Not all winners of “American Idol” hit it as big as Underwood did, but some people just have the “it” factor, and she’s certainly one of them. As soon as she stepped into the judging room, it seemed everyone around could smell Underwood’s impending success in the air. She won the season, unsurprisingly, and from that point on released chart-topping hits, one after the other. Her debut album combined elements of country and pop that had fans crying for more.
Underwood has sold over 65 million records worldwide. She’s also received countless accolades, including 12 Country Music Awards, seven Grammys, and an induction in the Grand Ole Opry. Just think, one audition changed her life forever. Today, Underwood is known as the most successful “American Idol” winner of all time.
Jerry Seinfeld — $950 Million
Like many comedians, Jerry Seinfeld started from small beginnings. He tried for years to make it big as a stand-up comedian and eventually hit the jackpot after creating the famous television sitcom, "Seinfeld". Since then, Jerry Seinfeld has blossomed into one of the most successful and highest-paid comedians of all time. Though Seinfeld made quite a fortune during the show’s filming, the majority of his wealth from the sitcom came after it was finished airing. His co-creator Larry David and himself receive enormous paychecks each time a re-run of "Seinfeld" airs, which as you might imagine, is quite a lot.
Not only has Jerry Seinfeld made a fortune from his namesake sitcom, but he has also brought in huge paychecks for himself from his work as an author, public speaker, and advertising endorser. In 2017, Seinfeld earned $69 million due to his smart partnership with Netflix. He probably never guessed he would land this much success when he was starting off as a stand-up comedian, but life can be pretty funny that way.
Bono — $800 Million
Rock superstar Bono has been the lead singer of U2 since 1976. This Irish singer has met massive success thanks to a regular touring schedule and a wise choice of investments. U2 is one of the most successful bands of all time and has the accolades to prove it with 22 Grammy Awards. It’s hard to imagine making this much money in one night, but the average U2 concert makes about $2.1 million. Though he certainly makes a lot of cash from his shows, Bono owns 2.3% of Facebook, which has earned him quite a lot of money over the years.
Though Bono is known for his humanitarian spirit, he’s also met some trouble with the law due to tax evasion. In 2007, he was reprimanded for not paying any taxes to Ireland, his home of origin. Though Bono claimed that 95% of his income came from outside the country and therefore, he didn’t owe tax money to Ireland, the people were still enraged. However, he still holds a huge fan base and is doing pretty well for himself.
Dr. Dre — $850 Million
A legend with a massively successful empire, it’s no surprise that Dr. Dre made this list. He initially got his start as a producer and performer for the groundbreaking rap group, N.W.A. Like many members of the group, Dre went on to start a solo career, where he was met with huge success. His hard work and focus paid off after he founded Aftermath Entertainment, where he signed rap legends like 50 Cent and Eminem.
Not only has he made a name for himself and an impressive fortune, but Dr. Dre has also created one of the most popular headphone companies out there, Beats by Dre. The headphones ended up being a major cash cow for Dr. Dre after he sold the technology to Apple for $3.2 billion. Not only that, but Dre remains a quarter owner in the Beats by Dre company, which means he’s still making a huge amount of money off of them.
Richard Gere — $130 Million
Though his career has certainly slowed down in the last few years, Richard Gere was celebrity royalty in the 1990s. His celebrity status reached new heights after the film "American Gigolo," where he became one of America’s most swoon-worthy Hollywood hunks. After that, his salary for films such as "The Cotton Club" and "Runaway Bride" climbed from $2 million to $13 million. Being named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1999 certainly paid off, surely contributing to that skyrocket in salary.
However, it wasn’t just Gere’s good looks that gained him his fortune. It was his ability to star in one of the most lucrative genres there is in Hollywood — romantic comedies. In the 1990s, Gere was the leading man every director wanted to book for their rom-com, and Gere’s roles in cult classics such as "Runaway Bride," "Pretty Woman," and "Dr. T & The Woman," certainly helped him gain the fame and fortune he enjoys today.