Jillian Michaels: Fitness Trainer and Wellness Entrepreneur

Jillian Michaels: Fitness Trainer and Wellness Entrepreneur

Business Owner · Consumer Goods

Los Angeles

Jillian Michaels became a household name as a trainer on NBC's The Biggest Loser and built a fitness, nutrition and media business.

About Jillian Michaels: Fitness Trainer and Wellness Entrepreneur

Jillian Leigh McKarus (born February 18, 1974), known professionally as Jillian Michaels, is an American fitness trainer, nutritionist, businesswoman, media personality and author, best known for her appearances on NBC's The Biggest Loser. She has also appeared on the talk show The Doctors, in 2015 hosted and co-judged the Spike series Sweat, INC., and in 2016 starred in the E! reality series Just Jillian. Michaels was born in Los Angeles, the daughter of psychotherapist JoAnn and lawyer Douglas McKarus. Her mother is Jewish and her father is of Syrian and Lebanese descent on both sides. She was raised in the Tarzana neighborhood of Los Angeles and identifies as half Jewish and half Arab. The surname McKarus is an anglicized spelling of the Arabic Christian name Makarios; according to 1926 immigration records, her paternal grandfather, Roger Essa McKarus, was born in Kfeir, Lebanon, and immigrated to the United States with his father. Sources: English Wikipedia (Jillian Michaels, accessed September 2026).

Basic Information

Fitness trainer, nutritionist and businesswoman

Company Details

Jillian Michaels Enterprises

Fitness, Nutrition, Wellness Products