Despite being the show's lowest-rated season finale ever, season 11 of "American Idol" ended last night with a new victor: 21-year-old Georgia native Phillip Phillips took home the microphone-shaped trophy and the crown as the next American Idol after a staggering 132 million votes were tallied. 

Hopefully Phillips' future is set for stardom like past winners Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood rather than into obscurity like forgotten winners Taylor Hicks and Lee DeWyze. But before we find out how well the Season 11's alumni will do in the real world, we've compiled a list of the best and worst track records of previous "American Idol" finalists. 

Sanjaya Malakar is now a bartender in Manhattan.

Season: 6 

Finished: 7th

Before he became the infamous "Idol" contestant with the ridiculous hairstyles, Sanjaya Malakar was just a high school student auditioning with his sister. Now, he hasn't had much success in the music business but he hasn't stopped trying.

After appearing on the show "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here" in 2009, Malakar was supposed to sign with a modeling agency in Seattle—but that must have fallen through because now he's working as a bartender in the East Village of Manhattan. 

Malakar's Audition: 

Ace Young & Diana DeGarmo just got engaged on the season 11 finale.

Season: 5 and 3, respectively

Finished: 7th and Runner-Up

We put these two contestants from different seasons together because the two started a relationship after starring in a Broadway production together and just got engaged on this season's finale. The two are now consistently working on the stage, mostly on Broadway. 

Young's audition: 

DeGarmo's audition: 

Kristy Lee Cook hosts a hunting show.

Season: 7

Finished: 7th

After releasing a mediocre single, Kristy Lee Cook moved to Nashville and became the host of "Goin' Country," a hunting show for NBC Sports. Weird. 

Cook's audition: 

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