Adam Lambert Tops Forbes' List of Highest-Earning American Idol Winners: How He Beat Carrie Underwood

Season 8 runner-up made $10 million in 2015

Forbes released its list of the top-earning American Idols in 2015, and Adam Lambert is No. 1.

You might be shocked by the result given Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson's successes last year, but then again, you probably forgot that Lambert was the frontman for Queen's tour. Earning a career high of $10 million in 2015, Lambert solidified his top spot by performing arena shows for the legendary rock band.

Underwood fell to second place after being named the top earner in 2013 and 2014, earning $8 million in 2015. Her combination of live shows and release of new music helped up her numbers, but this year she kicks off her Storyteller tour, which might help bring her back to No. 1.

Daughtry rounds out the top three, which might also come as a surprise. He and his band earned $6 million and played more shows than any of his peers during the publication's scoring period. American Idol will crown one last singing champion later this year as its final season, 15, begins tonight at 8 p.m. on Fox.

Ryan Seacrest previously told E! News' Will Marfuggi that all the former judges would be making an appearance in the final season, including Paula Abdul, Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell.

"We will have the former judges back," Seacrest revealed when Marfuggi caught up with him during Idol's famous Hollywood Week. "The plan is to have all of them back. They've all considered it and I think are enthusiastic about coming back and saluting the show."

The list of former judges also includes Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Tyler, and Kara DioGuardi. Just imagine all of those people in one room alongside current judges Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban, and Harry Connick Jr.!

Here is the list in full:

1) Adam Lambert ($10 million)

2) Carrie Underwood ($8 million)

3) Daughtry ($6 million)

4) Phillip Phillips ($5 million)

5) Scotty McCreery ($4 million) tied with Kelly Clarkson ($4 million)

Hear how former American Idol contestant Jennifer Hudson feels about the show coming to an end.