
Kris Allen
Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery, the baby-faced kid with the shockingly deep, booming voice, has released four albums since his participation on the show, and they’ve sold over two million copies in a few of years. His debut album, Clear as Day, earned platinum. He is said to be worth $5 million, which he can split with his new wife, Gabi Dugal, whom he married on June 16, 2018.
Scotty McCreery
Phillip Phillips
Phillip Phillips, the curiously named musician, has three albums to his name. His debut album, which was published in 2012, sold over a million copies and reached at number four on the Billboard 200. His most famous song, “Home,” was also the all-time best-selling American Idol song (for good reason: it’s a bop). He is now valued at $3.5 million.
Phillip Phillips
David Cook
David Cook went on to release a platinum debut album (appropriately titled “David Cook”) after winning the seventh season of the competition. Cook’s net worth is estimated to be in the $5 million range, thanks to his tremendous fame and the fact that not one, but two of his songs charted in the Billboard Top 20.
David Cook
David Archuleta
Since leaving the show, David Archuleta has kept himself busy. He’s released six studio albums and sold over one million copies since season seven. His debut album arrived at No. 2 on the US Billboard charts, and he earned an estimated $1 million in 2015. He’s worth $5 million, but we’re guessing he gives away the most of it: He’s involved in a lot of charity activities and even took a two-year musical hiatus in 2012 to serve as a missionary in Chile.
David Archuleta
Kellie Pickler
Kellie Pickler is another example of someone who came nothing near winning American Idol yet went on to become one of the show’s most successful alumnae. She’s released four solo albums, one of which went gold in the United States. She has also continued to visit the homes of millions of reality TV show viewers on a weekly basis, appearing on Dancing with the Stars (which she won — take that, American Idol judges!) and Pickler and Ben, a daytime chat show she co-hosts with comic Ben Aaron. Her net worth has increased to $5 million.
Kellie Pickler
Fantasia
The winner of Season Three Fantasia Barrino has released four albums since her time on the show ended. Her debut record sold 1.8 million copies worldwide. She has also gained critical acclaim for her role in the well-known musical The Color Purple. Fantasia is valued at $5 million, which is not terrible.
Fantasia
Elliot Yamin
Elliot Yamin has had a steady career in music since finishing third on the fifth season of American Idol. Despite never having a big hit, he has nine modestly successful albums to his credit and a net worth of around $6 million. Yamin, who is diabetic, has donated both time and money to diabetes causes.
Elliot Yamin
Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken is another example of a contestant who did not win but went on to make a lot of money. Despite losing to Ruben Studdard, he has published six studio albums, participated on nine big tours, and once campaigned for Congress. As a result, Aiken now has around $7 million to spend on whatever he wants.
Clay Aiken
Katharine McPhee
Katharine McPhee has the distinction of not only being one of the show’s wealthiest alumni, but also of finishing second in the show’s fifth season. Despite losing to Taylor Hicks, she still managed to put out two albums. Her net worth has risen to an estimated $8 million due to her performances in films and television shows (she played the lead in Smash).
Katharine McPhee
Chris Daughtry
Chris Daughtry finished fourth on the show’s fifth season, almost missing out on the title. Nonetheless, his first album, Daughtry, sold over a million copies in five weeks, bringing his net worth to $10 million, and he is largely recognized as one of the show’s most successful participants. It just goes to illustrate how important winning is.
Chris Daughtry
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks is more than just the show’s youngest champion who became a platinum-selling musician. (You might recognize her tunes “No Air,” “Tattoo,” and “Battlefield.”) She’s also earned $10 million as a result of her film and Broadway appearances (she made her Broadway debut as Nina in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights).
Jordin Sparks
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson has done well for herself since the end of the competition. She is now worth around $20 million dollars, having won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a Grammy for her role in Dreamgirls.
Jennifer Hudson
Adam Lambert
Adam Lambert finished second in season eight, in one of the biggest upsets in the show’s history. Even the winner, Kris Allen, agreed that Adam deserved to be crowned. He was undaunted by his defeat, and he went on to become the show’s biggest star since Carrie Underwood. He has three platinum-selling albums, has appeared as a guest judge on various TV shows, and has even toured with Queen! He’s worth $16 million, and that amount will only grow.
Adam Lambert
Kelly Clarkson
Since her reign on the show’s first season ended, Kelly Clarkson has sold over 20 million CDs worldwide. She is also the only show graduate with a No. 1 album in the United Kingdom. Kelly Clarkson is believed to be worth $28 million dollars as the show’s second highest-selling performer (behind Carrie Underwood).
Kelly Clarkson
Carrie Underwood
According to Forbes, Carrie Underwood is the “most successful” American Idol winner. She apparently has enough money (about $85 million) to buy American Idol and host her own weekly show if she so desired. She’s received seven Grammys, ten Billboard Music Awards, a four-time platinum record, and more — and there’s no end in sight, which is either fantastic or terrible depending on your opinions about country music.
Carrie Underwood
Gabby Barrett
Gabby Barrett Foehner was born on March 5, 2000, and finished third in the 16th season of American Idol. Her debut single, “I Hope,” entered in the top 10 Hot Country Songs for the first time since October 2017. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA six times. Goldmine, Barrett’s debut album, will be released in June 2020. According to Country Now, she is “country music’s next female superstar.”
Gabby Barrett
Mandisa
Mandisa is the stage name of Mandisa Lynn Hundley, an American gospel and contemporary Christian music musician who was born on October 2, 1976. She began her career as a contestant on American Idol’s fifth season, finishing ninth. For her album Overcomer, she is the seventh American Idol alumna to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album.
Mandisa
Josh Gracin
Joshua Mario Gracin, born October 18, 1980, is a country music musician from the United States. He was a former Marine who rose to notoriety after finishing fourth on the second season of American Idol.
Josh Gracin
Bo Bice
American singer and musician Harold Elwin “Bo” Bice Jr. finished second to Carrie Underwood in the fourth season of American Idol. He was born on November 1, 1975. Before appearing on American Idol, Bice performed in nightclubs and recorded a solo album as well as a couple of albums with his bands.
Bo Bice
Bucky Covington
William Joel “Bucky” Covington III, born November 8, 1977, is a country music musician from the United States. He came in ninth place on the fifth season of Fox Network’s talent competition show American Idol. He secured a recording contract with Lyric Street Records in December 2006. Sawyer Brown’s self-titled debut album was released on April 17, 2007 by Dale Oliver and Mark Miller. It debuted at number six on the Hot Country Songs chart, while “A Different World” peaked at number six and “It’s Good to Be Us” peaked at number ten. The album debuted at the number one position on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart.
Bucky Covington
Kimberley Locke
Kimberley Dawn Locke, born January 3, 1978, is an American singer-songwriter and television personality. She has composed dance and pop music for adult contemporary radio. She hosted the show alongside Dr. and the Diva.
Kimberley Locke
Crystal Bowersox
Crystal Lynn Bowersox is an American singer, songwriter, and actor. She came in second place on American Idol’s ninth season. She was born on August 4, 1985. A woman had to wait three years to make it to the finals.
Crystal Bowersox
James Durbin
James William Durbin, an American singer and guitarist from Santa Cruz, California, was born on January 6, 1989. He finished fourth in the ninth season. Durbin was Quiet Riot’s lead vocalist from 2017 till 2019.
James Durbin
Jessica Sanchez
“Tonight,” the lead single from Sanchez’s debut studio album, was released on March 22, 2013. The song’s vocals were delivered by Ne-Yo. On March 21, 2013, the duo sang “Tonight” on the twenty-first episode of American Idol’s twelfth season. In the United States, the song garnered moderate commercial success, debuting at number 48 on the Digital Songs chart. The album opened at No. 26 on the Billboard 200, selling 14,000 copies in its first week. Sanchez secretly terminated ties with Interscope Records due to the failure of Me, You, and the Music.
Jessica Sanchez