Dr. Mehmet Oz, better known as “Dr. Oz,” is a cardiology surgeon as well as a television personality. Dr. Oz has also worked as a professor and he has authored a number of books. He was once a regular guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and his career as a television personality and as a life coach soared from there. In 2003, the physician began hosting his own television show, Second Opinion with Dr. Oz on the Discovery Channel. However, the television show that most will associate with Dr. Oz joined the airwaves for the first time in 2009 – The Dr. Oz Show.
Today, Dr. Mehmet Oz is garnering attention as he announced he intends to run for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. He will be campaigning for a seat in the state of Pennsylvania.
| Celebrated Name: | Dr. Mehmet Oz (or Dr. Oz) |
| Real Name/Full Name: | Mehmet Cangiz Oz |
| Gender: | Male |
| Age: | 62 |
| Birthdate: | June 11, 1960 |
| Birthplace: | Cleveland, OH |
| Nationality: | American (also claims Turkish citizenship) |
| Height: | 6 ft. 1 in. |
| Weight: | 154 lb. |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Wife/Spouse | Lisa Lemole (m. 1985) |
| Children/Kids: | Three Daughters: Daphne, Arabella, Zoe; One Son: Oliver |
| Dating/Girlfriend Name: | N/A |
| Is Dr. Mehmet Oz Gay? | No |
| Highest Political Office: | : N/A |
| Profession: | Surgeon, professor, author, television personality |
| Colleges Attended: | Attended: Harvard University; University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Wharton |
| Degrees: | Bachelor’s in Biology (Harvard); MD (University of Pennsylvania Med School); MBA (U. Penn’s Wharton School) |
| Salary: | $20 million |
| Net Worth in 2022: | $100 million |
Biography: Early Life and Family
Mehmet Oz was born to Turkish parents in Cleveland, Ohio. His birthday is June 11, 1960. Oz’ parents were Mustafa and Suna Oz. Mustafa was a physician; he trained in cardiothoracic surgery, and his son would follow in his footsteps. Mustafa had come to the United States in order to study at Case Western Reserve University, where he carried out his residency. Mustafa also studied at Emory University in Atlanta. When he completed his studies, Mustafa would move the family back to Turkey. Mehmet was born while his father was in residency in Cleveland.
Suna had a medical background as well. Her parents were pharmacists in Istanbul.
Mehmet has two sisters, Nazlim and Seval.
Eventually, Mustafa would bring his family back to the United States. However, Mehmet and his sisters often visited America during the summers. Mehmet would attend high school in Delaware. He attended Tower Hill School, which was located in Wilmington. He would enroll originally at Harvard to pursue a degree in biology. Mehmet was quite an athlete. He played football and water polo.
He graduated from Harvard University with his bachelor’s degree in biology in 1982.
Once he left Harvard, Oz would enroll at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine. He enroll simultaneously at the University’s Wharton School. His graduate studies included pursuing an MD as well as an MBA. His MD would lead to further specialization in cardiothoracic surgery while his MBA was a business administration concentration.
While he was enrolled at Harvard, Oz was elected class president. At the University of Pennsylvania, Oz was student body president of the medical school.
Personal Life
Oz married his wife, Lisa, in 1985. The couple have four children together: Daphe, Arabella, Zoe, and Oliver. Oz and his family live in Cliffside Park, New Jersey. However, Dr. Oz has recently changed his voter registration to Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania.
Lisa Oz is an author and a radio personality. She hosts The Lisa Oz Show, and she has appeared on several Oprah Winfrey radio shows. She has also authored and co-authored a number of books.
Occasionally, Lisa Oz appears on her husband’s television show.
Dr. Oz daughter, Daphne, has a television show of her own.
Dr. Mehmet and Lisa Oz founded a non-profit organization which promotes both health education as well as peer mentoring. This organization is called Healthcorps.
Dr. Oz has never relinquished his Turkish citizenship. He served in the Turkish Army as a young man in order to keep this citizenship. Oz speaks both Turkish and English fluently.
Age, Height, and Weight
Dr. Mehmet Oz is 62 years old. He is 6′ 1″ and he weighs 154 lbs.
Net Worth
From “The Doctor Oz Show” he takes in a yearly salary of $20 million, but when you add in his books, appearances and other endeavors, his net worth is estimated at $100 million.
He has received numerous awards and honors, including Emmy Awards and People’s Choice Awards. Dr. Oz was named “Global Leader of Tomorrow” from 1999 to 2004 by the World Economic Forum, and he has been listed as one of Time magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.” He also was honored with the 2009 National Magazine Award for Personal Service for his article “Retool, Reboot, and Rebuild.”
Career Outside of Politics
Dr. Oz, who has been nicknamed “America’s Doctor,” began his medical career in general surgery in 1993 at the New York – Presbyterian Medical Center. He also worked as a professor at Columbia University, where he taught students surgical procedures and protocols.
In 2001, Dr. Oz’ work with Columbia University began. During his time at the research hospital, Dr. Oz was instrumental in developing the MitraClip and the LVAD. These products chiefly have to do with heart surgery. Dr. Oz holds a number of patents that relate to both these products and the procedures developed dealing with heart surgery as well.
Dr. Oz became very popular with the American public once he began appearing on The Oprah Winfrey Show, but, he wasn’t randomly selected to appear. He penned the 2005 successful book YOU: The Owner’s Manual. The book offered not only medical advice but also utilized humor, which led to his appearance with the talk show legend.
Dr. Oz would become so popular from that initial experience that he was asked to be a regular guest on Oprah’s talk show. Audiences enjoyed Dr. Oz’s rapport with the hosts as well as his on-screen presence.
Winfrey would produce his television series through her own company, Harpo Productions. Dr. Oz’ own television show would debut in 2009. Dr. Oz was the medical adviser for the hit Denzel Washington film John Q.
Dr. Oz has come under fire for some of the products he promotes, namely resveratrol. Oz maintains that this supplement will help to slow down the effects of aging. His critics say there is no scientific basis for this claim.
Dr. Oz would author other successful books modeled after the initial YOU self-help book. These books were as successful as the initial book, and this led to a regular radio talk show. By 2010, Oz would have his own television show on the OWN network.
No less than eight of the books “America’s Doctor” has written have appeared on the New York Times best seller list. Seven of these books were co-authored by Oz and Michael Rozien. Oz also publishes a monthly column in The Oprah Winfrey Magazine as well as Esquire. Dr. Oz also publishes a magazine every other month, Dr. Oz THE GOOD LIFE.
Dr. Oz has been most popular for his advise on fitness, obesity, losing weight, and exercise. Dr. Oz has been criticized by some who contend that his health advice has no scientific basis; however, Dr. Oz has commandeered a huge following.
As sometimes happens with highly popular medical professionals and life coaches, Dr. Oz has seen his share of scammers associating his name with unsubstantiated health and wellness claims. Dr. Oz is quick to share that these scammers use his name without his permission.
However, Dr. Oz was called in to testify before Congress regarding his involvement with the website RealAge.com. This site has been openly criticized for its “pharmaceutical marketing practices.” One Senator, Claire McCaskill (D-MO), even inferred that Oz did nothing to stop fraudulent claims from being purported.
Dr. Oz also drew fire for his recommendation on his television show that hydroxychloroquine could serve as a therapeutic against COVID-19. Not long after Dr. Oz made this comment about the anti-malarial drug, then-President Trump revealed that he was taking the medication. Critics claimed that Donald Trump only did so because of Dr. Oz’ comment on air.
The FDA would eventually pull emergency authorization for hydroxycholoroquine in cases of COVID-19.
Dr. Oz has also advocated for the use of medicinal marijuana in an effort to combat the overwhelming opioid epidemic that has taken many lives across America.
Career in Politics
Dr. Oz announced that he will be seeking a seat in the United States Senate representing Pennsylvania. However, he is no stranger to politics, although he hasn’t served in a true political position.
Former President Donald Trump nominated Dr. Oz (as well as former actor Lou Ferrigno) to the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Dr. Oz was appointed to a second term on the council as of December 2020.
