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