For nearly two decades, Armin van Buuren has stood as one of the most recognizable figures in the global electronic music scene. Revered as the “King of Trance,” he has maintained an extraordinary legacy—five-time winner of the DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll, multiple Grammy nominations, and a catalog that shaped modern dance culture. But behind the euphoric lights, the screaming crowds, and the global recognition lies a story few truly understand: the immense cost of staying at the top.

The Rise of a Perfectionist

Armin van Buuren was not supposed to become a global superstar. In the early 1990s, the Dutch DJ juggled his law degree at Leiden University while producing tracks in his bedroom studio. “I never wanted fame,” he once admitted in a rare reflective moment. “I just wanted to share emotion through sound.” His early work, including “Communication” and “Blue Fear,” caught the attention of trance fans who were craving something deeper, something pure.
By 2001, his weekly radio show A State of Trance (ASOT) had become the heartbeat of the genre—broadcasting to more than 40 million listeners worldwide. That same year marked the start of his relentless climb to superstardom, leading to his first DJ Mag No. 1 title in 2007. For many, it was the peak. For Armin, it was only the beginning of an obsession.

The Invisible Pressure of Staying No. 1

The music industry glorifies success but rarely speaks about the psychological toll it demands. Armin’s schedule became inhumanly intense—playing more than 150 shows a year, managing a label, producing albums, and maintaining ASOT without missing a week. Colleagues describe him as a “machine,” but that perfectionism came at a cost.
Rumors within the EDM community often whispered about burnout, creative blocks, and a hidden emotional struggle. During his 2018 documentary This Is Me, Armin himself confessed: “Sometimes I felt trapped by my own success. People expect you to be perfect, to always deliver magic—but no one can do that forever.”

Behind closed doors, Armin was fighting the one enemy that fame could not protect him from—the loss of balance.

What He Gave Up

It wasn’t just sleep, or time—it was connection. While other artists took breaks, Armin spent years on the road. His wife, Erika, and their two children rarely saw him outside tour cycles. In interviews, he has admitted to questioning whether the sacrifices were worth it. “I missed birthdays, I missed dinners, I missed moments that never come back,” he said.
Friends close to him say he tried to slow down several times, only to be pulled back in by the weight of expectation. The trance community saw him not just as a DJ but as a symbol of the genre’s survival. “If Armin stops, trance stops,” one fan once wrote on Reddit—a pressure no artist should bear.

Fame, it turns out, can be a gilded cage.

The Mental Health Wake-Up Call

In 2019, as EDM festivals became bigger and competition fiercer, Armin began to open up publicly about mental health. Unlike some peers who burned out completely, he confronted it head-on. His album Balance was both a confession and a cure—an exploration of identity, family, and self-acceptance. “I learned that being the world’s number one doesn’t mean being the happiest,” he said at the time.
The honesty struck a chord. Fans flooded social media with messages of gratitude, admitting that Armin’s vulnerability gave them permission to speak about their own struggles. What the industry saw as a “career reset” was, in reality, a survival move.

Competing in an Era That Changed Everything

As new waves of EDM stars like Martin Garrix, Hardwell, and David Guetta rose to fame, many wondered if Armin’s era was over. But the Dutch veteran adapted with remarkable grace. Instead of chasing trends, he embraced evolution—experimenting with progressive sounds, live band performances, and even orchestral collaborations like The Best of Armin Only.
This reinvention wasn’t about chasing youth—it was about longevity. Few DJs in history have managed to remain relevant across three musical generations. Armin did it by staying true to his mantra: “Don’t aim for success; aim for significance.”

Yet, the cost of significance meant living in constant self-scrutiny, always asking: Am I still the best? Do people still care?

The Reality Behind the Glamour

For fans who see the laser lights and roaring crowds, it’s easy to forget what goes on behind the booth. Each performance requires months of planning, travel exhaustion, and physical strain. Armin has openly described moments where he felt “numb” despite standing before tens of thousands. “You give everything to the crowd, and sometimes, you go back to your hotel room feeling empty,” he once said.
Industry insiders say that Armin’s discipline is both his weapon and his curse. He doesn’t drink before sets, rarely parties, and treats his craft like a science. This obsessive dedication is what kept him at the top—but also what nearly broke him.

Why Fans Still Call Him the King

Despite all the pressures, Armin van Buuren remains one of the most respected figures in music—not just for his achievements but for his humanity. When he steps on stage, there’s still that familiar aura: arms raised, eyes closed, surrendering himself to the rhythm that changed his life.
His fanbase is not just loyal—they’re generational. Parents who danced to “In and Out of Love” now bring their children to ASOT festivals. For them, Armin is more than a DJ; he’s a storyteller who soundtracked their lives.

And that’s the paradox: he sacrificed almost everything personal to give millions around the world a sense of belonging.

The Legacy Beyond Titles

So what did Armin truly give up to remain the World’s No. 1 DJ for two decades? The answer is not simple. He gave up time, privacy, and at times, peace of mind. He traded ordinary joys for a legacy that few will ever match. And while the spotlight eventually fades for every artist, his impact has already transcended rankings.
Armin once said, “The most beautiful thing in life is to be part of someone’s memory.” Today, even as new names dominate charts, his music continues to echo through stadiums, festivals, and the hearts of fans who grew up with him.

In an age where fame is fleeting, Armin van Buuren’s story stands as a reminder that greatness is never free—and that the world’s No. 1 DJ is still, above all else, human.