John Summit’s story is one of the more unlikely in dance music. Born John Schuster in Naperville, Illinois, he spent his early twenties as a certified public accountant at Ernst & Young in Chicago, grinding through long hours while secretly DJing on weekends. Today, at 31, he is one of the most in-demand acts in electronic music, the founder of the label and festival brand Experts Only, and a Forbes Under 30 alum. His rise from cubicle to main stage is a case study in building a personal brand and a business around music.
The Accounting Years
Summit studied accounting at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he first started playing local bars and clubs. After graduating, he joined Ernst & Young, working what he described to Fortune as “nine to nine” days. Music was a release. “It felt like I was living a double life,” he told Forbes. He would work during the day and moonlight as a DJ at night, often showing up to the office with bloodshot eyes from late sets. Despite the toll on his accounting career, his music was gaining traction online. By 25, he had saved enough money (Entrepreneur reports $20,000) to quit and give music a six-month shot. He was let go from a subsequent accounting job after showing up sleep-deprived, which he now sees as a turning point.
Breakthrough with “Deep End”
In 2020, after the pandemic shut down live events, Summit moved back in with his parents and doubled down on producing. He sent over 100 records to labels that year. One finally stuck: Defected Records signed his track “Deep End,” which went viral on TikTok and became his breakout hit. The timing was fortunate. As lockdowns eased, demand for live music surged, and Summit was ready. He leaned into social media, posting constantly, even streaming himself making music and drinking White Claws. “A lot of DJs thought they were too cool for school,” he told Forbes. “I was just nonstop posting every day because my life depended on it.”
Building Experts Only
In 2022, Summit launched his own label, Experts Only, initially to have full creative control over his releases. It has since become a platform for rising artists like Mau P, Roddy Lima, and Disco Lines. The label is independently run but distributes through Darkroom Records. Beyond music, Experts Only has expanded into events: ski weekends in Vail, cave shows in Tennessee, pop-up parties in Tulum and Ibiza, and a curated stage at Bonnaroo. The brand is an extension of Summit’s accessible, relatable persona. He hosts run clubs, does pop-up DJ sets, and shares his workouts on Strava. “I feel like I’m very much a good taste maker nowadays,” he told Fortune. “Someone will send me a record, it goes off during my set, and I sign it.”
Festival and Financial Milestones
The inaugural Experts Only Festival took place on Randall’s Island in New York City in September 2025, selling over 50,000 tickets across two days. A second edition is planned for September 19, 2026. Forbes reported that Summit’s shows generated roughly $22 million in gross ticket revenue in the prior year, excluding major festival appearances. In 2025, he signed a residency deal with LIV at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, reportedly worth millions over three years. “I make more in one show than I probably would make in my entire accounting career now,” he told Fortune. Summit has also signed brand partnerships with Lululemon, Tinder, and Bose, and has accumulated 1.5 billion streams and 3 million social media followers.
What’s Next
Summit is working on his next album and continues to expand Experts Only. He is cautious about growth. “So many businesses grow too fast,” he told Forbes. “I’d rather grow slowly and make sure everything we do is excellent.” As for his accounting past, he credits it with his business acumen. “How are you making X million dollars a year and then being bankrupt?” he told Entrepreneur. “That’s why you have to have financial literacy.” It is a lesson he has clearly taken to heart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Summit?
John Summit is the stage name of John Schuster, an American DJ, producer, and label owner from Naperville, Illinois. He is known for house and tech-house tracks and for founding the label Experts Only.
How old is John Summit?
He was 31 as of late 2025, according to Forbes.
What was John Summit’s job before music?
He worked as a CPA at Ernst & Young in Chicago.
What is Experts Only?
Experts Only is Summit’s independent record label and event brand, launched in 2022. It includes a festival on Randall’s Island and various curated events worldwide.
What is John Summit’s net worth?
No verified net worth figure is available. Forbes and Fortune describe him as a multi-millionaire but do not publish a specific estimate. Any figure should be treated as unverified.
What is John Summit’s biggest hit?
His 2020 track “Deep End,” released on Defected Records, is widely regarded as his breakout hit.
Featured image: Mat Fascione / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0).
