Many people know Dr. Phil McGraw from his talk show, Dr. Phil, and he is an individual who has been made famous from the advice that he gives others. He is trusted and respected, and his comments on human behavior are given more credibility considering the success of his personal relationships.

He has been married to his wife, Robin, for more than 40 years, and the couple are best friends, each other’s biggest supporters, and on the same page about love and life. They have raised two adult sons, both of whom are also making a name for themselves in the entertainment industry; Jay has hosted a reality TV show called Renovate My Family, which is also where he met his wife, model Erica Dahm, and Jordan is a musician with a lot of famous friends.

In many ways, Dr. Phil leads a very normal life, and he makes his family his first priority. He understands that relationships have evolved over the years, and is dedicated to spending quality time with the people he loves. His family has important and meaningful traditions for the holidays, he supports his wife wholeheartedly (and she does the same), and they’re enjoying their role as grandparents. Below are 20 little-known details about Dr. Phil’s life when the cameras aren’t rolling.

20 Dr. Phil And His Wife Have Been Married For More Than 40 Years...

Dr. Phil McGraw is famous for his thoughts on human behavior, including offering relationship advice. In addition to his education on the subject, he also speaks from experience because his personal relationships are so successful, in particular, with his wife, Robin McGraw.

The couple has been married for more than 40 years (they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2016) and Robin has shared that one of the reasons their relationship is so successful is because of their dedication to making it work. “A lot of people say it is 50/50, but we both think it’s 100/100,” she told People. “So, we both focus on the marriage — and we did our homework before we got married. We sat down and with both said what we needed from our marriage…”

19 ...But He Was Married Before — Although, That Marriage Was Later Annulled

In today’s world, such lengthy relationships, especially those in the public eye, are rare. Robin and Dr. Phil McGraw are the exception to many romances, and their love and dedication to each other can be viewed as an inspiration, but, interestingly, Robin is not the first woman who won over Dr. Phil’s heart. Prior to his relationship with his current wife, he was briefly married to another woman, Debbie Higgins.

According to Heavy, Dr. Phil and Higgins were married from 1970 to 1973, but their marriage ended in annulment. This relationship was clearly not meant to last, and three years later (on Valentine’s Day in 1976) he would propose to Robin. According to People, they were married six months later.

18 Dr. Phil Is A Proud Papa To Two Adult Sons, And His Family Is His No. 1 Priority

Dr. Phil McGraw and Robin are parents to two adult sons, Jay and Jordan, and they are also grandparents to Jay and his wife, Erica’s two children, Avery and London. They are an incredibly close bunch, and in an interview with Us Weekly, Robin spoke about how their family is their first priority.

“At this point, our family would probably be number one, then our relationship,” she said. “We spend a lot of time together, but we have our own interests separately.” The couple has also expressed their joy at becoming grandparents, and Dr. Phil previously told Daily Mail he loves his new role (and taking photos of the little ones). “I’ve become that guy — if they didn’t have cell phones now with pictures, I’d be carrying around an album under my arm, so, we love that."

17 His Son Jay Is Married To Model Erica Dahm (And Has Been For Over A Decade)

Robin and Dr. Phil McGraw’s children are both doing well for themselves, but they also appear to be in very different places in their lives. Their eldest son, Jay, is married to model, Erica Dahm, and like his parents, they appear to have a very successful marriage, which has already lasted more than a decade (they were married in 2006).

The couple has two children, and their little ones are lucky to have doting grandparents in Robin and Dr. Phil. “They are amazing parents,” Jay told Calabasas Style of his mom and dad. “And amazing grandparents,” his wife added. “To see Dr. Phil be such a soft and loving grandfather is so fun, and Robin always makes the kids feel like they are the center of the universe. They are a special part of the kids’ lives.”

16 The Couple Says TV Has Played An Important Role In Their Lives

Jay McGraw grew up with a well-known father, so TV was always a part of his life, but it also played a role in how he met his wife, Erica Dahm. According to Monagiza, the pair met on the reality show, Renovate My Family, which Jay hosted. They got close on the show, and Jay later admitted in an interview with Calabasas Style that “TV has played a central role” in their lives.

“Erica and I were both cast in the show Renovate My Family, which is where we met,” he explained. “So, we met on the set of Renovate, revealed the gender of our kids on the set of The Doctors, and introduced them both on the set of Dr. Phil.”

15 Dr. Phil’s Other Son Is Talented Musician Jordan McGraw

The younger of Dr. Phil’s two sons is Jordan McGraw, who has been making a name for himself in the music industry. In 2019, he was the subject of an article in Billboard, when the publication noted he released a new track titled “Flexible.” He also has a lot of famous friends, who he recruited for the music video, these include Joe Jonas, John Mayer, and T-pain.

Speaking of his music, Jordan told Billboard, “I’m all about music being an escape from reality…” And if you were wondering if he got his musical talent from his parents, he didn’t. "He sure didn't get it from me. I can't play," Dr. Phil joked in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, adding, "He didn't get it from me, I tell you."

14 Robin McGraw’s Sister Is One Of Her Husband’s Heroes

Robin McGraw’s sister, Cindi Broaddus (Dr. Phil McGraw’s sister-in-law) passed away in 2018, 20 years after she was involved in a life-altering ordeal. According to The Epoch Times, someone threw sulfuric acid from an overpass, which went through Broaddus’ windscreen and led to a long road of recovery ahead.

She showed tremendous courage after this incident, and according to Heavy, Dr. Phil considers her to be one of his heroes. The publication notes that in a 2005 interview with Larry King, he explained he had visited Broaddus in hospital and described her as “true hero” for how she handled the incident.

13 He Is A Family Man, And Spending Quality Time With His Loved Ones Is Important

Dr. Phil McGraw’s family comes first, and this is something that makes him incredibly relatable (despite being a world-famous celebrity thanks to his talk show). He is willing to speak about family in interviews and even shared with Entertainment Tonight how important it is to make quality time for the special people in your life.

"I always tell people to make time for each other. whether it's a date night or an hour through the day," he explained. "The stranger that feels, the further you've drifted away from what brought the two of you together. You need to remember and focus on why you feel in love with that person, to begin with."

12 Robin McGraw Is Her Husband’s Best Friend

When it comes to relationships, Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw are total goals. Their marriage has spanned decades, they have raised two sons, and are now enjoying their role as grandparents. But they also have a wonderful connection with each other and they’re best friends.

“I always tell people that the formula for a good relationship is that it’s based on a solid friendship,” Dr. Phil told Us Weekly. “We’re really good friends.” But that’s not all, they also support each other, and Robin admires her husband’s work ethic, telling People that she supports his decision to work hard, adding “that’s what I love about him…”

11 But You Won’t Find Them On The Tennis Court Together (They’re Way Too Competitive)

Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw have a great relationship, but there are some things even people who have been married for 40 years don’t do together, and for this couple, that’s heading to the tennis court for a game of tennis.

“Ask us how many times we’ve played doubles on the tennis court,” Robin joked in an interview with Us Weekly. “One time! It was our first and last.” So, why did this couple, who are best friends and who have one of the most solid relationships, avoid playing tennis? The answer is simple, as Dr. Phil explains, “We’re too competitive.”

10 Jay And Erica Love Traveling The World Together, And It’s Taught Them So Much

Jay McGraw and his wife, Erica, have settled in Calabasas, and although they have a home together, they also like getting away, and traveling is one of their favorite pastimes. In their interview with Calabasas Style, they spoke about their love of exploration, and how it has taught them so much about each other.

“You really get to know someone when you travel with them,” Erica told the publication. “Jay and I discovered that we usually wake up in the morning on the same page…” Jay also admits that taking a break and relaxing away from home gives them quality time together and reminds them to just be “best friends.”

9 Dr. Phil’s Solution To A Lasting Marriage Is To Deal With Issues Head-On

After years of dishing out advice to people, it’s probably safe to say that Dr. Phil is a bit of an authority on relationships, and his own marriage is a testament to that. So, when he shares his thoughts on how to maintain a healthy relationship, people are going to take note. In his interview with Entertainment Tonight, he explained that one of the most important things to do in a relationship is to deal with problems head-on, instead of ignoring them and letting things build up.

"One is, don't let things stack up. Deal with them as they come. I think that's really important," he shared. "Second, if you have a disagreement, make it your goal to be heard and understood, rather than agreed with."

8 The Holidays Are A Very Important Time For This Festive Bunch

In the McGraw household, the holidays are a very important time, and a time they look forward to spending together. But it’s also a time when they bring out their holiday traditions, and the couple has a very interesting one involving Christmas tree decorations.

“Each year I try to find an ornament for the tree that reflects an important event or something momentous to me and to the family. Everything on the tree reflects our family and our lives together and it's very important to me that almost every ornament has a date on it,” Robin told Daily Mail.

7 Robin McGraw Is A Woman Of Many Talents And Skills, Including Owning A Lifestyle Brand And Skincare Range

It’s not just Dr. Phil McGraw who works hard and has achieved success, but also his wife, Robin. She has started a lifestyle brand, Robin McGraw Revelations, as well as skincare line — according to Daily Mail, she partnered with Harvard graduate and dermatologist, Dr. Jessica Wu, MD.

Robin is a hardworking and dedicated woman, and her husband couldn’t be more impressed by her dedication to achieving her goals. He spoke about his wife’s ambitions in an interview with Daily Mail, and shared his enthusiasm about her decision to launch her skincare. “One of the things that I've been really excited about this year is seeing the reaction to Robin's lifestyle brand and launching her skincare line on our show,” he admitted.

6 They Never Really Spend More Than A Couple Of Nights Apart

Demanding jobs could keep Robin and Dr. Phil McGraw apart, and they know that sometimes they are required to travel. But they feel it is important to never spend too many nights on their own, and this has been one of the ways for them to maintain their connection.

“When we do have to be apart, we never go for more than two or three days.” Dr. Phil told Us Weekly. “If I have to go to New York to tape something and I’m up at 6 a.m. and it’s 3 a.m. in L.A., she’ll FaceTime me before she goes to sleep. I’m like, ‘What are you doing?’ She doesn’t like to go to bed when I’m not here.”

5 The Family Don’t Appreciate Untrue Statements Being Made About Them, And They’ve Gone After A Publication For This

Robin and Dr. Phil McGraw have worked hard to maintain their relationship, and this is evident because you don’t stay with someone for decades if you don’t like them. But they are also very protective of their relationship, and when the media speculates or makes false statements, they are don’t take kindly to this and are quick to respond. According to Heavy, the couple filed a defamation lawsuit against the National Enquirer, requesting millions of dollars because the publication was reporting “lies about the couple over a 13-year period.”

The two sides did later resolve the issue.

4 They’ve Appeared On ‘Celebrity Family Feud’ To Raise Money For Their Favorite Charity

Dr. Phil’s family has made regular appearances on his talk show, Dr. Phil, and they are all well-known people in entertainment circles. They have also used both their family bond and their stardom to compete on the game show, Celebrity Family Feud, in a bid to raise money for their chosen charity.

The McGraw family competed against actress Penny Marshall and her brother, Garry Marshall, in 2015, and according to CinemaBlend, they did not leave victorious. But Robin McGraw sure did enjoy herself, with Yahoo! reporting on how she was one of the most excited contestants ever.

3 Jordan Styled His Home After A Tim Burton Film (And It’s Magnificent)

Many people are fans of Tim Burton’s films, and he has a very distinct style, but few people would be inspired to model the interior of their homes after his films. However, Jordan McGraw did, and the outcome was magnificent.

He opened the doors of his Los Angeles mansion to Daily Mail, who remarked on his unusual taste. “The whole place, the idea is kind of Tim Burton threw up on a canvas and it turned into a house,” he told the publication.

The interior includes a serpent fountain, as seen in A Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as a staircase that looks as though it is covered in vines. And the publication notes that the ceiling and the entryway have been modeled after Alice In Wonderland.

2 Buying Your Wife Diamonds Isn’t Going To Guarantee Happiness, Just Ask Dr. Phil

Making your significant other feel special is important, but that doesn’t mean you need to give them expensive gifts like diamonds. Dr. Phil understands that keeping his wife happy is not done by buying her things, but by doing something simple and meaningful — and it’s one of the most important and relatable pieces of advice.

"If you wake up every day and ask yourself, 'What can I do today to make my spouse's life better?' It'll change the course of your [relationship]. It doesn't have to be something big. You don't have to go buy them a diamond ring,” he told Entertainment Tonight. “You don't have to go buy them a set of golf clubs. It could be a little note in their pocket. It could be something simple…”

1 Of Course They Have Disagreements — Everyone Does

It would be unrealistic to expect Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw to have a perfect relationship — although their relationship does come pretty close. Like every other couple, there will be times when they don’t see eye-to-eye and have disagreements, but they have learned how to handle these situations. When asked by Us Weekly how they get past the tough times, Dr. Phil gave a candid answer, saying, “All couples fight and have disagreements, but we don’t have big blowups because we deal with things when they arise. We don’t let it build up for a week, two weeks, three weeks…”

Sources: People, Heavy, Us Weekly, Daily Mail, Calabasas Style, Monagiza, Billboard, Entertainment Tonight, The Epoch Times, CinemaBlend, Yahoo!