Yeah - One Direction and Olly Murs didn't win but are doing better than the actual winners from their years.
2004
: Winner was Steve Brookstein, who went onto do nothing. G4 were in the final three and released albums up until recently, they split and revived last year.
2005
: Winner was Shayne Ward, who has done barely anything in the ten years since The X Factor, apart from join Corrie earlier this year, which doesn't really showcase his music skills but more his terrible acting.
2006
: Leona Lewis won, made a name for herself here then ran off to America to be never heard of again. Ray Quinn was just behind her, and since went onto do Dancing on Ice and other projects. However, as said above, a lot of those that are memorable have already established themselves within the industry, such as Quinn who was a former Brookie star.
2007
: Leon Jackson won this year, and Louis Walsh forgot his name on an episode of Celebrity Juice once. Same Difference came 3rd, and have done pantomimes etc since.
2008
: Alexandra Burke won, and like Leona Lewis, later made a name for herself in the states. JLS were second and were world-wide hits.
2009
: Joe McElderry won, and will now turn up to the opening of an envelope. Olly Murs and Stacey Soloman were just behind him, and have had good careers since, notably Murs.
2010
: Matt Cardle won this year. One Direction were third, and are now the biggest boyband in the world.
2011
: Probably the only year a group has won and continued to be successful - Little Mix.
2012/2013
: Winners were James Arthur and Sam Bailey, both of which have disappeared since winning. Nobody from their series have made particular impressions since.
2014
: Ben Haenow (or Whonow?) won, Fleur East was clearly the most popular and a few weeks after the series ended, she was signed by Cowell.
Now ITV have bought The Voice, I think it's time that The X Factor is atleast rested, it's clearly a dire format that has been unsuccessfully rehashed over the years, and IMO, has met its end.