Successful Idol also rans

Success after Idol elimination 

Pia Toscano

Jennifer Hudson

Adam Lambert

Clay Aiken

Bucky Covington

Constantine Maroulis

Diana DeGarmo

Elliott Yamin

Katharine McPhee

Bo Bice

Chris Daughtry

Kellie Pickler

Kimberly Caldwell

Josh Gracin

Mandisa

William Hung

Justin Guarini

Frenchie Davis

Ryan Starr

Tamyra Gray

Jason Castro

David Archuleta

Blake Lewis

Kimberely Locke

Crystal Bowersox

Sanjaya Malakar

Allison Iraheta

 source