But in real life, 48-year-old Guetta is a picture of health and energy. His eyes are bright despite playing a show the night before, and his youthful face belies the fact he is nearing 50.
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Guetta is the antithesis of what you would expect: humble, charming, genuine and a non-drinker.

The veteran DJ has churned out hit after hit over the past decade, defining a generation of music. In the process, he's accumulated a worth of of $US30 million and 78 million followers on social media.

But Guetta remains a mysterious man. He acknowledges he didn't explode onto the international music scene until "pretty late" with 2008's I Gotta Feeling with the Black Eyed Peas.

Since then, he's collaborated with the biggest names in the music industry including Sia, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Usher to name a few.

When asked if he brought electronic dance music to the masses, Guetta doesn't pretend to be coy.

"Of course, absolutely. That's a fact," he tells Fairfax Media.

"I really helped our music cross over. When I made Titanium with Sia, she was not as hugely popular as she is today. Sometimes we make records and they change both our lives, and that's what a good collaboration should be."

Despite approaching 50 in what is largely a young man's game, Guetta isn't making any plans to slow down either.

"It's not about my age. It's more about - I think I want to spend more time in the studio."

"Maybe next year, but the thing is I love being on stage so much, so it's always a battle between the two."

The jetset lifestyle has definitely taken its toll. In the summer of 2014, Guetta was playing several continents a week, leaving him jetlagged for months on end. It was also the year his marriage of 22 years broke down.

"Lately, it's been more touring than studio and I think now I'm going to balance it in a different way. But my life is still all about music."

His son and daughter, aged 11 and 8, also have something to do with the change of heart.

"This is also what makes me say I want to spend more time in the studio because it allows me to have a little more of a routine and see my kids more."

"Now they're starting to grow up and they need me around more, that's why I want that."

You get the sense that Guetta is maturing. He has tried to reinvent himself on his latest album, Listen, including more piano ballads and departing for the harsh dance sound which made him famous.

"Honestly, I feel like people are always going to dance. It's just a question of terminology. Electronic dance music has been associated with a certain sound, very hard and very aggressive, and that it's not neccessarily the biggest and the coolest thing right now."

Could it also be that Guetta is simply sick of playing the same songs night after night?

"I'm always trying to find the right balance between emotion and energy. That's the key to my success. Everybody has a different trick. When I manage this, then I'm happy."

"When I'm on stage and when I feel like it doesn't matter if we're 5- 10- or 100,000 people, when I have this moment where everybody feels like one, that's magic.

"I live for this."