Trevor Philips

Background

Trevor Philips is the most volatile of the three protagonists of Grand Theft Auto V. He was raised in Canada by an abusive father and a domineering mother, and his violent streak showed early. He trained as a military pilot but was thrown out after failing a psychological evaluation. In the early 1990s he met Michael Townley, and the pair became partners in a long series of armed robberies.

After the botched Ludendorff job in 2004, where he believed Michael had been killed, Trevor settled in Sandy Shores in Blaine County. There he founded Trevor Philips Enterprises, a small criminal outfit dealing meth and guns, run with his paranoid neighbor Ron Jakowski, the dim but loyal Wade Hebert and the meth cook Chef.

Events of Grand Theft Auto V

Trevor appears in the Prologue during the North Yankton robbery. Nine years later, in Mr. Philips, he hears a phrase in a news report about the Vangelico robbery and realizes Michael is alive. The same mission sees him crush Lost MC leader Johnny Klebitz and wipe out the bikers' hideout. Nervous Ron, Trevor Philips Industries and Crystal Maze follow as he takes over the local arms trade, fights the Aztecas and the O'Neil brothers, and deals with Triad envoy Tao Cheng.

In Friends Reunited he drives to Los Santos with Wade and turns up at Michael's house, moving into the Vespucci Beach apartment of Wade's cousin Floyd. He joins the FIB jobs, leads The Merryweather Heist and torments a prisoner in By the Book. In Caida Libre he shoots down a plane for Martin Madrazo, then kidnaps Madrazo's wife Patricia when the cartel boss refuses to pay, forcing the crew into hiding in Blaine County. He develops a strange, tender attachment to Patricia before letting her go.

The Paleto Score, Derailed and Monkey Business follow. In Hang Ten he takes over the Vanilla Unicorn strip club. In Bury the Hatchet, at Ludendorff, he discovers that Brad is buried in Michael's grave and that Michael had been working with the FIB. He abandons Michael to the Triads and remains furious, yet he still saves him in The Wrap Up and takes part in Lamar Down and The Big Score. In Something Sensible Franklin kills him; in the canonical The Third Way he survives, kills Steve Haines and kidnaps Devin Weston.

Personality

Trevor is impulsive, crude, paranoid and frequently psychotic, yet he is also fiercely loyal, honest by his own standards and the most emotionally open of the three. He despises betrayal above all, which is why Michael's lie cuts him so deeply. His special ability, Red Mist, lets him deal more damage while taking less.

Relationships

• Michael De Santa: his oldest friend; the Ludendorff betrayal defines most of their story.
• Franklin Clinton: a younger partner he grows to respect.
• Ron Jakowski and Wade Hebert: his closest followers in Sandy Shores.
• Patricia Madrazo: the kidnapped wife of Martin Madrazo, with whom he forms an odd bond.
• Wei Cheng and the Triads: business partners turned enemies.

Trivia

• Trevor is voiced and motion-captured by Steven Ogg.
• He starts the game with the highest flying skill of the three protagonists.
• He claims to be a businessman and often refers to Trevor Philips Enterprises as a real corporation.