Who Is David Guetta? – Real Name, Career & Private Life

We know some of you have definitely shouted “I’m bulletproof, nothing to loseeee” at least once in your life and probably without even thinking twice about where it came from. That anthem – and countless others – trace back to one legendary man: David Guetta. 

Funktasy first spotlighted David Guetta back in 2018, charting his early rise from Paris club kid to global EDM icon. For a throwback look at his initial mainstream breakthrough and impact on the scene, check out our original feature: David Guetta – Titanium, Music, & DJ Profile.

With over 35 billion global streams and countless awards to his name, the French DJ and producer has long transcended the dance floor, becoming a cultural mainstay and architect of the EDM-pop crossover.

Guetta’s story begins in the clubs of Paris and ends… Well, it hasn’t ended yet. Nearly four decades into his career, he’s still headlining the world’s biggest festivals and pushing new sonic boundaries with his Future Rave sound. If he’s not the “Grandfather of EDM”, he’s at least its most prolific ambassador.

In this feature, we chart David Guetta’s rise: from his private life to his albums and career highlights.

What Is David Guetta’s Real Name and Where Is He From?

His real name is Pierre David Guetta. He’s French, born in Paris on November 7, 1967.

His roots are as layered as his music. Guetta’s father was a sociologist of Moroccan Jewish descent, while his mother was a philosophy teacher of Belgian heritage. He was raised in the French capital, which had a pivotal role in his early formation. “I grew up in Paris, and that definitely shaped me,” he once reflected. “That definitely had a massive influence on me.”

It was here, in the French city’s buzzing arrondissements, that a 14-year-old Pierre began experimenting with vinyl and decks, dreaming of something larger than the narrow confines of local clubs. Long before his name was printed in 100-point font on festival posters, he was just a Parisian teen spinning imported records, chasing a sound that hadn’t yet conquered the world – but soon would.

How Did David Guetta Start His Career?

David Guetta started his career by playing in underground Parisian clubs, such as Broad Club, Le Centrale and Le Boy. He later became the manager of Le Palace, alongside his ex-wife Cathy Guetta. Initially, he would spin only pop music, but then decided to transition to house music in order to differentiate himself from other DJs at that time. 

His first ever release was “Nation Rap”, a hip-hop record in collaboration with French rapper Sydney, which didn’t yield him much success. It was only with “Just a Little More Love” in 2001 that he started to receive some international recognition. “So, I’m going to Space (a historic Ibiza club) and I had no idea that the record was the Ibiza anthem of that summer, because there was no Internet,” says Guetta, referring to his song. 

Eventually, he burst onto the global scene in 2009 with his smash hit “When Love Takes Over” featuring Kelly Rowland. That same year he also released his fourth album “One Love”, which included all-time classics like “Sexy Bitch” with Akon and “Memories” with Kid Cudi.

What Are David Guetta’s Biggest Songs and Collaborations? 

David Guetta’s biggest songs are “I’m Good (Blue)”, “Titanium”, “Memories”, “Sexy Bitch”, “Where Them Girls At”, “Hey Mama”, “2U”, “Baby Don’t Hurt Me”, “When Love Takes Over” and “Play Hard”. Most of these were certified platinum multiple times across several countries.

Guetta has collaborations under his belt with massive pop stars and singers, such as Bebe Rexha, SIA, Nicki Minaj, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, Ne-Yo, Usher, Rihanna, Kid Cudi and Akon. 

What Albums Has David Guetta Released?

David Guetta has released seven studio albums. His debut album was “Just a Little More Love” (2002), which earned him some national recognition – in France, it was certified gold two times and peaked at number 6 in the charts. He then followed up with “Guetta Blaster” (2004) and “Pop Life” (2007), pushing his name further towards the mainstream. However, it wasn’t until his fourth album, “One Love” (2009), that he received global accolades, selling 3 million copies and making waves at the GRAMMYs.

After that, he dropped another widely acclaimed album, “Nothing but the Beat” (2011), which featured tracks like “Titanium” with Sia, “Without You” with Usher and “Sweat” with Snoop Dogg. In 2014, he released “Listen”, which included “Hey Mama” with Nicki Minaj, Bebe Rexha and Afrojack and “Lovers on the Sun” with Sam Martin.

His latest album is “7” (2018), entitled like this because it’s his seventh piece of work. It’s a double album: the first disc contains pop songs and the second disc features underground house cuts credited under Guetta’s alias Jack Back – his side-project that leans back into his early clubbing roots. It was an immense success and dominated the charts with hits like “Don’t Leave Me Alone” with Anne-Marie, “Flames” with Sia, “Say My Name” with Bebe Rexha and J Balvin, “Like I Do” with Martin Garrix and Brooks and “2U” with Justin Bieber.

How Has David Guetta’s Musical Style Changed Over Time?

David Guetta is known for his chameleon-like ability to adapt to shifts in musical trends. After pioneering the Pop-EDM crossover in the late 2000s, he then always found a way to reinvent his style, venturing into Future House, Deep House and Tropical-flavoured Pop.

In 2018, he decided to produce underground house music under the alias of Jack Back – created in 2012 – delivering a 12-track mixtape included in his album “7”. Only one year later, he launched the Future Rave sound alongside fellow producer Morten, creating an electronic music subgenre that blends Techno with Trance and Progressive House. Besides producing brand new tracks in that genre, he also remixed some of his older records with a Future Rave flair, some examples being “Titanium (David Guetta and Morten Future Rave Remix)” and “Let’s Love (Future Rave Remix)” with Sia.

Over the past few years, Guetta’s gone all in with sampling and interpolating older records – just think “I’m Good (Blue)” that samples “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” from Eiffel 65 or “Baby Don’t Hurt Me” that samples Haddaway’s “What Is Love”. Nevertheless, earlier this year, he mentioned the will to redefine his musical style again. “There are musical cycles. And I think I’m about to start a new one after having used a lot of samples recently,” he says. “I’d really like to get back to real composition, real songs and work with violins and orchestras.”

What Awards Has David Guetta Won?

David Guetta has won countless awards: 1 AMA, 2 Billboard Music Awards, 1 BRIT Award, 6 Electronic Music Awards, 1 Teen Choice Award, 2 iHeartRadio Music Awards and 6 MTV Music Awards. He also secured 2 GRAMMYs for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical with “When Love Takes Over (Electro Extended Remix)” and “Revolver (David Guetta’s One Love Club Remix)”. 

Beyond these awards, DJ Mag has acknowledged him as the number 1 DJ in the world 4 times (2011, 2020, 2021 and 2023).

What Is David Guetta Doing Now?

David Guetta has recently released new music: yet another collab with Sia called “Beautiful People”, the afro-house summer hit “Think of Me” with Hugel, “Cuentale” with Willy William and Nicky Jam and “The Final Countdown 2025” with Hypaton.

A song with Ryan Tedder from OneRepublic is expected to come out soon as well, as publicized by Guetta on his official Instagram account with a reel, on April 30, 2025.

He has announced several residencies for summer 2025, including LIV Nightclub in Vegas, LIV Beach in Miami, Ushuaïa Ibiza with his renowned “F*** Me I’m Famous” format and [UNVRS] in Ibiza as well. He’s also busy headlining some of the major festivals across the globe, such as Tomorrowland, Lollapalooza and Creamfields.

Want to know more about Ibiza? Its history, events and 2025’s summer residencies? Check out Funktasy’s “Ibiza 2025 – Clubbing’s Electrifying Next Chapter” article.

How Much Does it Cost to Hire David Guetta?

If you’re wondering whether you can afford to book the legend himself for your fraternity party, I regret to inform you that you have to say goodbye to a good few bucks. Indeed, he’s known for being a little too pricey. His price tag is a number that hovers around $300,000 to $435,000 per gig, with some sources citing that it can even get up to over $1 million. However, we are not sure what the right amount is, as these are just speculations and figures that can vary according to the type of event or duration and so on.

What Is David Guetta’s Net Worth?

David Guetta is thought to be worth around $200 million, which makes him one of the richest DJs in the world, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He’s second only to the undisputed “Richie Rich” of electronic artists, Calvin Harris. 

Estimates are that Guetta’s yearly earnings amount roughly to $30-40 million.

Is David Guetta in a Relationship?

Yes, David Guetta’s girlfriend is actress Jessica Ledon. They welcomed their first baby, named Cyan, in March 2024.

Does David Guetta Have Any Children?

Yes, the French DJ and producer has three children. He had a son, Tim Elvis, 21, and a daughter, Angie, 17, with ex-wife Cathy Guetta, 58, and a baby boy, Cyan, 1, with current girlfriend Jessica Ledon. 

How Old Is David Guetta?

As of May 2025, David Guetta is 57 years old.

David Guetta Still Runs the Game…

Whether you know him for “Titanium”, his Vegas and Ibiza residencies or that random club banger you heard at a Miami nightclub, one thing’s clear: Guetta knows how to make people move, and he’s been doing it longer and better than most DJs dream of.

Forty years in and he’s still evolving, still charting and still turning festivals into full-blown emotional experiences. He’s a sellout, a pioneer, the “Grandfather of EDM”.

And if you’re wondering whether David Guetta is still relevant?

Let his 78 million Spotify monthly listeners answer that.