Cesar Felipe Millan Favela, also known as Cesar Millan, is a Mexican-American dog behaviorist with more than 25 years of canine experience. He is well recognized for his Emmy-nominated TV series "Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan", which was broadcasted in over eighty countries worldwide. Before landing his career as a professional dog behaviorist, he was focused on rehabilitating severely aggressive dogs.
Cesar Millan is a native of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico, and was born on 27th August 1969, to Maria Teresa Favela and Millan Guillen. He grew up working with animals on the farm in Sinaloa where his grandfather was a tenant farmer. While he was at the farm, he got the name el Perrero, “the dog herder” due to his natural way with dogs.
Later, his family moved to Mazatlan. At 21, Millan illegally immigrated to the United States and spoke no English. His first job in the United States was at dog tutoring store. Later, he formed the Pacific Point Canine Academy where Jada Pinkett Smith was his first client who supported his work as well as provided him with an English tutor for a year.
Further, he created the Dog Psychology Center in South Los Angeles, covering 8093.71 square meters. The center specializes in working with large breed dogs.
After working 12 years as a dog behaviorist, he finally got a chance to work with MPH Entertainment, Inc, and developed a TV pilot for a reality TV series Dog Whisperer, which follows Milan as he works in the field of dog rehabilitation. The show that premiered on the National Geographical Channel subsequently moved to the Nat Geo WILD channel. In its first season, the show became the National Geographic’s No. 1 show and was broadcasted in over eighty countries worldwide. The show successfully ran for 8 long years, making its final episode on 15th September 2012, in the U.S.
In 2012, Milan launched Cesar’s Way magazine both in Canada and United States for which he was Editorial Director. He then made his appearance in the Cesar Millan’s Leader of the Pack on the Nat Geo Wild. The series follows Millan as he helps give shelter dog’s new homes and takes place at Millan’s newest Dog Psychology Center in Miraflores, Spain.
Likewise, he has also created numerous instructional DVDs and has presented his live show “Once Upon a Dog” and “Cesar Millan LIVE!” to his fans around there world.
After the conclusion of the project, Cesar Millan’s Leader of the Pack, Millan teamed up with children’s TV veterans Sod and Marty Krofft to create Mutt & Stuff in which his son Calvin Millan would stars.
Nonetheless, Millan’s work was criticized as some professional dog trainers found his methods unscientific, inhuman, outdated, and flawed.
Millan, who stands 5 feet 4 inches, holds dual nationality, Mexican and American. Talking about his personal life, he was married to Illusion Wilson with whom he had two sons, Calvin and Andre. After 16 years, his wife filed for divorce claiming major physical custody of their children with visitation for Milan. She also asked for $23,000 a month with $10,000 in monthly child support.
In the meantime, he also lost his dog Daddy and eventually went through an emotional and mental trauma which caused him to attempt suicide.
After lots of ups and down in his life, he finally found love with Jahira Dar. As of now, the couple is engaged and might get married soon.
Cesar Millan is a wealthy dog behaviorist with an estimated net worth of $25 million. He owns a luxurious house in a Leafy Encino neighborhood worth $2.783 million.
