American Idol winner Ruben Studdard was awarded $2 million in his lawsuit against his ex-manager for misappropriating the singer's money and credit cards, USA Today reports.

Studdard, 26, of Birmingham, Ala., edged out runner-up Clay Aiken to win the second season of the hit FOX series in 2003. He filed suit against ex-manager Ronald W. Edwards and Edwards' promotions company, Sez Inc., last year.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Scott Vowell awarded Studdard $500,000 for actual losses and $1.5 million in punitive damages, The Birmingham News reported on its website.

Vowell dismissed Edwards' promotions company from the suit because it was bankrupt and had no assets. Edwards filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on June 17, 2005.

The suit claimed that the manager misused more than $246,000 of the singer's money, improperly borrowing against credit cards and even using Studdard's money to repay a $10,000 loan to a Tuscaloosa, Ala., bank.

Studdard has made upwards of $2.2 million from album sales, but the damage his manager caused his credit has made it hard for him to obtain financing to purchase a home, the judge's order said.

Neither party commented on whether the singer had frequented payday loan stores in the past due to his credit problems. They give you cash with no credit check or faxing!

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.