Who Is Serj Tankian? Age, Biography and Wiki
Serj Tankian, born on August 21, 1967, is a prominent American-Armenian singer, songwriter, and political activist, widely recognized as the lead vocalist of the Grammy Award-winning band System of a Down. As of 2025, Serj is 57 years old and has established himself not only as a musician but also as a solo artist with a profound interest in social justice and humanitarian endeavors. His unique vocal style and thought-provoking lyrics have made him a significant figure in the rock and metal music scene.
| Occupation | Metal Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 21, 1967 |
| Age | 57 Years |
| Birth Place | Beirut, Lebanon |
| Horoscope | Leo |
| Country | Lebanon |
Popularity
Serj Tankian's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Serj Tankian stands tall at 6 feet (183 cm) and has maintained a weight of approximately 160 lbs (72 kg). His body stats have been a topic of interest among fans, as he is known for his athletic build and energetic performances. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, he often engages in various fitness activities to complement his rigorous touring schedule.
The premiere date for Tankian and Sater's Prometheus Bound at the American Repertory Theater was February 25, 2011. Tankian said that collaborating on the show has been a great learning experience for him.
"I've been using a lot of my archives, a lot of different types of music that I had already put together for underscoring and what not," he said. "It's quite diverse, from noise to jazz to electronic stuff to hip-hop songs to rock songs to cool, piano dark underscores, and that's a whole different bag of tricks there because it's always evolving.
Unlike a film score that's very linear and you get a scene to score for, this is something where you do another workshop and one song is gone, that underscore changes to 20 seconds and they need something else on the spot. Everything's always changing until the show comes, so it's quite interesting."
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Serj Tankian is married to his long-time partner, Angela Madatyan. The couple has been together for several years and has a deep bond that often reflects in Serj’s music and public statements. They share a similarly passionate approach to activism and have been seen participating together in various charity events aimed at raising awareness for important social issues.
He traces his ancestry to the cities of Dörtyol, Kayseri, Tokat, and Urfa, all of which are in modern-day Turkey. His four grandparents were survivors of the Armenian genocide. Amid the Lebanese Civil War, at the age of 7, he moved to the U.S. with his parents, and the family settled in Los Angeles.
In his youth, he attended the bilingual Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, which was also attended by his future System of a Down bandmates Daron Malakian and Shavo Odadjian. Tankian was accepted into California State University, Northridge, graduating with a marketing degree in 1989.
During his sophomore year, he first began to play instruments, particularly the keyboard, and write songs.
Net Worth and Salary
Serj Tankian's estimated net worth in 2025 is around $20 million. His earnings primarily come from his successful music career, which includes album sales, streaming revenue, and concert tours. Beyond music, Serj has also ventured into various business endeavors and investments, further contributing to his wealth.
In early July 2011, Tankian posted a video on YouTube showing two samples of new songs. During the video he said "next year". In multiple interviews he has stated that he has been working on a rock record that will be released in 2011, and some side projects including jazz, electronic, and symphonic records.
It was later confirmed that his third album would be called Harakiri and will be released on July 10, 2012. In 2012, he planned for this to be the first of four new albums. The first single from Harakiri, "Figure It Out", was released on May 1. A music video for the song appeared on Tankian's official YouTube page.
A second single from the album, "Cornucopia", was released on June 10. A third single, title track "Harakiri", was made available as a preorder bonus from Tankian's website on June 20.
On August 12, 2011, Tankian traveled to Armenia, where he was received at Government House by then-Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, who awarded him with a Commemorative Medal for his "contribution to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and the advancement of music".
Tankian promised to return and put on a concert to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, which he did on April 24, 2015, playing for free for over two hours in Yerevan's Republic Square.
Career, Business and Investments
Serj Tankian’s career took off with the formation of System of a Down in 1994, leading to multiple hit albums and a devoted fan base. Over the years, he has released solo albums that explore different musical styles, showcasing his versatility as an artist. Additionally, Tankian has been active in various business ventures, including working on music production and collaborating with other artists. His interest in social and political issues has also led him to invest and support projects that align with his activism, particularly those that focus on Armenian heritage and rights.
Tankian has released five albums with System of a Down (System of a Down, Toxicity, Steal This Album!, Mezmerize, Hypnotize) and five solo albums (Elect the Dead, Imperfect Harmonies, Harakiri, Orca, and Elasticity), as well as collaborating with musicians such as rapper Tech N9ne and folk singer Arto Tunçboyacıyan.
He also released Elect the Dead Symphony, a live orchestral version of Elect the Dead featuring the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra. He is the founder of the record label Serjical Strike Records, and is currently represented by Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group.
Social Network
Serj Tankian maintains a strong presence on social media, allowing fans to connect with him personally. His platforms often feature updates about his music, thoughts on political issues, and personal insights into his life. As of 2025, he is active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, where he engages with fans and promotes various charitable initiatives.
In an interview in 2021, Tankian stated; "'I was very lost. I was playing music at home, but I didn't have a band, I didn't have any connection, and my vision hadn't interpreted that this was my future yet. I was like, probably 22, 23 when I was really, when I discovered it...
I was driving home, I had a Jeep Wrangler, I remember it was raining, very dramatic, and I really, I always say I have to go to the far reaches of who I don't wanna be to admit to myself who I really am. And I was in my car, and I literally stopped, and I just go, 'I want to fuckin' do music. This is bullshit.
I don't want to do all this shit.' And that was the day that changed my life. From then on, anything I did was with the idea that I'm going on this path, and I gotta do whatever I gotta do to be on this path.'"
Education
Serj attended California State University, Northridge, where he studied sociology and business, which has equipped him with the knowledge and skills to navigate his diverse career effectively. His educational background has played a crucial role in his approach to both music and activism, as he often addresses societal issues through his art.
In conclusion, Serj Tankian continues to be a multifaceted artist and activist in 2025, using his platform to inspire change and connect with his audience on both personal and political levels.
Tankian is regarded as one of the best vocalists in heavy metal, with praise given to his unusual delivery and his wide vocal range. In 2006, he was ranked No. 26 on the Hit Parader list of "Top 100 Heavy Metal Vocalists". A study conducted by VVN Music found that Tankian possesses a high and diverse vocal range of 4.2 octaves.
