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01
He earned his Master of Arts in experimental psychology in 1976 and his Ph.D. in clinical psychology in 1979 from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.
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02
Chuck Norris once trained under him, and Norris reportedly called McGraw his favorite student.
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03
In 1968, he played as a middle-linebacker for the University of Tulsa football team on scholarship. That year, on November 23, the team lost 100-6 to the University of Houston in one of the most lopsided college football games ever. Houston wide receiver Larry Gatlin of Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers scored a touchdown in that game.
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04
Because his father was an alcoholic, McGraw became a strict teetotaler at age 16.
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05
He has two older sisters, Deana and Donna McGraw, and a younger sister, Brenda McGraw.
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06
The children’s television series Sesame Street introduced a puppet named Dr. Feel in his honor in 2004.
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07
With the start of Dr. Phil in 2002, he and his wife Robin and youngest son Jordan moved to Beverly Hills, purchasing a $7 million mansion. His older son Jay attended law school at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
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08
Joyce Brothers was a major inspiration for him.
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09
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Midwestern State University in 1975.
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10
Forbes magazine estimated his 2007 earnings at $30 million.
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11
His favorite movies are Used Cars 1980 and Tommy Boy 1995.
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12
He owns a Korean Jindo dog named Maggie.
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13
In 2006, he donated $1 million to the Dr. Phil McGraw Foundation.
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14
His estimated net worth is $280 million.
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15
He has over 45 years of training in clinical psychology, forensic psychology, behavioral medicine, litigation consultation, and deception detection.
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16
He has two sons: Jay McGraw born 1979 and Jordan McGraw born 1986.
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17
His all-time favorite books are To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee fiction and Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl non-fiction.
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18
He is a longtime golfing buddy of comedian-actor Ron White.
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19
He attended and graduated from Shawnee Mission High School in Overland Park, Kansas.
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20
He worked for several years as a forensic psychologist and litigation consultant, and is trained in deception detection.
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21
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 21, 2020.
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22
He has retired from practicing psychology.
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23
He has worked with local, state, and federal law enforcement in training interrogation techniques, deception detection, and how to get to the truth.
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24
He is friends with Steve Harvey.
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25
He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
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26
He is a grandfather to London Phillip McGraw and Avery Elizabeth McGraw.
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27
He endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024.
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28
He is the father-in-law of Erica Dahm and Morgan Stewart McGraw.