6. Jennifer Hudson
Seventh place; Season 3
Number of albums sold: 1,816,000
Net worth: $20 million
Jennifer Hudson was eliminated from the show quite early, but she is undoubtedly one of a kind which is why she stands at number 6 on our list of 12 most successful American Idol contestants. Her first two studio albums were certified gold. But the amazing thing is this: not only has she won a Grammy Award, but has also received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her work in the musical drama Dreamgirls, in which she worked with the likes of Beyonce, Eddie Murphy, and Jamie Foxx.
