Celebrity Speaker Secrets

Celebrity speaker secrets: Matthew McConaughey's big money fee from UH isn't shocking — it's standard

Back in January, the University of Houston announced that actor Matthew McConaughey would address graduating students at the school's spring commencement ceremonies in May to great fanfare.

After keeping silent about the fee McConaughey was to receive for the speech — in spite of inquiries from numerous media outlets over the past few months — UH has finally revealed that the Academy Award winner will be paid $135,000 for his speech and the university would also cover the Austin native's travel costs.

UH officials say McConaughey will donate the money to the Just Keep Livin Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the actor and his wife that is dedicated to empowering high school students. The foundation serves more than 2,000 students at 24 programs in California, Texas, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.

The booking agency which helped UH decide on McConaughey, Celebrity Talent International, initially asked UH to keep the actor's pay a secret. The agency argued that if the university told the public how much it plans to pay McConaughey, a "reporter or someone" might create "unfair negatives online," according to the Chronicle.

While McConaughey's fee may seem exorbitant, universities regularly spend big money to draw A-list speakers.

The school will also pay the booking agency $20,250 — 15 percent of McConaughey's fee — even though the agency has no apparent ties to the actor and does not represent him.

UH will pay McConaughey with revenue generated by its continuing education program, which offers certificate programs, online courses, workshops and more to non-UH students.

Almost 5,000 students will attend the May 15 ceremony at the school's new TDECU Stadium.

While McConaughey's fee may seem exorbitant, universities regularly spend big money to draw A-list speakers.

Last June, students at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas held protests following the school's announcement that the institution planned to pay Hillary Clinton $225,000 to speak at an invitation-only event.

According to Bloomberg News, California universities paid more than $7.5 million for speeches and performances between 2012 and 2014. Fees included $110,000 to singer Tony Bennett and $75,000 to actor William Shatner.

McConaughey's alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin, does not pay commencement speakers.

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no more trips to Colorado

Bill to legalize marijuana in Texas filed by Dallas Democrat

Photo courtesy of Texas Original

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Texas Rep. Jessica González (D-Dallas) has filed a bill to legalize recreational marijuana in Texas. House Bill 1208 would legalize the cultivation, manufacturing, transportation, and sale of cannabis.

The bill would allow adults 21 and older to use, possess, and transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana for personal use. Adults could also keep up to 10 ounces of cannabis in their residence, as long as it is stored in a secure location.

Smoking or consuming cannabis while in a public place or in a car on a public road would not be allowed.

Gonzalez filed the bill in mid-November, one in a suite of bills that also included expanding insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization for LGBTQ couples; and requiring landlords to disclose all fees before a rental lease is signed.

Her bill was filed prior to an initiative launched by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on December 4 to ban THC products in Texas entirely.

In addition to legalizing recreational use, the bill also makes provisions for its production and sale including requiring that the packaging be child-resistent and clearly labeled, so that it's not confused for candy.

Businesses looking to grow, transport, test, or sell cannabis would need to be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. A 10 percent tax would be imposed on the sale of all cannabis and cannabis products. Some of the profits would go towards funding public schools.

If passed, the bill would take effect on September 1, 2025.

Medical cannabis is currently legal in Texas under the Texas Compassionate Use Program, which allows low-THC cannabis to be prescribed for conditions such as epilepsy, MS, autism, cancer, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Some cities have also approved decriminalization for the possession of four ounces or less of marijuana, including Austin, Bastrop, Dallas, Denton, Elgin, Killeen, and Lockhart.

politics marijuana