A grifter is born
[*] In 1985 Phil McGraw, his father, and Thelma Box created a company that delivered self-help seminars. 6 years later Dr. Phil sold his part of the company for $325,000. In 1990 he co-founded Courtroom Sciences, Inc., a company that advised lawyers on areas where psychology and legal practice intersect like jury selection and prepping witnesses for trial. It’s through Courtroom Sciences, Inc. that Phil McGraw met Oprah. He consulted on a lawsuit Oprah was a defendant in and she liked him enough that he eventually became a frequent “expert” on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
https://thoughtcatalog.com/christine-stockton/2021/08/everything-shady-about-dr-phil/
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6830146/
Did You Know Dr. Phil's First Job Was at a Pizzeria?! We're Sending Him Back to an NYC Pizza Joint!