19. Mandisa
Mandisa, a Christian gospel singer, didn’t have the sweetest journey on the show and was placed ninth during the fifth season. However, it was not necessarily the songs she did that would make her who she is today, but her fighter spirit. Mandisa had to deal with harsh and insulting body-shaming comments (for her weight) from Simon Cowell throughout the entire competition. Today, the singer is one of the most popular gospel performers, especially of the contemporary gospel. Mandisa managed to release six studio albums and has debuted at number one on the Top Christian Album chart. She has since been deemed one of the most popular female artists of all times, as, during the 27 years of the list (Top Christian Albums), she is the first female to cop the top position. Mandisa now has a net worth of over $3 million.
Mandisa
18. Ruben Studdard
Ruben Studdard was seen as the “teddy bear” of the second season and copped the first place ahead of contestants Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke. Shortly after leaving the stage, Studdard released two of his albums, “Soulful” – certified platinum and “I Need an Angel” – certified gold and was the top-selling album of the period. Since then, Studdard has released a total of seven studio albums, became a contestant on “The Biggest Loser,” and also appeared in films like “8 Simple Rules”, “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” and “All of Us.” The popular singer has also made another huge appearance in 2018, where he performed alongside his runner-up on American Idol, Clay Aiken. Studdard currently has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
Ruben Studdard
