Winfrey introduced audiences to Phil McGraw, aka Dr. Phil, in the late ’90s as her show’s resident relationship expert. He proved so popular that Winfrey produced and co-created a spinoff of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” starring McGraw: “Dr. Phil.” It aired from 2002 to 2023, and for most of its run, it was second in ratings only to Winfrey’s show.
Like Winfrey, McGraw frequently discussed weight loss and health on his show, and also lent his face and name to nutritional supplements. As The New York Times wrote in 2003, “Oprah Winfrey has talked about weight loss — hers and everyone else’s — for years. Her protégé Dr. Phil has found a way to make money from it.”
He’s also written his own weight-loss books, including “The Ultimate Weight Solution: The 7 Keys to Weight Loss Freedom” and “The Ultimate Weight Solution Food Guide.”
Winfrey also introduced Dr. Mehmet Oz to her show’s audience. He made his “Oprah” debut in 2004 and ultimately appeared more than 60 times, per NPR, before Winfrey greenlit “The Dr. Oz Show” in 2009. It aired until 2022, when he began a US Senate campaign in Pennsylvania.
Similarly, Oz’s program featured many segments on weight loss, and Oz himself endorsed multiple “cures” for obesity that have been disproven. He was appointed administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in 2024.
While it’s not known how much money Winfrey made from their two shows, both aired for over a decade (with reruns on Winfrey’s channel, OWN), and Winfrey’s production company, Harpo Productions, was involved throughout.
Winfrey’s own show, which aired for 25 years, was the foundation of her wealth, rocketing her to millionaire status when it became nationally syndicated in 1986. By 2003, she was a billionaire, and she’s now worth an estimated $3.2 billion, Forbes reported.
