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By Anslem Samuel | Published February 23, 2012 | Full size is 620 × 480 pixels

JENNIFER HUDSON She’s obviously the most successful American Idol contestant who didn’t win the talent show competition, having garnered an Academy Award for her first feature film debut as Effie in the 2006 film remake of Dreamgirls. She reportedly was paid $15,000,000 to play alongside Beyoncé in the film and has continued to make similar seven-figure+ deals. Her acting career continued to flourish, playing opposite Hollywood heavyweights Sarah Jessica Parker in Sex in the City 2 and Queen Latifah in The Secret Life of Bees. Her next roles include playing Winnie Mandela in Winnie and “Sister Rosemary” in this summer’s The Three Stooges, in addition to maintaining her lucrative deal as a spokesperson for Weight Watchers and authoring a book on her life and weight loss journey I Got This. Hudson is said to be worth over $18 million only six years after taking home the gold.

JENNIFER HUDSON

She’s obviously the most successful American Idol contestant who didn’t win the talent show…

(Image: Getty)