Celebrity Speaker Secrets

University of Houston reveals big-money fee for Matthew McConaughey speech

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

After keeping silent about the fee McConaughey was to receive for the speech, UH has revealed that the Academy Award winner will be paid $135,000 for his speech. The university will 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 school will also pay Celebrity Talent International, the booking agency that helped UH select McConaughey, $20,250 — 15 percent of McConaughey's fee. 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, 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.

unspecified

Hit the Road

Austin City Council passes resolution over MoPac expansion concerns

Photo courtesy of KVUE

The City Council has taken issue with some environmental concerns and planning that may be outdated.

The Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) has been looking to make improvements on MoPac Expressway South from Cesar Chavez Street to Slaughter Lane to try to improve traffic. It is looking to add up to four express toll lanes.

But the Austin City Council recently passed a resolution over its concerns with the project.

“[The resolution] tells the city manager to work with the CTRMA on the MoPac South Project. When you see state money being spent on projects that affect the local community, we want to make sure we are holding the highest standard possible," Councilmember Paige Ellis said.

Some of the concerns listed in the resolution include that it's been more than 11 years since CTRMA held its original scoping meeting; that the Recommended Build Alternative has not changed substantially since 2015; and that fine particulate matter in the air in Travis County already exceeds healthy metrics; plus others.

Ellis said she has some environmental concerns.

"The environment is protected for species like the golden cheeked warbler and salamanders, so we want to make we are sure limiting impervious cover," Ellis said.

The CTRMA said its environmental study evaluates potential harms and mitigations to things like water quality and endangered species. The CTRMA added that it has "worked extensively with the city of Austin throughout the study."

Read the full story, including information on how to submit feedback, and watch the video at KVUE.com. CultureMap has added a paragraph to this excerpt listing some details from the City Council document.