Skrillex

Sonny John Moore, born January 15, 1988 in Los Angeles, is an American record producer, DJ, and singer known as Skrillex. He is widely recognized as the figure who brought dubstep into the mainstream, earning nine Grammy Awards, more than any other electronic dance music act. As of 2026, he continues to release music and perform globally, with a career that spans post-hardcore vocals, groundbreaking electronic production, and label ownership. Fans know him for his high-energy sets and distinctive visual style blending industrial and futuristic elements.

Skrillex founded the label OWSLA in 2011, which helped launch artists like Porter Robinson and Mr. Carmack. He has collaborated with Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, and Fred again.., among others. His 2023 double-album release, Quest for Fire and Don't Get Too Close, and a surprise 2025 album demonstrate his continued relevance. What sets him apart is his ability to fuse aggressive bass with melodic hooks, creating a sound that resonates across genres. [edit]

Moore grew up in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles before moving to Forest Hill, San Francisco at age two. He attended elementary school in Northern California, then spent ages nine and ten at a boarding school in the Mojave Desert, where he cared for a pony each morning. When he was twelve, his family returned to Northeast Los Angeles, and he enrolled in a private arts academy that used some of L. Ron Hubbard's teachings. Bullying led to homeschooling at fourteen, and at sixteen he learned he was adopted, a discovery that came when a grocery store clerk mistook him for another child of a family friend.

At fourteen, Moore discovered the British electronic label Warp Records, citing Aphex Twin and Squarepusher as major influences. He began sneaking into punk gigs, dance clubs, and raves around Los Angeles, and started making electronic music using Fruity Loops (now FL Studio). In 2004, at sixteen, he auditioned to be a guitarist for the post-hardcore band From First to Last but was recruited as lead singer instead. The band released Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Bodycount in 2004 and Heroine in 2006 before Moore left in 2007 due to vocal cord issues requiring surgery. [edit]

After leaving From First to Last in 2007, Moore began a solo tour and joined the Alternative Press Tour alongside All Time Low and The Rocket Summer, landing on the cover of Alternative Press's "100 Bands You Need to Know" issue. He released the EP Gypsyhook under his birth name in 2009, then adopted the Skrillex moniker, a childhood nickname, and dropped the free My Name Is Skrillex EP on MySpace in 2010. That same year, he signed to deadmau5's mau5trap label and released Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, which broke dubstep into the US mainstream.

In 2011, he founded OWSLA and released More Monsters and Sprites. At the 54th Grammy Awards, he won three Grammys, including Best Dance/Electronic Album. The following year, he won three more for the Bangarang EP. His debut studio album Recess (2014) hit number four on the Billboard 200. He formed Jack Ü with Diplo in 2015, producing the global hit "Where Are Ü Now" with Justin Bieber, which won a Grammy. In 2016, he formed Dog Blood with Boys Noize. After a period of sporadic releases, he returned in 2023 with two albums released a day apart: Quest for Fire and Don't Get Too Close. He headlined a surprise Coachella back-to-back set with Fred again.. and Four Tet, widely regarded as one of the most iconic live electronic moments of the decade. In 2025, he surprise-dropped Fuck U Skrillex You Think Ur Andy Warhol but Ur Not!! <3. [edit]

Skrillex is known for his distinctive look: long hair often partially shaved or styled, facial piercings, and casual streetwear. His visual brand incorporates dark, industrial, and futuristic elements that match his aggressive yet melodic music. The media portrays him as a pioneering figure who brought dubstep to the global mainstream; Rolling Stone has called him "the most decorated producer in dubstep history." His social media voice is casual and personal, sharing behind-the-scenes studio moments and festival clips. Fans refer to themselves as part of the "OWSLA family," referencing his label, and they frequently attend his sets, share remixes, and create fan art online. [edit]

The bass drops that shook American festivals in 2012 didn't just change a genre; they built a global empire for Sonny Moore. Today, his cultural footprint remains massive, placing him as the 42nd most famous person in Electronic / EDM according to the latest iFANN Global Fame Rankings. This position holds steady from the previous cycle, reflecting a career that has evolved from underground dubstep pioneer to a multi-platinum mainstay. The community surrounding this sonic architect is vast yet fluid. Unlike pop acts with formalized clubs, Skrillex fans identify through broader electronic subcultures or simply as "bass heads." There is no single official moniker for the Dog Blood niche either; instead, the group operates within the wider ecosystem of his fanbase, which organizes itself around streaming campaigns and chart pushes rather than a singular named entity. On Reddit's r/skrillex, users mobilize rapidly during reunion announcements, celebrating the return of projects after years of silence. While specific large-scale physical rituals like subway ads remain undocumented, the digital activism is real. Fans coordinate listening parties via Discord to push tracks to number one, proving their engagement goes beyond passive consumption. The mythology here isn't built on crowd chaos but on the scarcity of the duo's collaboration and the sheer impact of their early work. From the silence between 2012 and 2019 to the verified stage returns in 2024 and 2025, the story is one of anticipation met by rare moments of performance.[edit]

Sonny John Moore adopted his stage name from a childhood nickname and an old AOL screen handle before launching his solo project. During his formative years at a Mojave Desert boarding school, he spent mornings caring for a pony. Before his electronic dominance, he fronted the post-hardcore band Sonny and the Blood Monkeys and launched the side project Twipz in 2008, which hinted at his future sound. He produced Incubus's eighth studio album, 8, in 2017. A notable reunion occurred on his 29th birthday when he rejoined From First to Last to release the single "Make War." Beyond the facts, a legend persists regarding the seven-year silence of his duo Dog Blood. Formed in 2012, the project went dormant until the surprise March 2019 release of "Turn Off the Lights," an event fans still retell as a rebirth of the duo. More recently, the narrative shifted when Dog Blood returned to live stages in 2024, ending rumors of permanent disbandment and confirming active tours through late 2026.[edit]

Moore was adopted at birth by family friends of his biological parents. He did not discover this until age sixteen, when a grocery store clerk mistook him for another child of the family friend. He has reportedly not spoken to his biological mother in years. His adoptive father worked as an insurance claims officer and his mother was a homemaker; both were Scientologists. As of 2026, Moore has no publicly known spouse or children, and he keeps his current household private. [edit]

Skrillex has collaborated extensively with Diplo (as Jack Ü), Boys Noize (as Dog Blood), Fred again.., Four Tet, Justin Bieber, Kendrick Lamar, Rick Ross, Sirah, and Bring Me the Horizon. His label OWSLA has released music by Porter Robinson, Mr. Carmack, and What So Not. [edit]

Skrillex has been notably private about his romantic life. In 2012, he was briefly linked to British singer Ellie Goulding; the relationship was short-lived and both moved on amicably. Speculation arose in 2015-2016 about a relationship with Australian DJ and producer Alison Wonderland, but neither party confirmed it. As of 2026, Skrillex is reportedly single, with no public reports of marriage, engagement, or long-term partnership from credible sources. He has no publicly known children. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Skrillex's net worth stands at $60 Million as of 2026. This valuation reflects a diversified portfolio where music sales and streaming revenue drive the core wealth, anchored by multi-platinum releases including Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, Bangarang, Recess, and his 2023 catalog. Live performances serve as a critical income pillar, with headlining fees at major festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza, Ultra Music Festival, EDC, and Tomorrowland reaching high six to low seven figures per show. His record label OWSLA, established in 2011, contributes further earnings through its artist roster. Songwriting and production credits, specifically his work on Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and "Where Are Ü Now," generate substantial royalty streams. Additional assets include endorsements with Beats by Dre and Monster Energy, merchandise sales, real estate holdings in Los Angeles, and strategic technology investments.[edit]

Skrillex has won nine Grammy Awards, more than any other electronic dance music act, including Best Dance/Electronic Album for Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites and Bangarang. He has also won MTV Video Music Awards for Best Visual Effects, Billboard Music Awards for Top Electronic/Dance Artist, and multiple International Dance Music Awards. In 2012, he was ranked #1 in DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs. [edit]