how the idols are doing

season 9 of American Idol has just ended with the shy paint salesman lee dewyze winning it over the cool chick single mom crystal bowersox. both are probably signing contracts by now, making the most out of the huge wave of popularity the contest has just given them.

Lee Dewyze

Winner, Season 9

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of course we'd expect that they'd soon be enjoying fame and fortune in the forms of sold-out concerts, best-selling records, commercial endorsements and other events where their mere appearance will command some large amount of money.

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however, according to Forbes, these winners of recent AI seasons are looking at reduced earning potential compared to what the earlier winnners enjoyed. that, according to Forbes, is because of the market already being inundated by AI products in all it's 9 seasons run.

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Forbes also released a list of last year's AI top 10 money makers and it's quite interesting. two of the top 5 earners did not even reach the finals of their respective season (Chris and Kellie). on the contrary, three grand winners did not even make the list (Fantasia, Taylor and Ruben).

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here's the list of AI graduates' earnings last year according to Forbes, in reverse order:

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no. 10

Kris Allen

Winner, Season 8

$ 1.7 million

his album reached no. 11 in billboard, he plays in vegas and has a national tour
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no. 9

Clay Aiken

2nd place, Season 2

$ 2 million

sold 4 million albums, acted in broadway's production of 'spamalot'
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no. 8

David Archuleta

2nd place, Season 7

$ 2.2 million

his self-titled album reached no. 2 in the billboard charts, has done about 100 concerts and live shows
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no. 7

David Cook

Winner, Season 7

$ 2.8 million
his self-titled album has turned platinum, earns some huge amount from his endorsement of sckechers shoes
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no. 6

Jennifer Hudson

7th place, Season 3
$ 3.5 million

aside from her oscar best supporting actress, her self-titled album already sold 750,000 copies
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no. 5

Jordin Sparks

Winner, Season 6
$ 3.7 million

the youngest winner of AI, her album debuted at no. 7 in the billboard charts
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no. 4

Kellie Pickler
6th place, Season 5
$ 7.6 million
this perky little tigress has already sold more than 1 million albums and is very busy with 100 concerts on her schedule
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no. 3

Chris Daughtry
4th place, Season 5
$ 10.2 million
this hairless rocker is still rocking hot with more than 5 million albums sold and a grammy nomination to his name
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no. 2

Kelly Clarkson
Winner, Season 1
$ 11.7 million
her 4 albums already sold more than 10 million copies and she's now working on her 5th
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and the biggest money maker of 'em all....

Carrie Underwood
Winner, Season 4
$ 13 million
she's sold more than 9 million albums, won 4 grammys, 5 american music awards and 14 billboard music awards