2014-01-14 Forbes - The Top Earning American Idol's 2013

3. Adam Lambert ($5 million, tie)

“Adam used the launching pad of American Idol very well to have a successful recording career,” says his co-manager Martin Kirkup.
“I think the main part of his career still lies ahead of him.”
In the meantime, he’s cashing in on live gigs in the wake of last year’s album Trespassing. 

3. Adam Lambert ($5 million, tie), cont'd

LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 20: Singer Adam Lambert performs onstage with Queen
during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 20, 2013
in Las Vegas, Nevada. 

1. Carrie Underwood 31 Million

2. Kelly Clarkson 7 Million

3. Phillip Phillips 5 Million (tie)

3. Adam Lambert 5 Million (tie)

5. Daughtry 4 Million

6. Scotty McCreery 3 Million 

7. Taylor Hicks 2.5 Million

8. Fantasia Barrino 1.5 Million (tie)

8. Kellie Pickler 1.5 Million (tie)

10. Katharine McFee 1 Million (tie)

10. Jennifer Hudson 1 Million (tie)

Methodology

We calculate our earnings estimates with the help of data from Pollstar Pro, the RIAA,
Nielsen SoundScan as wells industry veterans, the musicians’ handlers and some of the
artists themselves. These numbers reflect pretax earnings from June 2012 through June 2013.