American Idol can claim to contribute to many a contemporary singer’s fame. Some of the most popular and highest-paid singers of our time can trace their humble beginnings back to the competitive singing challenge that took the nation by storm. Yet while many found long-term success through the show, others’ glory was surprisingly short-lived. So who among these singing stars has managed to hold onto their American Idol fame and fortune and who has simply faded from the spotlight? We set out to find the answer and created a who’s who of the wealthiest American Idol contestants as of today.
American Idol first hit the airwaves in 2002 and has been going strong ever since. It is all set for its 21st season and in that time, it has seen a lot of talented singers come and go. In fact, many of our household celebrity names have come to us straight from the American Idol stage. Some have gone on to create talk shows, star in movies and one even created their own line of sportswear. It’s a diverse group with an array of talents, one of which is holding onto their American Idol acclaim and leveraging it into ongoing success. Here are a few of the richest American Idol alum and their secrets to success.
1. Carrie Underwood – $140 million
Carrie Underwood is one of America’s sweethearts. Known as the small-town Southern girl with a big dream and an even bigger voice, Carrie stole fans’ hearts on season four of American Idol. Hailing from the small town of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Underwood beat the odds by winning the fourth season and becoming one of the most well-known country singers of our time. Some of her chart-toppers include “Inside Your Heaven”,” Jesus Take The Wheel,” and of course, the crowd-pleasing “Before He Cheats,” a song that details Underwood’s dream revenge on a cheating ex.
Underwood has sold over 85 million records worldwide, has eight Grammys, 12 Billboard Music Awards, 17 American Music Awards, five Guinness World Records, an induction into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and one into the Grand Ole Opry. Not bad for the soft-spoken, small-town Oklahoma girl who we first met as she two-stepped her way onto the American Idol stage and into our hearts. Yet her record-breaking voice isn’t Underwood’s only talent; she has also ventured into the world of fashion and fitness with a fitness clothing line called CALIA and a bestselling book titled “Find Your Path.” She is also arguably the most successful American Idol alum, at least according to Forbes, with a net worth of a cool $140 million. Yeehaw.
2. Kelly Clarkson – $45 million
Following right on Carrie Underwood’s cowgirl heels is fellow alum, Kelly Clarkson. Kelly Clarkson made her debut on the very first season of American Idol. She is one of the original crew, and while American Idol may have made her what she is, it is arguable that she also made the show what it is. A Fort Worth native, Clarkson debuted her larger-than-life voice on the American Idol stage and immediately became a fan favorite. She ended up winning the season, making her the first American Idol winner ever.
Some of her greatest hits include her first song “A Moment Like This,” which topped the Billboard 100, making it the best-selling country album of 2002. Her first song was a huge success and the hits just kept coming with songs such as “Since U Been Gone,” “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” and “Because Of You.” She has 11 top ten singles, three Grammys, four American Music Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also, much like her fellow American Idol alum Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson has branched out into more than just music. She has been a judge on the hit show The Voice and currently has a hit talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show that has won five Daytime Emmy Awards. Unfortunately, however, the show is currently plagued with allegations by employees claiming the Kelly Clarkson show is a “toxic” workplace run by “monsters.” Yikes. Here’s hoping the allegations get cleared up, because this American Idol favorite is number two on our list, coming in with a $45 million net worth, making her the second most successful of the crew.
3. Adam Lambert – $35 million
Adam Lambert is an Indianapolis native who was runner-up in the eighth season of the show but came in number one in fans’ hearts. Despite not winning the season, he still has managed to top the charts and our list of most successful alum. Adam Lambert released his first album in 2009, titled For Your Entertainment which hit the U.S. Billboard at number three. In 2012 his next album Trespassing made it to number one, making him the first openly gay artist to do so. He also has collaborated with a little band you might be familiar with known as Queen. Mic drop, Adam Lambert, mic drop.
Lambert also has utilized his talents in more areas than vocal prowess and formed the non-profit Feel Something Foundation which specializes in human rights activism, especially within the LGBTQIA+ community. It also works to end homelessness, promotes mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Lambert has a net worth of $35 million placing him right below Kelly Clarkson on our countdown.
4. Jennifer Hudson – $30 million
Jennifer Hudson is one of the most recognized of the American Idol alumni, not only for her astounding voice but also for her starring roles in various films. Hudson made her debut in season three of the show and came in seventh. It was an astounding loss for someone with such an incredible voice and fans practically rebelled. The Los Angeles Times even wrote an article claiming Hudson was the “third greatest Idol contestant” of all time (behind Underwood and Clarkson.) However not winning the season did not seem to slow Hudson down at all. Her first album, which was self-titled, almost immediately went gold, as did her acting career as she snagged a starring role as Effie White in the hit movie about the Temptations, titled Dream Girls.
Shortly thereafter, Hudson made an appearance in Sex and The City, The Secret Life of Bees, Winnie Mandela, Empire, and even hit Broadway to star in the musical The Color Purple. She also released two subsequent albums, I Remember and JHUD, both of which made it to the Billboard charts. Also, as if all of that isn’t enough, Hudson recently snagged her own daytime talk show, The Jennifer Hudson Show. All of these incredible accomplishments have placed her net worth at $30 million making her the fourth most financially successful American Idol alum. Pretty impressive for someone who came in seventh on the show.
5. Katharine McPhee – $14 million
Katharine McPhee is a little less small-town than the rest of her American Idol costars. McPhee was born in Los Angeles to a TV producer father and a mother who worked as a voice coach on American Idol, as did her sister. She debuted on the fifth season of the show and became the runner-up. Despite not taking the metaphorical crown, she did however receive the ultimate prize, singer-songwriter fame. Her debut song “Over It” topped the charts and was certified gold, and her second album Unbroken also placed on the Billboard charts.
McPhee also snagged a spot in several hit movies including House Bunny, Shark Night 3D, and Smash. She also starred in the CBS hit series Scorpion and most recently as New York millionaire Robert Durst’s murdered wife Kathie in the Lifetime hit movie The Lost Wife of Robert Durst. Between all of her starring roles and hit songs Katharine’s net worth sits prettily at $14 million, assuring her a prime spot in the list of most successful American Idol contestants.
6. Jordin Sparks – $8 million
Jordin Sparks, now 33, skyrocketed to fame at the tender age of 17 as she won the sixth season of American Idol in 2007. Her winning performances made her the youngest winner of the show ever. Later that very year, Jordin released her first self-titled album which went platinum almost immediately. The album contained the hits “Tattoo” and the Chris Brown collaboration “No Air” which won Sparks her very first Grammy. Shortly thereafter, Sparks dropped her second album Battlefield which hit number 7. Sparks has won the NAACP Image Award, a BET Award, a People’s Choice Award, and even made it on the VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Women In Music.”
Sparks reached a high level of fame at a very young age, so unsurprisingly in 2012, she decided to take a short break from music. She returned five years later under a new label and eventually released a new album Right Here Right Now. She also shot a reality TV show for Lifetime titled Jordin Sparks: A Baby Story. Her net worth lands at $8 million earning her a respectable spot at number 6 on our list.
7. Chris Daughtry – $8 million
Chris Daughtry joined the American Idol cast from the small town of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina. Although he came fourth in season five of the show, his record sales slide into the third highest of the show alum, following Underwood and Clarkson. He released his self-titled album Daughtry to instant acclaim as it reached number one on the Billboard Chart in only nine short weeks following its release.
He quickly created the popular band Daughtry which continues to enjoy success and collaborations. Some of their hit songs include “I’ts Not Over”, “Over You” and “Waiting For Superman.” The band has won several American Music Awards and has religiously released albums every three years or less. The band’s ongoing success has landed Chris Daughtry the number seven spot on our charts as his net worth reaches $8 million. While his post-American Idol resume may seem small, his band’s success continues, so as they say if it’s not broke, why fix it?
American Idol is responsible for the success of several celebrity voices; with 21 seasons and counting many a hopeful singer has graced its stage. However, even when the contestants don’t walk away with the winning spot, sometimes they still walk away with fame, as these seven star-studded celebs can attest to. These Hollywood heavy hitters can thank American Idol for giving them their start, and in return they have assured their own places on the American Idol most successful list.
