American Idol was ranked as the most successful money making U.S. TV show in 2010 by Forbes magazine and here it comes up with a list of the top 10 highest earning American Idol contestants.

Carrie Underwood, the Season Four winner tops the list with earnings of $20 million. The second-place spot was a tie between Season Seven runner up Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry (Season Five), who both toured over the past year, pulling in $6 million.

Carrie Underwood
Season-4 Earnings-$20 million REUTERS
Chris Daughtry
Chris Daughtry, a former finalist of "American Idol," is being sued by his ex-band members of Absent Element, claiming they are owed royalties for four of his hit songs. REUTERS
Adam Lambert
Season-8 Earnings-$6 million REUTERS
Fantasia Barrino
Fantasia Barrino has said that she was having a baby boy and was due on Dec. 29. She already has a 9-year-old daughter Zion. REUTERS
Jordin Sparks
Season-6 Earnings-$3 million REUTERS
Kelly Clarkson
Season-1 Earnings-$2.5 million REUTERS
Jennifer Hudson
Season-3 Earnings-$2 million REUTERS
Kellie Pickler
Season-5 Earnings-$1.8 million REUTERS
Clay Aiken
Season-2 Earnings-$1.5 million REUTERS
Katharine McPhee
Season-5 Earnings-$1 million REUTERS
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